Ready for a Domestic Disaster: Recommendations for an Emergency Preparedness and Response Program

Client

International Rescue Committee

Advisor

Semester

Spring 2014

The Capstone team’s project with the IRC focused on evaluating the extent to which the organization could hone its domestic disaster preparedness for local offices and their refugee clients. A survey instrument was developed using key concepts from the federal government’s continuity of operations plans. Further, individual phone interviews were held with the directors of several regional offices.

Based on the results of the survey and interviews, the team recommended the following steps:

  1. Build Awareness & Organize First Responder Training - The IRC should stimulate interest and discussion in disaster preparedness internally to draw greater attention to this important issue. To this end, the IRC should organize an annual disaster day, initiate development of inter-office bulletins, and launch a first-responder training series to satisfy an identified demand for CPR and first-aid training for office personnel.

  2. Establish Partnerships & Role in Community - The IRC should recognize the value of establishing partnerships with the American Red Cross (ARC) through memoranda of understanding, since the two organizations’ strengths and weaknesses are complementary. To further disseminate disaster preparedness information between the organizations, the IRC should establish a learning collaborative and create an information exchange platform.

  3. Cultivate Internal Capacity - The IRC should digitize all its records and perform a risk assessment survey to evaluate organizational risks should their local offices’ records be compromised. In addition, the local IRC offices should, at their discretion, consider technological innovations such as mass rescue text messages in their disaster preparedness and response efforts.