June 22 – WILKES-BARRE – Jill Avery-Stoss, Chief Operating Officer at The Institute, said this week that The Institute wanted to learn more about household emergency plans in Northeastern Pennsylvania and that part of their research involved a community survey.
Avery-Stoss said the Institute has released a study on the region’s economic resilience.
According to Avery-Stoss, the organization’s Jobs, Economy, and Economic Development Task Force guided this research. She explained that many communities are focusing on resilience planning in the wake of natural disasters, such as fires and floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The objectives of such planning are to reduce damage to infrastructure, reduce disruptions and shorten the duration of negative impacts,” Avery-Stoss said. “The survey showed that most households are provided with first aid kits, which is useful, but not sufficient. For example, few had special meeting places for relatives in the event of a disaster. Many knew nothing about the children’s school. contingency plans.”
The survey asked people to identify the challenges that prevent them from disaster planning. About 56% cited a lack of knowledge about preparation. Nearly 40% cited a lack of knowledge about the risks associated with potential emergencies.
Additionally, more than half believed that Northeast Pennsylvania’s roads and transportation infrastructure are highly vulnerable to chronic stresses and acute shocks.
They felt the same way about mobile and broadband services.
Avery-Stoss said well-maintained transportation infrastructure allows for a smoother response when a disaster strikes. It also ensures that roads have the capacity to manage evacuation if necessary.
Internet access and communications capabilities prepare a region to respond immediately after an acute shock. Internet access also allows people to access emergency resources that might otherwise be unavailable.
“Equity is one of many issues to consider when addressing resilience,” Avery-Stoss said. “People who are vulnerable – like seniors and people with disabilities, for example – need to have access to resources that are readily available to others. This includes safe and affordable housing, quality health care and transportation.”
To ensure that all residents are served by resilience efforts, Avery-Stoss said it is critical that community leaders address these equity challenges. She said vulnerable people cannot recover from acute shocks and chronic stress, and that includes their more resilient neighbors. These individuals need to be safe if the region at large is to remain vibrant.
Avery-Stoss said many areas across the country have made great progress in resilience planning. Local leaders can look to them as examples. For example, they can pursue new affordable housing programs or adopt green energy initiatives. It may also be helpful to include densely populated urban areas such as Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Hazleton in the Resilient Cities Network (for global knowledge, partnerships, and potential financing options).
“Northeastern Pennsylvania may have some work to do when it comes to resilience, but there are also many strengths to think about,” Avery-Stoss added. “We have a diverse economy. There is no need to depend on just one sector. We have many social service providers who have already proven how well they can work together in times of crisis. We have supplies from schools and healthcare providers. assets that can help the region adapt to change.”
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
