Coastal Hazards Outreach Strategy Team (CHOST) holds Sept. meeting: Adopts Outreach Strategy
The Coastal Hazards Outreach Strategy Team (CHOST) held its September meeting in the Council Chambers of the City of D’Iberville, Thursday, September 25 at 9:30 a.m.
CHOST consists of a representative from each of the 12 local governments, 2 to 3 representatives from the public to serve on a rotating basis from the 12 communities, and other community stakeholders, such as representatives from private businesses and major employers.
The main topic of discussion was the adoption of the 2008 Outreach Program Strategy (OPS) for the Mississippi Gulf Coast area. Some of the stated goals of the OPS include;
GOAL 1: To make the public aware of the flood threat the communities may be susceptible to.
GOAL 2: To promote an all-hazard approach to public outreach
GOAL 3: To educate new local officials as to the importance of making the public aware of flood threats and other hazards.
GOAL 4: To provide a level of consistency in the public message disseminated from the various public entities participating in this strategy.
GOAL 5: To provide for the most comprehensive coverage for public outreach using the most cost effective means, including the pooling of resources and seeking of private sector sponsors.
GOAL 6: To promote the public awareness of the Preliminary DFIRMS to the community
The 2008 Outreach Program Strategy Team members are:
The City of Bay St. Louis: Jennifer Patin (Secretary)
The City of Biloxi: Rick Stickler
The City of D’Iberville: Hank Rogers (Chairman)
The City of Gautier: Paul Fox (Co-Chairman)
The City of Gulfport: Ray Eaton
Harrison County: Theresa Hydrick, Richard Herrin, Kelly Henderson
Long Beach: Earl Levens
Ocean Springs: Terry Agar
Pascagoula: Steve Mitchell
Pass Christian: Gene Peralta
Waveland: David Garcia
This outreach Program Strategy is designed to take a multi-hazard approach to outreach. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is primarily subject to floods, but also frequently subject to wind damage, tornadoes, lightning strikes, wildfires, and hail. During tropical events, the likelihood of wind damage is very high. Also associated with tropical event, but not limited to being in conjunction with them, the area may experience tornadoes and hail. Lightning strikes are common, especially in the summer months. Wildfires are also a prevalent threat, given the expanses of wooded terrain in the area.
With a few minor changes for spelling errors, the CHOST membership voted to adopt the OPS, without exception.
In addition, Mr. Dale Greenwell, Community Representative from D’Iberville, suggested the publication of a “What To Do” document that would give specific directions to local citizens in the event of a hurricane event. The guidebook would give specific suggestions on what to do to prepare for and respond to the threat of a hurricane landfall, including 72, 48 and 24 hour notices. It would also provide guidance for post storm recovery, what to do with pets, locations of shelters, evacuation routes and other invaluable information for storm events. The guidebook would be water resistant, spiral bound and sized to as to be easy to carry. It would also have a magnetic backing so that it could be placed on a kitchen appliance for easy access. Mr. Greenwell was appointed leader of a Committee to explore further the possibility of producing such a document.
Additional committees were formed and leaders appointed including; GIS Coordination, Terry Agar (Ocean Springs); Outreach Projects, Gene Peralta (Pass Christian) and Earl Levens (Long Beach); CRS/CFM Workshops and Training, Rick Stickler (Biloxi) and Leslie Robertson (D’Iberville); Public Relations, Bill Breeden and Bill Dunnam (Pascagoula).
Then next scheduled meeting is for November 13th, 2008 in Pascagoula, MS .
Report by David A. “Hank” Rogers, CBO/CFM
