The annual Epicenter Summit is a three-day interactive summit focusing on the Bay Area Earthquake Plan, and disaster response and recovery. Co-hosted by DEM and the Salvation Army, this inaugural summit took place April 4, 5 and 6, 2017 at Fort Mason Center. Epicenter brought together regional partners with the goal of renewing partnerships and exploring local and regional planning strategies for disaster response and recovery.
The Epicenter Agenda
The Salvation Army kicked-off the Epicenter Summit with response and recovery discussions among our community, non-profit, and interfaith partners. Of particular note was the Super Storm Sandy case study presented by non-governmental organizations and interfaith professionals: John Berglund and Zack Hodgson of the Salvation Army, Peter Gudaitis of New York Disaster Interfaith Services, Greg Forrester of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, and Trevor Riggen of the American Red Cross.
DEM began Day 2 Epicenter programming with presentations and facilitated workshops focused on earthquakes and Bay Area response and recovery plans. Dale Cox of the USGS presented the HayWired scenario along the Hayward Fault. The HayWired scenario was used to guide Epicenter Summit breakout groups organized by discipline to discuss the potential response and recovery efforts. Break out groups included: Transportation, Mass Care, Fire and Urban Search and Rescue and Infrastructure.
Epicenter Summit concluded on Day 3 with a panel program packed with all-star speakers from around the country. Richard ‘Dick’ Andrews, former Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services spoke about the State perspective to the numerous large-scale emergencies that that occurred during his tenure, including the Loma Prieta Earthquake.
DEM Division of Emergency Services Assistant Deputy Director Bijan Karimi led a panel discussion around technology and disasters with guests from One Concern, San Diego Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH). The day was rounded out by discussing the mass care reality faced by our New York partners during Hurricane Sandy. Lastly, panel including national guests such as Barb Graff of the City of Seattle, Robert Troy, FEMA’S Deputy Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator, and David Fukutomi, Cal OES shared first-hand experience and perspectives on innovated recovery planning.
Policy Group Epicenter Briefing and Emergency Response & Recovery Training
As part of the conclusion to Epicenter, DEM convened the Policy Group, which is comprised of the Mayor and City department heads, to brief city senior leaders on the key findings and outcomes of Epicenter. The Policy Group also received a training on their roles immediately following a disaster and were presented with the CCSF Senior Leader Disaster Playbook—a comprehensive reference guide for senior leaders to follow in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. [Insert picture of playbook]
the goal of renewing partnerships and exploring local and regional planning strategies for disaster response and recovery.
The Epicenter Agenda
The Salvation Army kicked-off the Epicenter Summit with response and recovery discussions among our community, non-profit, and interfaith partners. Of particular note was the Super Storm Sandy case study presented by non-governmental organizations and interfaith professionals: John Berglund and Zack Hodgson of the Salvation Army, Peter Gudaitis of New York Disaster Interfaith Services, Greg Forrester of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, and Trevor Riggen of the American Red Cross.
DEM began Day 2 Epicenter programming with presentations and facilitated workshops focused on earthquakes and Bay Area response and recovery plans. Dale Cox of the USGS presented the HayWired scenario along the Hayward Fault. The HayWired scenario was used to guide Epicenter Summit breakout groups organized by discipline to discuss the potential response and recovery efforts. Break out groups included: Transportation, Mass Care, Fire and Urban Search and Rescue and Infrastructure.
Epicenter Summit concluded on Day 3 with a panel program packed with all-star speakers from around the country. Richard ‘Dick’ Andrews, former Director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services spoke about the State perspective to the numerous large-scale emergencies that that occurred during his tenure, including the Loma Prieta Earthquake.
DEM Division of Emergency Services Assistant Deputy Director Bijan Karimi led a panel discussion around technology and disasters with guests from One Concern, San Diego Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH). The day was rounded out by discussing the mass care reality faced by our New York partners during Hurricane Sandy. Lastly, panel including national guests such as Barb Graff of the City of Seattle, Robert Troy, FEMA’S Deputy Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator, and David Fukutomi, Cal OES shared first-hand experience and perspectives on innovated recovery planning.
Policy Group Epicenter Briefing and Emergency Response & Recovery Training
As part of the conclusion to Epicenter, DEM convened the Policy Group, which is comprised of the Mayor and City department heads, to brief city senior leaders on the key findings and outcomes of Epicenter. The Policy Group also received a training on their roles immediately following a disaster and were presented with the CCSF Senior Leader Disaster Playbook—a comprehensive reference guide for senior leaders to follow in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. [Insert picture of playbook]
Epicenter 2017