July 07, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

Problems with PANDA?

by Jocelyn Dong

Five years ago, Palo Alto launched a program to train ordinary citizens how to respond in case of a major disaster, be it the Big One or a terrorist strike.

Known as PANDA -- Palo Alto Neighborhood Disaster Activities -- its intent was to equip people to play a key role in helping themselves and their neighbors should official emergency personnel be overwhelmed and unavailable. The program's slogan: "Preparing for Tomorrow's Disasters ... Today."

More than 350 citizens have taken the course since its inception. But now, some of the trainees nervously say they're not feeling all that prepared to act should a catastrophe hit the area.

"I sure hope I'm not the one who's called to help someone, because I think the training has become stale," Councilwoman Judy Kleinberg, a PANDA member, said during a recent City Council discussion on emergency preparedness.

Her sentiments are echoed by other PANDAs in town. Although the volunteers say they don't wish to blame anyone, including the program's manager, Barbara Cimino, they voice a desire to see improvements that would help them be more effective.

But Cimino and some citizens who've taken the training say the program does a fine job and that the city is fortunate to have it in place.

The basic seven-week training course was developed by FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It covers damage assessment, medical assistance, search and rescue, fire suppression, and "disaster psychology," among other topics.

Follow-up training includes monthly sessions on topics such as amateur radio and sandbagging, plus an annual preparedness exercise.

Despite the seemingly well-defined structure of the program, some PANDAs say their experience hasn't necessarily reflected theory. One seemed unaware of the ongoing training sessions, noting he hadn't received e-mail notices of the meetings "in ages."

Several said the follow-up trainings, held the first Tuesday of the month, are not at a convenient time, so they haven't attended.

PANDA Henry Neugass expressed interest in having "an independent PANDA association, or chance to get together to compare notes." There's nothing to promote solidarity, he said.

Some PANDAs don't even know their fellow trainees, and have had difficulties finding out from the city. PANDA Patrick Muffler said he tried to get a list of PANDAs when he took became chair of Barron Park's neighborhood safety and preparedness committee. When it wasn't immediately available, he culled through the PANDA database, finding outdated e-mail addresses and other errors, he said.

PANDAs also said they felt uncertain in their roles, one of which is to go to fire stations where there are emergency supply trailers filled with equipment such as medical supplies, sump pumps, radios, food and water.

The challenge, Neugass said, is that the coordination between emergency response personnel and PANDAs seems undefined.

"I don't have assurance there will be anyone there. PANDAs are a valid role in the hierarchy of expertise, but hierarchy requires that all the slots will be filled. I'm not sure I'll get direction I'll need when I get there."

Not all citizens feel ill prepared.

Jim McFall, head of the Southgate Neighborhood Watch group, called the PANDA "an outstanding program." He, his wife and several neighbors have taken the training.

"It's great because it makes you aware of your neighbors," he said. "If something happens, it makes you more prepared."

Jeffrey Shore, who lives in the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, was part of the first PANDA training class.

"It was a good orientation. It laid the groundwork (of) how you deal with the basic fundamentals when nothing works."

The program gave him a backpack filled with tools, such as rope and a hardhat, and a handbook he said he'd pull out in an emergency.

The training, he said, will help him and others to deal with the chaos of an emergency "on a rational basis."

Regardless of their satisfaction -- and even those who seek changes call the program "admirable" -- PANDAs agree on one thing: Their untrained neighbors need to wake up to the possibility of a disaster.

Several have tried to inventory their neighborhoods, as suggested by the PANDA program, to assess resources and vulnerabilities during an emergency. But they've found interest lacking and attribute the apathy to basic denial.

Muffler rated his neighborhood's preparation a three or four on a scale of 10," and Barron Park is probably one of the better prepared neighborhoods in the city."

In the council discussion, Kleinberg, who is the vice-chair for the county's Emergency Preparedness Council, urged her colleagues to make emergency preparedness a top priority for the city.

Activating neighbors costs very little, and could make a huge difference in the event of a disaster, she said.

The PANDA program is run by the Palo Alto Fire Department. Deputy Chief Judy Jewel, who is Cimino's supervisor, did not return calls for comment on this story. Senior staff writer Jocelyn Dong can be reached at jdong@paweekly.com.

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