| Excepts from The City Manager's Report to Department Heads, Mayor and Council: Part 1 - Project Impact City Staff Issues 2001 - Feb. | March | 2000 - January | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | Aug. | New - Sept. 2000 to Jan. 20001
Part 2 - Project Impact Activities & Events During the December 26, 1999 Project Impact Steering Committee
meeting, Alex King, President of Nevada Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD),
presented Ben Hutchins with an award for his efforts in assisting the City in making the
Sparks Project Impact campaign successful and for his presentation given at the 8th
Annual National VOAD Conference in Tahoe last October. Ben’s presentation highlighted
Sparks as a Project Impact community local to the geographic location of the National
Conference. Ben Hutchins gave Project Impact presentations to the Volunteer
Organization Active in Disasters, the All Hazards Mitigation Advisory Committee and
Reno’s Ward 2 Central Neighborhood Advisory Committee. Ben also attended the Nevada
Emergency Preparedness Association conference and Governor’s Emergency Manager’s
conference in Las Vegas. Ben Hutchins gave a Project Impact presentation to approximately 100 employees of JV West, located on Coney Island Drive. As a result of the presentation JV West will be participating in the IBM Crisis Response Team’s disaster site assessments being offered to Sparks businesses through the Project Impact campaign. Ben gave a Project Impact interview on Renegade Radio in May and
will be giving a presentation at the Territorial Project Impact Summit in San Francisco
June 1st with Dee Beaugez, our Project Impact coordinator. The presentation is
entitled "Inviting News Media to Become Project Impact Partners". Ben Hutchins and Dee Beaugez gave a 1 ½ hour presentation in San Francisco at a Project Impact Western Territory Workshop. This presentation covered the topic of media relations and promoting Project Impact. The presentation was a multi-media blitz of the various ways the City of Sparks has been successful in promoting Project Impact and demonstrations on the numerous ways local media has embraced the Sparks Project Impact campaign. Recommendations were also given to those in the workshop as to how to promote Project Impact in their community in a cost effective way. After the workshop numerous complimentary comments, from a variety of sources, were received and FEMA Region IX notified Ben that they are recommending to the National FEMA office to present the City of Sparks with a rarely given National award at the National Project Impact summit in December. Out of over 200 Project Impact communities, only a small handful receive National awards or National recognition. Ben has also been elected as the Local Emergency Planning Committee
Treasurer. With this position comes the responsibility of grant management and reporting
for numerous public safety projects throughout the northern Nevada region. September 2000 to January 2001 Ben Hutchins was one of eleven people in the country chosen to participate in a national focus group to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency develop a Project Impact web site that aims to assist Project Impact communities manager their projects, resources and grants. The first gathering of this new focus group took place in Bluemont, Virginia at the Mt. Weather facility. There are currently over 200 Project Impact communities in the country. Ben was also the keynote speaker, giving a forty five minute Project Impact presentation, at the Association of Engineering Geologists monthly dinner.Back to Top of Page PROJECT IMPACT ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS Ben Hutchins and Dee Beaugez have been quite busy in promoting and managing the Project Impact campaign. There was a Project Impact "Project Kick-Off" Press
Conference held October 12 at 2 pm on Victorian Avenue in the amphitheatre. Bill Isaeff
was the MC for the event. The press conference began with the debut of the City of Sparks
Project Impact jingle, composed and produced, at no charge to the city, by Robert Forman
and Dee Beaugez.
Following the speakers, each grant partner signed their contract with the city and received a purchase order which authorized them to proceed with projects that will further prepare our community for a disaster. Following the press conference, Ben Hutchins and Dee Beaugez traveled to the Project Impact regional summit in Oakland, CA where the Sparks Project Impact jingle was also debuted. The response from the other communities was outstanding and the City of Sparks was commended for the progress to date and the approach with promoting the Project Impact initiative with the use of music and for Sparks ability to partnership effectively with local media outlets. The Project Impact media campaign will run for a duration of at least one year and will inform the public of Project Impact projects, cover disaster preparedness tips that can be used by the general public, promote the city’s disaster web site and inform the public of the hazards in our area in order to effectively encourage disaster preparedness actions. The City of Sparks now has a web site for Project Impact located at www.disasterplans.com. This site came on line in October and will be continually updated for Project Impact events and disaster preparedness information. The site will also link to partner pages that are Project Impact related and other disaster related web sites such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service. There is still work to be done before the web site will be complete and on a "maintenance" basis. Dee Beaugez, the consultant hired as the city’s part time
Project Impact coordinator, has made an offer to the city for a Project Impact fundraiser.
Dee and her husband has produced, and personally paid for, numerous original emergency
management songs to be included in a CD to benefit the Emergency Animal Rescue Service.
With minor modifications to the CD cover, the CD could be used as a fundraiser for Project
Impact. Dee said that per her conversations through national emergency management web chat
rooms, this concept has been well received. This approach was also well received by FEMA
and the other Project Impact communities at the October 13th Project Impact regional
summit. City staff is currently reviewing the proposal and related details to determine if
this fundraising approach is something the Council might want to consider. During the week of December 12 - 16 the following representatives of Sparks attended the National Project Impact Summit in Washington DC:
There were two Project Impact communities chosen, out of over 200, to give presentations on web sites. Sparks was one of the two communities chosen. Dee Beaugez gave an excellent Project Impact web site presentation on behalf of the City of Sparks. The city, through FEMA grant funds, hired Dee to build the Sparks Project Impact web site for $2,500. Total cost of the web site to date is approximately $3,000 ($2,500 + incidentals). Ben and Dee will be adding more information, links, pictures and graphics in the upcoming months. Also during the summit, Shaun Carey led a class for Building Officials relating to their role in disaster preparedness topics. Shaun did an excellent job representing Sparks and demonstrated a wealth of knowledge to the Building Official participants relating to the topics of discussion. During one of the luncheons, Ben Hutchins met James Lee Witt, Director of FEMA, and presented him with a sample of the Sparks Project Impact jingle and original local disaster songs produced by Robert Forman and Dee Beaugez that will be used as a fundraiser to benefit the City of Sparks Project Impact campaign. James listened to the tape after lunch and immediately offered to place samples of the CD fundraiser on FEMA’s web site. FEMA staff informed Ben and Dee that James was very impressed with the Sparks Project Impact jingle and sample disaster songs. Overall, the National Project Impact Summit was a great experience for all who attended. During December, Sparks was recognized by UNR’s Sanford Center for Aging as a "Sanford Senior Star" for the efforts through Project Impact to improve disaster preparedness for seniors through the partnership initiated with the American Red Cross. Sparks was honored on KSRN, FM December 26th at 10:00a.m. and again at 11:30a.m. Per Zanny Walsh, Director of Development, in a letter to Shaun Carey dated December 16, 1999 "The City of Sparks has taken an important step in safe guarding older adults in the event of a disaster. You demonstrated what is accomplished when civic and community organizations work together, and I commend your efforts." Sparks has an ambitious agenda through the Project Impact campaign.
The next Project Impact Steering Committee meeting will be held at City Hall in the
Employee Lounge at 2:30p.m. January 26, 2000. Within the last month, a lot has happened. The Sparks Project Impact campaign has taken on a new image, a Sparks Project Impact logo. This logo will be used on the City’s Project Impact web site along with Project Impact letterhead and is in both black and white and five color formats. Also, numerous projects have begun to take shape or have been completed. The following is a current update through January:
Since Project Impact projects are now full steam ahead, the next phase will be to increase our partnerships within the community to enhance our disaster preparedness efforts and projects. During December, staff heard from several sources that Sparks is gaining a reputation as one of the best Project Impact communities in the Nation. This comment came from Bill Lundy, FEMA representative, Kamala Carmazzi, Fiscal Manager for the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, Alex King, President of Nevada Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and the Project Impact coordinator for Las Vegas. Staff would like to thank the City employees who have recently become involved with the Project Impact campaign along with the numerous Project Impact partners. Without their support, Sparks would not be seen as one of the Nation’s best Project Impact communities. Staff would like to give a special thanks to Dee Beaugez (part-time
Project Impact Coordinator/Consultant) for her never ending efforts in assisting staff in
organizing and implementing the many tasks necessary in executing the Sparks Project
Impact campaign. Dee has donated thousands of dollars in time and has used her many
community contacts to ensure that the City of Sparks can be proud of its efforts in making
Sparks a more disaster resistant community. Staff has successfully secured Roger Feris to join the Sparks Project Impact campaign. Roger has been recognized by FEMA on a national level for his expertise in Home Earthquake Retrofitting Workshops. Over 130 invitations were mailed inviting people from various organizations to participate in the training. Of those invited were other Project Impact communities such as Reno and Carson City along with numerous disaster preparedness and response organization. The following Home Earthquake Retrofitting Workshops will be held in the Council Chambers:
SNCAT will be taping the two sessions held March 10, 2000. Staff will use the tapes as a mentoring tool for others in the community. Personnel from the Sparks Supply One Home Center will receive training at the workshops in order to provide regular training for citizens. The Supply One classes will be provided as a part of Project Impact at no cost to the City. In turn, the City will promote their classes. Dr. Martin Rutherford, D.C. (Chiropractic Arts Center) donated $500 as a sponsor to the workshops. During February, the following guest speakers were highlighted as Sparks Project Impact partners on KOH’s Breakfast Club program:
Staff has been busy giving Project Impact presentations and has offered assistance to Carson City and the City of Reno for their Project Impact campaigns. Staff also has other presentations scheduled for organizations such as Nevada’s All Hazards Mitigation Advisory Committee, the Earthquake Safety Council and the Volunteer Organization Active in Disaster. Staff will be working with Geno Martini and Steve Driscoll to solicit banking partners to offer low interest rate loans to citizens and business owners that have a desire to make capital improvements to real property in an effort to be more disaster resistant. Project Impact television spots started airing on KOLO TV 8 mid February. Spokespersons for the spots include Lise Mousel, Susan Asher and Leslie Schaffer. New radio Public Service Announcements will start airing in March. Ken Reterath, Director of Adult Services, Washoe County Department
of Social Services will be the Sparks Project Impact Special Needs Chairman. Staff looks
forward to working with Ken. During March, Home Earthquake Retrofit Workshops were offered to the community. The workshops were presented by Roger Faris who has been recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for his expertise in this area. SNCAT taped two of the workshops. Staff has offered to lend the tapes to all Sparks employees and will use the them as a mentoring tool for others in the community. Dr. Martin Rutherford, (Chiropractic Arts Center & Power Health Network, LLC) donated $500 as a sponsor to the workshops. During March, the following guest speakers were highlighted as a part of the Sparks Project Impact campaign on KOH’s Breakfast Club program:
New radio Public Service Announcements started airing in March using the voice of KOH’s Ross Mitchell. KOLO TV-8, a Sparks Project Impact partner, has placed the Project Impact logo in the weather section of their new web site with a link to the Sparks Project Impact web site. Renegade Radio, a Sparks Project Impact partner, has developed, at no charge, a Project Impact web page that includes audio of the Sparks Project Impact radio commercials as well as the two Sparks Project Impact jingles. They have also started to add pictures of events where they have promoted the Sparks Project Impact campaign. News Radio 780 KOH, a Sparks Project Impact partner, has placed the Project Impact logo on the front page of their web site with a link to the Sparks Project Impact web site. The Sparks City Hall emergency generator project is nearing completion. The Project Impact CD fund-raiser project will be in full swing in May. You can now place an order for the CD on the Project Impact web site. Security software is currently being developed so payments can be made by credit card. The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross, a Sparks Project Impact partner, has organized and assembled 600 senior disaster preparedness kits. They will be holding two Project Impact emergency preparedness training courses in May as a pre-requisite to those seniors receiving the kits. Smiths Supermarket donated $3,900 worth of supplies for the kits. Staff received a call from FEMA and was informed that the UNR Earthquake Safety Calendar project is receiving some National attention. The Sparks Project Impact campaign financially supported the distribution of these calendars to all public classrooms in the Washoe County School District. The Nevada Humane Society, a Sparks Project Impact partner, purchased an emergency animal rescue boat, motor and trailer. This purchase was supported by Sparks Project Impact funding. IBM Global Services performed emergency
vulnerability assessments to City Hall, the Police Station and Fire Station Headquarters.
A report on their findings are still pending. The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross, a Sparks Project Impact partner, organized and assembled 600 senior disaster preparedness kits to be given away to Seniors, at no charge, as long as they attend a one hour disaster preparedness training course. As of the date of this writing three disaster training courses have been offered with over 145 participants. Television coverage was provided by KOLO TV, the Sparks Project Impact television partner. Two more courses will be offered, May 26th and June 10th. The Sparks Project Impact campaign and the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross are in the preliminary steps of planning a Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.). Implementing a C.E.R.T. would involve training volunteers, from various geographic locations within the city, to equip them with skills necessary to be able to provide vital life saving services to the community after a disaster. These skills are important since C.E.R.T. members would often be the first to arrive at the scene of a disaster and could perform general first response life saving activities prior to the arrival of disaster response personnel. C.E.R.T. members would also be trained to assist disaster response personnel once at the scene of a disaster. If the project is deemed feasible, $35,000 would need to be redirected from another Red Cross Project Impact project to support the hiring of a Red Cross program coordinator, pending Council approval. The Nevada Humane Society, a Sparks Project Impact partner, purchased a large emergency tent, horse trailer, animal rescue cages, holding pens and other emergency response supplies. These purchases were supported by Sparks Project Impact funding. Reports on the findings of IBM Crisis Response Team’s emergency vulnerability assessments on City Hall, the Police Station and Fire Station Headquarters were delivered. These reports have a number of disaster preparedness recommendations that will be the basis of future projects. Staff is in the process of promoting Sparks business disaster site
assessments that will be offered in June. The Project Impact campaign will offer this
service to Sparks business owners, free of charge. Each facility walk through will be
performed by the IBM Crisis Response Team who will provide practical disaster mitigation
and preparedness recommendations. Staff has targeted those businesses that sustained
damage in the flood of 1997; however, any Sparks business is eligible to participate. During the week of June 19, 2000, walk-through assessments were conducted on forty Sparks businesses by professional disaster mitigation specialists from the IBM Global Crisis Response Team who is recognized worldwide for their expertise and experience in the field of disaster mitigation and recovery. Business owners were given a Disaster Readiness Questionnaire to take notes for making improvements based on recommendations made during the walk-through. They were also provided information on the National Flood Insurance Program, FEMA Disaster Assistance, and a list of what businesses should keep on-hand as part of a Corporate Office Survival Kit. Some of the topics considered were nonstructural earthquake bracing, storage practices, vulnerability to power supply interruptions, data storage practices, and where to obtain and how to properly use sandbags to protect against flooding. The on-site disaster vulnerability assessments provided practical recommendations to protect businesses from the adverse effects of disasters, such as floods, earthquakes and fires as well as how to minimize down time after a disaster. Effective planning and mitigation efforts before a disaster often make the difference between being able to stay in business following a disaster or having to close down. KOLO TV 8 aired a two minute segment on June 21, 2000 at one of the local businesses that participated in this free service provided by the Sparks Project Impact campaign. Brent Woodworth, IBM Crisis Response Team’s Worldwide Manager, was interviewed on KOH’s Breakfast Club program by Ross Mitchell on June 27, 2000 and staff authored an article that will be published in the upcoming Nevada League of Cities and Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. publications along with posted on FEMA’s National web site and the Sparks Project Impact web site. FEMA requested a copy of the television and radio coverage to promote to other Project Impact communities throughout the Country. The Project Impact campaign has formally kicked off a music CD fund-raiser to support future projects. The CD’s will be promoted through FEMA’s National web site, the American Red Cross National web site, through the local media, a variety of publications and possibly through Barnes & Noble as well as other outlets as time progresses. The music on the CD was performed and produced locally as a partnership to the Sparks Project Impact campaign - at no charge except for minor costs necessary to produce a personalized CD cover along with disaster supplies information on the inside of the CD cover. Staff expects the first shipment of CD’s to arrive any day. Staff has secured a new and exciting partner in the Project Impact campaign - Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC). Staff will be giving two presentations in July to numerous constituents of ABC and will be soliciting contractors to participate in the Project Impact home earthquake retrofit program that will be launched as soon as the city’s building department reviews and approves the standardized earthquake retrofit program. Staff has recommended using the same program developed by Seattle’s Project Impact campaign which has been recognized as one of the best home earthquake retrofit programs in the Country. As a result of this new Project Impact partnership, ABC has also offered to assist the city in resources that they have available to them, through their constituents, during a disaster. The Sierra Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross, through a partnership with the Project Impact campaign, gave a disaster preparedness presentation at the city’s Safety Committee breakfast. At the presentation, practical disaster preparedness information was provided to those that were interested. Staff authored a new Project Impact earthquake commercial that will
be aired soon. This commercial was produced, free of charge, courtesy of Renegade Radio
and will be aired on KOH and Renegade Radio as soon as earthquake sounds can be added to
the spot. Staff had trouble finding real earthquake sounds, but finally located a source
and is awaiting delivery. THEY’RE HERE! Hot off the press are Project Impact CD’s - ready for sale and ready for your listening enjoyment. Through local partnerships, a musical CD was developed to assist the City of Sparks raise funds for Project Impact disaster education and special needs projects. The CD includes 10 original disaster related songs, written and produced by Robert Forman and Dee Beaugez. The CD also features two original Project Impact jingles and an original theme song for the Red Cross: "We'll Be There". Located inside the front cover of the CD is information provided by the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross relating to a family disaster supplies kit. On the back cover is a list of Project Impact partners and logos of the local media partners whom will assist in the marketing effort. The marketing campaign for the fund-raiser will begin in September so remember - YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST. You can order the CD by credit card on the Project Impact web site, (yes, this is a secure site) or contact Ben Hutchins at extension 619 to save shipping and handling charges. You can hear an audio demo of the CD on-line ( through the cooperation and support of one of the Sparks Project Impact media partners - Renegade Radio 101.3 fm. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has also taken and interest in the Sparks CD fund-raiser. Visit for more details.
*****SUPPORT THE SPARKS PROJECT IMPACT CAMPAIGN***** *****ORDER YOUR CD TODAY***** Staff has taken over the responsibility of scheduling the weekly KOH Breakfast Club Project Impact updates. Scheduling was previously the responsibility of Lise Mousel. The weekly updates have been changed from Tuesday’s at 7:20 am to Monday’s at 8:20 am. FEMA has also has had an interest in the Project Impact Business Disaster Vulnerability Assessments project. Along with the media coverage reported in the City Manager’s report last month, you can also see an article on the FEMA web site at Nevada’s Division of Emergency Management will also be publishing this story in their upcoming newsletter. A number of additions and changes will be made to the Project Impact web site in the near future. Keep your eye out for new and exciting additions and changes. A Project Impact SNCAT program was recently taped that featured Bill Isaeff as the MC, Ben Hutchins, Project Impact Steering Committee Chairman, Brent Woodworth from the IBM Crisis Response Team and Judy Henderson from the Red Cross. This program will be aired forty four times during August. Staff gave two presentations to the Associated Builders and
Contractors (ABC). ABC invited a national ABC representative to the second presentation in
an effort to encourage other ABC chapters in the country to get involved with local
Project Impact campaigns. The weekly KOH Breakfast Club Project Impact updates have been changed back to Tuesday’s at 7:20 a.m. rather than Monday’s at 8:20 a.m. The "Spotlight on Sparks" program is shown monthly on Sierra Nevada Community Access Television. The Project Impact campaign was featured during the month of August. This program included Bill Isaeff as the MC, Ben Hutchins, Project Impact Steering Committee Chairman, Brent Woodworth from the IBM Crisis Response Team and Judy Henderson from the American Red Cross. The program was aired forty four times during August. The Project Impact campaign has joined forces with the Fire Prevention Division of the city. In the near future, during regular inspections of businesses, information will be provided that highlight areas of concern and actions to consider in becoming prepared for disasters. Information will also be provided about the National Flood Insurance Program and how to mitigate against various damage that can be caused by disasters. A Project Impact Steering Committee meeting was held August 9, 2000. In addition to discussing the numerous projects under way, presentations were given from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Wells Fargo Bank, Sanders Valve and the Associated Builder’s and Contractors. Low interest rate loans for disaster mitigation projects for businesses are expected to be available to Sparks businesses sometime in October - or shortly thereafter. There are currently a number of programs available through Wells Fargo bank for mitigation projects. After the meeting, Sanders Valve offered to donate several earthquake safety gas valves for city facilities since he was impressed with the Sparks Project Impact efforts. At the Steering Committee meeting, certificates of appreciation, signed by the Mayor and City Manager, were handed out to the Project Impact partners that were present. Following the meeting all other certificates of appreciation were mailed to those partners that could not make the meeting. Over 50 certificates were either handed out or mailed. A new earthquake commercial was written by Ben Hutchins and produced, free of charge, courtesy of Renegade Radio 101.3 fm. The spot was debuted at the August 9th Steering Committee meeting where it received a round of applause. The commercial is currently being aired on Renegade Radio and informs the public about the earthquake risk in the region; the fact that falling objects are the main cause of injury during an earthquake and that a minor home earthquake retrofit can significantly reduce, or even eliminate, property damage to your home if done prior to an earthquake. Renegade Radio has also launched an on-air Project Impact Youth Program, again at no cost to the city. Two commercials run at various times during the day. One describes the program and another is a disaster question of the week. Each listener that participates is added to a weekly drawing for a 5 pack of new music CD’s (or other prizes such as concert tickets) and a monthly drawing for larger prizes such as bicycles or TV/CD/Radio combination boom boxes. The quiz of the week is added to the station’s phone system and web site ( Participants can enter by leaving their name and number on the phone system, web site or calling in to talk to a live DJ). The DJ’s will also discuss this program during the "CAGE" program Monday - Friday from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. The answer to each weekly quiz is obvious (on purpose) and funny. From prior experience of the station, this is a very effective way to get the interest of the youth (since it is funny and entertaining) while at the same time teaching them something. They also remember the information since they had to either call into the station or get on the web site to participate (active participation). This program will also be heard live on the world wide web by
thousands of listeners in the near future. The station, on average, receives over 12,000
hits on their web site per month and will have a T-1 line installed soon. This will
replace the current unacceptable internet broadcast signal with a crystal clear live audio
signal. Therefore, the Sparks youth Project Impact campaign will reach thousands of youth
throughout the country (and world) in the upcoming year. The Sparks Project Impact campaign was recently chosen by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as one of ten "STAR" communities in the country. There are currently over two hundred Project Impact communities in the country. With this honor comes national recognition by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and an award to be presented to the City at the national Project Impact summit that will be held November 12 - 16 in Washington D.C. The Sparks Project Impact campaign was also chosen to provide a number of 1 ½ hour workshops at the national summit. There will be two separate workshops; how to put together a successful Project Impact campaign; and how to effectively work with the media. These workshops will be repeated a number of times during the summit. The Sparks Project Impact web site was also recently granted the 2000/2001 Golden Web Award. Staff would like to thank the Sparks Project Impact Coordinator, Dee Beaugez. Without her never ending energy and support, not to mention the thousands of dollars of donated services, the Sparks Project Impact campaign would not be what it is today. Dee has unselfishly taken the initiative to make a difference in our community and the steps necessary to make the Sparks Project Impact campaign one of the very best in the nation. Staff would also like to thank the numerous community partners and City employees that participated in the Project Impact campaign - for without their assistance the Sparks Project Impact campaign would not exist.Back to Top of Page October 2000 During the week of November 12 - 16 the City of Sparks Project Impact campaign was recognized as one of the 10 best Project Impact communities in the country out of nearly 250 nation wide at the National Project Impact Summit in Washington D.C. During the star community plenary, a three minute video presentation was presented that outlined a few of the Sparks Project Impact accomplishments as well as a three minute presentation given by the Sparks Project Impact Coordinator, Dee Beaugez. With such recognition also comes allot of hard work. The following presentations were also given by representatives from Sparks: Shaun Carey participated in a focus group conducted by the University of Delaware's Disaster Research Center. Shaun shared information relating to Sparks Project Impact projects and the reasons behind the success of the campaign. This session was to document lessons learned throughout the country, particularly those communities that FEMA has recognized to be a success. Ben Hutchins gave a presentation to a group from FEMA's Region IX. Ben's presentation covered all of the Sparks Project Impact efforts to date and informed the group where the City planned to go in the future. Dee Beaugez and Ben Hutchins gave two tag team presentations on how to put together a successful Project Impact campaign from start to end including topics relating to management style, motivational factor for all involved, grant management, management structure, sharing resources and marketing. Also during November, the Federal Emergency Management Agency chose the Sparks radio partners, KOH and Renegade Radio, as THE National radio example for the country. This is quite an honor and the Sparks Project Impact campaign owes a big "thank you" to these fine media outlets for their efforts and support of the Project Impact campaign.Back to Top of Page The City of Sparks Project Impact campaign took over as trustee of all funds held and disbursed by the Washoe Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). Staff in the Public Works Department is currently responsible for grant reporting, administration and documentation - as well as financial tracking, approval and processing for all Washoe LEPC funds. Prior to the City of Sparks taking over as trustee for the Washoe LEPC, financial reporting and tracking was in disarray and written procurement procedures were nonexistent. Also, grant reporting was insufficient and not up to date. As a result, the State, who is their sole source of funding, was denying funds - grants that were already approved as well as any potential future grants. Subsequent to taking over as trustee, a financial tracking system has been implemented and written procurement procedures have been developed to ensure sufficient internal controls over funds received and disbursed. As a result, the State of Nevada has released funds already approved, but on hold, and granted a number of new grants.Back to Top of Page National Case Study - The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chose the City of Sparks to be one of three case studies in the nation, out of a pool of nearly 250. As a result, the Sparks Project Impact campaign will be used as an example for other cities to emulate. Pre-Incident Planning System - The City of Sparks Project Impact campaign is participating in a three-month pilot test project of the Pre-Incident Plan System (PiPS). FEMA and Littleton Colorado Fire Department selected the following communities to pilot test the PiPS: El Paso County, Colo.; Bozeman, Mont.; Sparks, Nev.; Corvallis, Ore.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Watertown, S.D.; and Casper/Natrona County, Wyo. PiPS is a new tool that will provide emergency first responders "virtual tour" information valuable in responding to a variety of emergency events. The PiPS template was designed to enable firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement and emergency management personnel to quickly view a facility and have immediate access to emergency information. For example, by knowing how to get to the library or chemistry lab, where a hallway leads and where turn-off valves are located, first responders will be able to avoid hotspots and go directly where they are most needed. It can also be used as a planning and teaching tool to assist first responders become familiar with schools and help develop emergency response plans to respond to hazmat spills, bioterrorism, natural disasters or even violence. Traditionally, emergency personnel have, at best, had access either to skimpy facility data sheets or to bulky volumes of complex and, in some cases, outdated drawings of community facilities. While such documents may contain important information, they are often difficult and inefficient to use in urgent situations. Littleton Fire Department Captain Jim Olsen developed the PiPS CD ROM-based template. When used properly, it allows emergency personnel to simply slip a CD into a computer and, in a few clicks, see a floor plan and take a virtual walk-through of a facility, complete with 360-degree panoramic views of key spaces. The template format also includes such vital details as contact information, school hours, numbers of students and staff, locations of hazardous materials, hydrants, and locations of electrical, water and gas switches and valves. The PiPS template provides the kind of information that allows officials/first responders to respond quickly to a terrorist attack by mapping out, in detail, where deadly agents are concentrated and where they are likely to spread. The PiPS template can model the inside layout and generic characteristics of buildings - a feature that will allow officials to quickly analyze a hazardous spill or attack inside a building. The system is ideal for facilities such as schools, large government offices, national landmarks or public buildings that house large groups of employees. During the pilot test portion, the Sparks Project Impact campaign will document Sparks City Hall and Sparks High School. Subsequent to the pilot test phase, the Sparks Project Impact campaign will use the improved version of the software, modified by FEMA based on recommendations of the pilot test communities, to expand the project throughout the Truckee Meadows, starting with schools in the Washoe County School District. |
