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Facts on the Ground

  • EMS/Fire Response and hospital response was extremely effective
  • On the ground response for emergency was lacking a plan
  • What ended up happening was swift and significant, but disorganized and no clear chain of command/response was organized
    • Everyone was asking “who is responsible?” but no one seemed to know
  • Recognition that this is a rare event for Choteau/Teton County - 13 residences being affected by disaster at once is unlikely to happen again in any of our lifetimes, but there are a few circumstances where it could happen again
    • Different circumstances - ice storm, disaster at other apartment complexes/hotels, car accidents could be future plans

Actual Responses

  • Control of information and services
    • People started posting in the COYSI group and on social media immediately
    • Not all info was helpful - speculation on cause
      • Affected neighbors posting asking for help
    • Pinned post from my “authoritative” politician page pinned was useful
      • Governmental - city/county source rather an individual politician, but we need to potential have a clear chain of communication and access control as need for specific emergency events
  • emergency website domain recommended for a single source. Can be redirected to a FB group or FB page or page on another website, doesn’t have to be a fully fledged website
  • Opportunity Bank account was helpful, but limited - no online access for people out of town
    • GoFundMe was helpful, but need to make sure language is clearer on how funds will get to donation account
    • Choteau Ministerial Assoc. funneled money from GFM to Opp. Bank
    • 1st Bank of Montana left out, how to include, do we need to include?
    • Have multiple people on the fundraising accounts - bus proof & accountability/transparency
  • List of resources felt overwhelming when the residents needed immediate needs handled.
    • follow up from an agency will likely be important
    • may need to push them to access resource rather than let them find their way
  • CMA stepped up and helped planning meals for residents for 5-6 nights
  • Furniture/household item offers were immediate
    • Space too limited at church
    • Carson Crary stepped in as Eagle Project to organize furniture drive, items needed to be offloaded held at Scout Hall
      • not a permanent solution for future planning
    • Household items deferred to local thrift shops
  • excessive amount of in-kind donations
    • garage sale planned, free will basis, funds raised go to opportunity bank fund

Deficits

  • Lack of plan in place
  • Housing is a major issue
  • Communications

    • Need to designate a social media point person/location, media liason

      • Took 3 people to manage social media

    • Emergency shelter?

      • If bad things happen, where do people go IMMEDIATELY for first aid, mental health first aid, water, food, spiritual/emotional care, etc.?
      • Red Cross certifies areas as shelters - they have set requirements for these but whether we use them to help us or figure it out on our own having a place for people to go IMMEDIATELY would be good.
      • Most people were taken in by friends or neighbors but that meant Red Cross had to round them up, we still don't have a for-sure resident list, contact info, etc.
  • No clear chain of command
  • Lots of org "leaders" didn't want to take responsibility
  • Several orgs, no response at all
  • Needed a mental health professional on hand at first night's dinner