Lessons from the Field: Natural Disasters and Older Adults

Part 1: Panel

• Jennifer Masotja, Emergency Manager, Multnomah County, Oregon 
• Patricia Johnson, Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay, Oregon
• Bob Wise, Vice President/General Manager, KOBI TV, Medford, Oregon

Summary:

This panel will address natural disasters like fires and earthquakes and the way such disasters are covered in the media. Jennifer Masotja will share lessons learned during the Eagle Creek Fire with a special focus on the impacts on older adults and people with disabilities in the shelter and evacuation process. Trish Johnson will speak to earthquakes, tsunamis, and other emergency situations. She will address how - at any age - one can take some basic steps to be as prepared as one can be for a natural disaster. Bob Wise will talk about the pivotal role of television and radio during natural disasters and discuss strategies and techniques that can enhance the flow of accurate and timely information.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how fires affect older adults and people with disabilities
• Learn how to start preparing for earthquakes, tsunamis, and other emergencies
• Understand the role and purpose of media coverage during disasters

Part 2: "A Diamond in the Rough: A Mapping Tool to Leverage Data for Equitable Emergency Response"

Presenter: Jennifer Masotja, Emergency Manager, Multnomah County, Oregon

Summary:

This presentation will address how Multnomah County Human Services is working to identify and reach vulnerable community members before, during, and after disasters.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about a mapping tool that leverages existing agency data to geographically identify impacted individuals
• Understand how this tool helps deliver equitable services and responses
• Learn what is next for this tool and how Multnomah County is working with community partners to expand its use while still protecting individuals' information

Session Facilitator: Joyce De Monnin

Continuing Education Credit:

This session has been approved for 2 CME credits (AMA PRE Category 1)* and 2 AFH training credits.

*Accreditation Statement: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of St. Charles Health System and Oregon Gerontological Association (OGA). St. Charles Health System is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. St. Charles Health System designates this live activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This is the third of five sessions of OGA's 2020 virtual conference. You can register for individual sessions or, at a discount, for the entire conference series. For an overview of all sessions, please visit the conference page.

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Jennifer Masotja, MSW, is an Emergency Manager with Multnomah County. Ms. Masotja’s primary focus is on Mass Care and Sheltering. She is also responsible for Safety, Security and Public-Facing Operations.

Recently, her work has included the development of a mapping tool that helps identify populations most at risk during disasters. Using tableau visualizations, the tool incorporates extensive data sets to create an equity lens to ensure that equity is infused into emergency management planning efforts. Following the 2017 Eagle Creek Fire that burned more than 50,000 acres in the Pacific Northwest, Ms. Masotja’s team received an award in recognition of "Outstanding Team Achievement" for their response efforts.

Ms. Masotja holds degrees in political science and social work, has spent time in the Peace Corps and private industry, and has more than 10 years of experience as an emergency manager.

Patricia (Trish) Johnson, PhD, has over 30 years of experience working in the public and not-for-profit sectors, mostly in health care administration. Her doctorate is in Education and she has a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

In her work life, Trish was responsible for organizational development and training for several large organizations. She also worked in Human Resources, Strategic Planning and Public Outreach. She teaches public administration and organizational development courses for Northern Arizona University and the University of Idaho.

Trish has spent the last four years as a volunteer for the Emergency Volunteer Corp of Nehalem Bay, in Oregon, providing information and training on being prepared for natural disasters. She is also on the boards of the North Tillamook Library and The Rinehart Clinic, a local health care clinic. 

Bob Wise is originally from Houston, TX, and graduated from Texas Tech University in 1983. He has been in broadcasting for 37 years and came to KOBI-TV / KOTI-TV in Medford in August 2004 as Vice President/ General Manager. 

Bob believes that local broadcasters can and do make a difference in the communities they serve. He has created several community projects - including The Southern Oregon Meth Project; Smart Choices / Health Lives; NBC Academic Challenge; YES, Youth Education Success; In This Together suicide prevention campaign - and was the 2018 Oregon Broadcaster of the Year.

Bob has been associated with United Way since 1995 and has served as President of the United Way of Shasta County and the United Way of Jackson County. He is a member of the Medford Rogue Rotary. He is a current Board Member for the Oregon Association of Broadcasters. Bob’s son Jason is the Director of Digital and Content for the Sacramento Kings Organization. His wife Sally is an avid tennis player.

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