NEWS
NORMAN, OKLA. – The Norman Community Needs Network, led by University of Oklahoma faculty, hosted a summit of meteorologists, local media corporations, tribal government, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in the Norman area on May 7 to explore the successes and limitations of the community’s response to recent severe weather and preparedness for future storms.
More than 30 representatives from 17 organizations joined in a tabletop exercise, aiming to bolster interagency connections and cooperation to improve response to future severe weather.
“The disaster preparedness workshop is one-of-a-kind as it is based on social network and knowledge exchange research on the region, and incorporates a wide range of sectors,” said Xiaochen Angela Zhang, Ph.D., leader of the project. “Most disaster preparedness workshops only involve one or two sectors.”
The workshop was part of a National Science Foundation-funded research project led by Zhang to examine how to leverage social networks and communal capacity to strengthen regional city, county, nonprofit and business sectors via mutual collaboration.
“As with any disaster, it takes a whole community approach to respond and recover from the damage that it caused,” said Tim Zientek, director of emergency management for the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. “Working together is what it takes to support when it is needed the most. Knowing who has what resources and where to request those resources is paramount for disaster response and recovery.”
Due to its existing partnerships with the Community Needs Network, an initiative of the United Way of Norman and the Center for Faculty Excellence at the University of Oklahoma, the city of Norman is a model for this kind of project.
“Our focus is to keep everyone moving in the same, organized direction when disasters strike so we’re providing care and services to our community in the best way possible. Fortunately, we’re lucky to have incredible partners throughout Cleveland County with the same focus, said Jackie Kanak, who serves as regional administrative director for the Cleveland County Health Department. “We work together year-round to keep communication flowing and plans in place, so we’re prepared when needed.”
“United Way is proud to continue our partnership with the University of Oklahoma through the Community Needs Network,” said Diane Murphree, director of community impact at the United Way of Norman. “We are looking forward to coordinating with community partners to provide the best and most efficient emergency services so that the people in Cleveland, Garvin and McClain Counties can quickly get the help they need.”
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.
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