08-09-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Ramsey County │ Annex B: Protective Actions 7 and warnings and specific directions on what actions to take, some will refuse to evacuate no matter how dangerous the situation is. Nonetheless, those working in or supporting protective action activities must make every reasonable effort to ensure equitable access to both public alerts and warning about the protective actions and the services provided by the County and municipalities. The County and municipalities commit to engaging and integrating people from the spectrum of representative demographics of local jurisdictions in protective actions planning efforts and incorporating their input to provide quality assurance that the unique individual needs of all community members are addressed during response activities. Needs that will be considered and addressed may include, but are not limited to, cultural considerations informed by race and ethnicity, including indigenous peoples, communities of color, and immigrant and refugee communities; gender, including women; age, including the elderly and youth; sexual and gender minorities; people with disabilities; occupation and income level including low-income individuals and the unhoused; education level; people with no or limited English language proficiency; limited digital access; and geographic location. In the effort to meet this equity commitment, the County and municipalities will do due diligence for ensuring cultural competence in delivering protective action services through the following: • Utilize appropriate methods for interacting, sensitively, effectively, and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, age groups, and lifestyle preferences. • Pre-identify, contact, and prepare for activation and engagement of trusted DAFN and cultural diversity support contracts, resources, community champions. • Identify potential location, needs, issues, and concerns of specifically known, vulnerable, high- risk populations. • Meet with the Public Information Officer (PIO) and/or lead Joint Information Center (JIC) representative and key community stakeholders prior to an event to address culturally inclusive information, the most effective communications methods, and processes to ensure quality in messaging competence about the protective actions being requested. • Prepare to provide additional support during evacuation procedures to individuals who may have concerns and require specific support to address unique issues of personal physical and emotional safety (e.g., unhoused, undocumented, limited English proficiency speakers, and populations vulnerable to exploitation or victimization). 3.1.5 CRITICAL TASKS During a response, critical tasks may include the following: • Take action based on all available information; be prepared to pivot as more information becomes known and/or as necessary. • Provide public alert and warning messaging that is culturally competent, accessible, timely, and actionable to the populations served. • Begin sheltering-in-place or evacuation procedures.