Cited: Communication, collaboration are found to be lacking.
Wanted: A plan to define leadership roles, allocation of resources.

By Patrick M. O'Connell, as published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch .

A report timed six years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - and more than two years after Hurricane Katrina - says the St. Louis region is not as ready as it should be for a large-scale disaster.

Individuals and neighborhoods in particular should be more prepared for a large chemical spill, pandemic flu, major earthquake or severe tornado, which were rated in the FOCUS St. Louis study released Tuesday as the most likely disasters here.

Readiness has improved, a 29-member task force of the civic leadership organization found, but communication and collaboration remained a weakness, especially across state lines.

The report said most people do not have family emergency plans, know how to find emergency broadcasting stations or have up-to-date training in first aid. It is based in part on surveys completed by about 350 FOCUS members, 77 community organizations and a small group of disadvantaged residents.

"I don't think it's possible to be completely prepared for a mega-disaster - there are events of such magnitude that no one could prepare for them," said Barrett A. Toan, the retired CEO of Express Scripts and co-chairman of the disaster preparedness task force. "There is, however, a way to be better prepared, and I think we should be concerned that we are not better prepared."

The report specifically analyzes readiness for the most likely mass emergencies, pinpointing areas where preparation is low, mostly in communications among agencies.

In the event of a major toxic chemical leak, it says, antidotes would be in short supply, the public may be oblivious to the risks, and public health workers might struggle to diagnose injuries.

A widespread chemical release, regarded by the task force as the most likely major incident here, could kill up to 5,000 people and cause up to $500 million in economic consequences, it says. The least likely disaster on the list, a nuclear detonation, would be the deadliest, with an estimated toll of 35,000.

Estimates of deaths, financial damages and probabilities of various events were made using a consensus among a panel of regional disaster experts. They suggest about a 6 percent annual chance of a major chemical spill and about a 0.3 percent chance each year for a nuclear detonation.

The task force urged formation of a regional plan to define leadership roles and allocate resources, strengthen preparation at the neighborhood level and improve communication among emergency responders, utilities and social service groups.

"This report drives home the point that disaster preparation must be front and center in our consciousness," said Mark Miller, president of the FOCUS St. Louis board.

Joseph C. White, CEO of the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, said the report "provides us with a road map of how to become better prepared for threats to St. Louis than before."

White said the report shows "we're solid but we could be better."

The findings were detailed in a news conference at the Old Post Office downtown, six years to the day from the Sept. 11 attacks. Task force members suggested that because of increased awareness, the region is better prepared for an attack than for some other potential disasters.

"We're feeling good that we have come a long way," said Gary Christmann, chief of emergency management for the City of St. Louis, who worked with the task force. "But we have a long way to keep going, and we need to always be preparing and be willing to prepare."