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Living in Silos

Not only do we live in silos, we operate in them and feel safe in them too.

Irvin Redlener is a University of Columbia public health person who has drawn a great deal of attention from senior decision makers for his writings on the subject of disasters.  The Natural Hazards Observer had a one page article that covered his talk at the Natural Hazards Workshop.  

 

One quote of his that caught my attention is, "We're addicted to siloization."  It is probably not a word you find in any dictionary, but it aptly describes the behaviors of many if not most people and organizations.  It is the willingness and proclivity to "go it alone" without coordinating our activities with other jurisdictions or organizations.  

 

While some lip service has been paid towards regionalization of efforts there is much work to be done to see joint planning, training, and operations come to fruition.  It takes dedicated people working hard at working with others to get us out of our silos.  Until that happens we will continue to be taught lessons that don't seem to be able to learn from. 

Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.
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