Building from the Ground Up Disaster Management: The Experience of A Small Business Frances Kernodle Associates (FKA)

Stage 1: Laying the Foundation Established FKA in Washington, DC Provided clients with research /report writing, marketing support, management consulting & strategic planning services Initially, focused on research & analysis of infrastructure and economic development, along with engineering and construction issues

Stage 2: Building the Firm Increased company size & expanded areas of focus  Discussions with clients about the relationship of engineering & construction issues to disaster management policies & best practices led to new contracts  Hired additional staff to increase research and analysis capability  Relocated main operations of FKA to Alexandria, VA. Expanded client base to include more U.S. government agencies, as well as international organizations  U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Laboratory (INEEL)  Federal Emergency Management Agency  Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration  Smithsonian Institution  Japan’s Cabinet Office for Crisis & Emergency Management  Japan Institute of Construction Engineering (JICE)

Stage 3: Attention to Detail Monitoring trends and presenting new perspectives increased our opportunities in emergency management leading to new assignments in new areas, including public awareness & outreach Representative Reports:  The Transformation of FEMA since 1992  Case Study of the Texas Floods of 1998  River Flood Preparedness & Mitigation  Case Study of Hurricane Floyd  Flood Disaster Relief Efforts -- Volunteer Groups/NGOs  Emergency Management Preparedness & Training Exercises

Stage 3: Attention to Detail (continued) Stage 3: Attention to Detail (continued) Representative International Research Delegations Coordinated by FKA:  Japanese government fact-finding mission on flood-related disaster management policies and practices – DC, North Carolina, Texas  Japanese local government research mission to Mt. Saint Helens & Mt. Kilauea following Hokkaido volcano – meetings with USGS and state & local emergency management agencies in Washington State & Hawaii Staff participation in Red Cross disaster management training led to “hands on” experience in volunteer activities following & Hurricane Isabel

Stage 4: Adaptation and Evolution Research results and demonstrated expertise stimulated interest in additional research, more international missions and new opportunities Additional Representative Research Reports :  Economic Impacts of Terrorist Events in the United States  Impact of Terrorist Events of on the Engineering & Construction Industry  Terrorist Attacks in the United States: An Overview of Response & Recovery Activities Representative Project:  “Transit Watch” -- nationwide safety/ security awareness & outreach campaign for the Dept. of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) – FKA conducted the research & surveying component of the initiative

Building from the Ground Up “… as an independent research, communications and strategic planning organization and by partnering with the public sector, NGOs & other private sector organizations, we play an active role in emergency management in the U.S., as well as in other countries.” Please contact us: Fran Kernodle, President FKA 113 N. Alfred Street Alexandria, Virginia