Arts Disaster & Crisis Preparedness Conference

Conversations on Emergency Prevention, Management, and Response
Panelists: Alicia Jay, Wes Bedwell. Kyle Jay

This session features a Certified Building Official/Fire Marshall, disaster responder EPA subcontractor, and Theatrical Firearms Safety artist/Fight Choreographer to talk about various aspects of emergency response from prevention through recovery with the through-line of fire.

Emergency management begins before the emergency has occurred. With knowledge, a plan of action, and some common sense, organizations can position themselves for better outcomes when it comes to emergency prevention, mitigation, and recovery. This session brings together a Certified Building Official/Fire Marshall, a disaster responder contracted by the EPA, and Certified Theatrical Firearms Safety artist/Fight Choreographer to talk about various aspects of emergency response from prevention through recovery. With a through-line of fire, the panelists bring experience working with theater venues as a Fire Marshal/Building Inspector/safety specialist (Wes), working with artists and administrators concerning theatrical firearm pyrotechnic devices and weapons/safety (Alicia), and as a disaster responder with experience working with large-scale fires and hazardous chemical detection (Kyle). 
This session will leave participants with practical tips that can make a difference at every level of emergency preparedness. Intended topics covered include:
- Required building codes (with consideration to design, retrofit);
- Fire Code Compliance, and, in particular, flame standards of curtains and decorative materials for stage scenery; the use of open flames/pyrotechnics in stage productions (NFPA 160, 1123& 1126), and Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans;
- Emergency Plans and where do they need to be posted/filed, who needs access to them;
- Chain of command for emergency response (and where organization leaders fall in that chain);
- Storage and transportation of theatrical firearms;
- Notice of theatrical firearm use, and in particular, who to notify, what to post, and mitigation strategies;
- Theatrical firearm venting (fire and burn hazard), use of blanks indoors;
- Stage weapon (not-so-) common sense, chain-of-command, and general safety;
- What happens when disaster emergency responders show up– what they do, what role personnel have; and
- Helpful information and tips from lived experience responding to chemical spills and natural disaster (fire).

Through this discussion, the panels aim to give digestible information and practical tips that can be implemented as they consider their own venue policies and procedures.