In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Entries from May 2008

A Good Citizen Preparedness Tip About Cellphones I Learned After Yesterday’s Crane Collapse

May 31st, 2008 · 6 Comments

Soon after the tragic crane collapse on the Upper East Side, my CERT team was deployed by the City’s Office of Emergency Management to help in the response.

A photo I took yesterday of local residents looking at the aftermath of a crane collapse that had killed two people earlier in the day.
We helped the Red Cross set up and staff [...]

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Tags: CERT · Preparedness Tips

Citizens, Citizen Groups Continue To Play Increasing Role In China’s Response To Earthquake

May 31st, 2008 · 1 Comment

I wanted to bring to your attention two news stories from this week that highlight the significant role the Chinese public is having in the nation’s response to their major earthquake and how this may have a major impact on citizen involvement in their government generally. 

The lead story by Maureen Fan on the Washington Post’s front page Thursday, “Citizen Groups Step Up In [...]

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Tags: International

“‘Go-Bag’/Emergency Supplies Tax Holiday” Legislation Introduced In New York State Assembly

May 26th, 2008 · 6 Comments

I am excited to report that a bill which would create a ‘tax free holiday’ for emergency supplies and “Go-Bags” was introduced in the New York State Assembly by Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing as Assembly Bill A11206.
Under the legislation, New Yorkers would be able to buy emergency supplies without paying state sales tax between September 1st-11th and purchase pre-made “Go-Bags” tax free throughout the month. The [...]

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Tags: Uncategorized

Pardon The Interruption…

May 24th, 2008 · No Comments

Some of you may have noticed the paucity of posts on the blog this week. I apologize for that. It’s largely due to the large amount of feedback I received from the article I wrote in the Washington Post’s Outlook section “It’s An Emergency: We’re Not Prepared” as well as from the online discussion on Washingtonpost.com about the article the next [...]

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Tags: Uncategorized

Chertoff/Paulison “Blogger Roundtable” On Preparedness

May 21st, 2008 · No Comments

The Department of Homeland Security has just released the transcript of Monday’s ”Blogger Roundtable” on emergency preparedness with Secretary Chertoff and FEMA Administrator Paulison held at DHS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. 
I had the opportunity to join Jonah Czerwinski of Homeland Security Watch and Rich Cooper of Security Debrief as one of three questioners.
It was a lively, back and forth discussion of emergency preparedness, much of it focusing on the role of the [...]

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Tags: Media

Washingtonpost.com Online Discussion Transcript

May 19th, 2008 · No Comments

The transcript of my Washingtonpost.com online discussion Monday on civilian preparedness can be found at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/05/16/DI2008051603186.html
Sorry for the lack of capitalization. It was my first online discussion, and I was trying to keep up with the questions.  
 

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Tags: Media

Washingtonpost.com Online Discussion — Today, Noon

May 19th, 2008 · 2 Comments

I will be participating in a washingtonpost.com online discussion today at Noon.  The subject will be the article I wrote in the Outlook section on citizen preparedness.
If you’re near a computer, please jump on. Just follow this link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/05/16/DI2008051603186.html

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Tags: Media · Uncategorized

Washington Post “Outlook” Section Article

May 18th, 2008 · 5 Comments

I have a piece on citizen preparedness in today’s Washington Post “Outlook” section. It can be found through this link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/16/AR2008051603735.html
If you are arriving at the blog on for the first time as a result of the article, welcome. I hope you stick around.
I would love to hear any comments, criticisms, or questions about the story or anything regarding citizen emergency preparedness.
Below [...]

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Tags: Media

“Citizen and Community Preparedness Act of 2008″

May 17th, 2008 · No Comments

A bill that would bolster the public’s involvement and engagement in their own homeland security advanced in Congress this month. This is particularly important to this blog as it is legislation specifically focused on citizen preparedness – in fact, ‘citizen preparedness’ is even in the name.
“H.R. 5890, the Citizen and Community Preparedness Act of 2008″ passed the Homeland Security Committee’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Subcommittee, chaired by [...]

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Tags: Congress

House Homeland Security Committee Hearings: Resilience and Citizen Preparedness

May 17th, 2008 · 2 Comments

The House Homeland Security Committee has been holding an important series of hearings called “The Resilient Homeland”. ‘Resilience’ is an increasingly important concept in the homeland security world. In its initial press statement, the Committee defined resilience as ”an approach to ensure the Nation’s ability to quickly and effectively bounce back from large scale disruptions.”
Thanks largely to the excellent [...]

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Tags: Congress