Like most Americans, I have been closely following Hurricane Gustav on television, radion and web media news outlets. In addition, I wanted to bring your attention a number of online resources that I have been monitoring as well:
The American Red Cross offers two web-based information sources that I find very helpful:
Red Cross’ Online Newsroom which can [...]
Entries from August 2008
Online Resources To Keep Informed About Hurricane Gustav
August 30th, 2008 · No Comments
Tags: Hurricane Preparedness
FEMA Head Paulison, In Interview As Gulf Coast Marks Katrina Anniversary (And Awaits Gustav), Says “Rebuilt” Agency Is “Ready” For Major Disasters, But Is Relying On Citizens To Do Their Part
August 29th, 2008 · 1 Comment
In an interview last week on the eve of the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison told me that the agency has been “rebuilt” and is “ready” for the next major hurricane or other disaster. Unfortunately, he may have a chance to test his assessment in the next several days as [...]
Tags: Hurricane Preparedness · Preparedness Interviews
With Gustav Threatening Gulf Coast, DHS Urges Residents To Prepare, Make Emergency Plans
August 27th, 2008 · No Comments
Earlier today, I was at Department of Homeland Security (DHS) headquarters in Washington for a briefing on the Department’s plans for September’s National Preparedness Month. I’ll have more on Preparedness Month activities in the days to come. But DHS officials were also busy planning for something that might occur even before August ends: Tropical Storm Gustav [...]
Tags: Hurricane Preparedness
Change Of Address, New Preparedness Expo Should Help New York State’s Public Readiness Efforts
August 26th, 2008 · No Comments
Communicating emergency preparedness to the public in the internet era is a process of ongoing tweaking and honing. One such improvement has just been made by the New York State Office of Homeland Security. It recently changed the web address for its main Aware/Prepare public information website from the ungainly and bureaucratic “www.security.state.ny.us/preparedness/” to the [...]
Tags: State Preparedness · Uncategorized
An Emergency Manager From Washington State Offers Helpful Caution On Potential Geographic-Based Public Email/Text Alerts “Digital Divide”
August 25th, 2008 · No Comments
After my post last Sunday about the text/email alerts from Philadelphia and Miami, I received an email from Cheryl Bledsoe, an emergency manager from Clark County in Vancouver, Washington. She has been studying how to best use social media and personal technology in public emergency preparation and response for her area. As part of that [...]
Tags: County Preparedness · Emergency Alerts · Preparedness 2.0
“What Should We Tell The Public? — Alan McCurry (With Added Article)
August 24th, 2008 · No Comments
Alan McCurry, an emergency management consultant, is the former Chief Operating Officer of the American Red Cross. In this “What Should We Tell The Public?” segment, McCurry draws from his experience as a U.S. Navy nuclear submariner. He says that the more prepared you are in an emergency the more ready you will be to handle [...]
Tags: "What Should We Tell The Public?"
How Internet Social Media Sites Are Helping In Recovery & Rebuilding Of Post-Katrina New Orleans
August 23rd, 2008 · 1 Comment
With anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaching, CIO magazine has an interesting article titled “How Social Networking Saved New Orleans” about how web-based new media tools such as Flickr, Yahoo Groups, wikis and Google Maps have been integral in citizen efforts to help reestablish and rebuild their community. The article highlights the work of Alan Gutierrez from the nonprofit [...]
Tags: Preparedness 2.0
Obama, McCain To Appear At 9/11 Forum On Public Service & Civic Engagement
August 22nd, 2008 · No Comments
Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain will both be appearing at a forum on post-9/11 public service and civic engagement in New York City on the evening of September 11th.
The Forum is being organized by a new nationwide coalition called ServiceNation. According to the press release from Time magazine, which is cosponsoring the event with Be The [...]
Tags: Election Campaign 2008
GREAT PREPAREDNESS-RELATED JOB OPPORTUNITY — Develop Business Plan For Major Emergency Preparedness/Health Care Project
August 21st, 2008 · No Comments
I am reposting a terrific job opportunity for a person interested in the topics discussed on this blog.
Someone is needed ASAP to create a business plan for a major emergency preparedness/health care project. Applicants should have experience in creating a business plan as well as some exposure and interest in the topic of homeland security, [...]
Tags: Uncategorized
‘Special Needs’ Preparedness Conference Offers Helpful Perspective, Models For Everyone’s Emergency Readiness
August 20th, 2008 · 1 Comment
Last week, I attended the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) first “Conference on Emergency Preparedness for Special Needs Populations” held in New York City. It was also my first ’special needs’ disaster conference. And from the start when the moderator Elizabeth Davis of EAD Associates made a point to carefully and clearly inform the audience about [...]