In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Entries from January 2009

Super Bowl ‘Preparations’: Chips, Soda, Beer, ‘Go Bags’?

January 31st, 2009 · 3 Comments

One of the biggest challenges of citizen preparedness is getting the citizenry to actually focus on preparing. As I have mentioned on the blog, I favor establishing a specific day (possibly September 11th) as a National Preparedness Day.
Another idea was suggested to me a couple years ago by George Foresman, a former top U.S. preparedness [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Ideas

Social Media’s Role In Mumbai Attack And Its Potential For Future Terror Incident Response

January 30th, 2009 · 1 Comment

I want to bring your attention to a terrific article, “New Media’s Moment In Mumbai” in Foreign Policy Journal, written by a friend of this blog, Chris Battle. Chris edits the excellent Security Debrief blog and is a partner in the Adfero Group.
In the article, Battle points out the use of social media by the terrorists in organizing [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0

Attend Citizen Preparedness Panel Friday In Washington Or On Twitter

January 29th, 2009 · 1 Comment

If you are interested in the issues discussed on this blog and you will be in the Washington, D.C. area on Friday, I recommend a panel discussion, “Citizen Preparedness: Harnessing an Engaged Public”. The event is sponsored by George Washington University’s Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI). It is the fourth and final event in HSPI’s Presidential Transition Roundtable [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Events

U.S. Department Of Homeland Security Highlights Our Local CERT Team

January 28th, 2009 · 1 Comment

This week, I happened to be on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) page of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website. (I was creating a link for a previous blog post which suggested CERT as one way to answer President Obama’s call for Americans to volunteer in their communities.)
While on the site, I was pleasantly surprised [...]

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Tags: CERT

Study Says Minorities, Disabled More Impacted By Terror Warnings

January 27th, 2009 · No Comments

Thanks to the U.S. News & World Report website, I just read about a new study that found terrorism threats have more of an impact on ethnic minorities, the disabled and the mentally ill than on the general population. 
According to the article, those groups are:
more likely to make behavior changes based on terrorism fears, such as [...]

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Tags: Risk Communications · Special Needs Preparedness

President Obama’s Inaugural Address & Citizen Preparedness/Engagement

January 26th, 2009 · 2 Comments

While President Obama did not mention the issue of citizen preparedness explicitly in his inaugural address, he did strike several themes in the speech directly relating to the subject. It is why I believe that preparedness can be a key element in implementing the President’s vision of increasing the public’s level of involvement and engagement in their [...]

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Tags: President Obama

Making Sure Good (Samaritan) Deeds Go Unpunished

January 25th, 2009 · 1 Comment

The New York Times published an editorial earlier in the month about a legal ruling on California’s “Good Samaritan” law that could have implications for citizens who assist their fellow citizens in an emergency situation. I thought it was worth mentioning the case and noting the Times’ position with which I agree. 
As the editorial explains:
“Good Samaritan” laws give [...]

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Tags: Legal Rulings

It’s National Blood Donor Month — And Daily, I Am Reminded Of Its Importance

January 22nd, 2009 · 6 Comments

As I have mentioned previously, I was diagnosed with leukemia in October. As part of my treatment, I regularly receive blood and platelet transfusions after chemotherapy.
While I sit watching the bags drip into my arm in the hospital clinic, I cannot help but think about the people who have taken the time — and weathered [...]

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Tags: Red Cross

Tax-Free Preparedness Supplies Legislation, Suggested By This Blog, Is Reintroduced In New York State House To Mark 9/11, Katrina Anniversaries

January 19th, 2009 · 9 Comments

I am excited to report that a bill which would create a ‘tax holiday’ for preparedness supplies and “Go-Bags” was just re-introduced in the New York State Assembly by Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing as Bill A00783.  
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 bill would [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Ideas · Preparedness Incentives

WMD Commission Report Highlights Role Of Citizen In Preparing And Protecting Nation

January 14th, 2009 · 9 Comments

Late last year, the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism released a new report, “World At Risk”. The bipartisan commission is chaired by former U.S. Senator Bob Graham and co-chaired by former U.S. Senator Jim Talent.
As this blog was on hiatus when the report was released, I did not have a [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Resources