In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Entries from June 2009

Some Lessons From H1N1 Flu Outbreak & Response For Citizen Preparedness In Future Emergencies (Part 1)

June 29th, 2009 · 4 Comments

Though public and media attention on the H1N1/Swine Flu outbreak has waned, there is a clearly need to examine its lessons for future citizen preparedness and response — whether that be for a reoccurrence of a more deadly H1N1 flu in the Fall or another national emergency situation. So, I thought I would contact some experts [...]

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Tags: Pandemic Flu · Preparedness Lessons

The U.S. Homeland Security Department’s New Social Media Menu

June 29th, 2009 · No Comments

I wanted to highlight a new list of social media offerings from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which are on its website here. They include the Department’s here. They include the Department’s two-week-old blog; Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Twitter sites for various DHS agencies; and even the iTunes offerings from the Transportation Security Administration. And, [...]

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Tags: Department of Homeland Security · Preparedness 2.0

Hamming It Up This Weekend: Public Can Attend Amateur Radio ‘Field Days’ Across U.S.

June 27th, 2009 · 1 Comment

I know there are some ‘ham radio’ operators among the readership of this blog. And, most will be participating in the Amateur Radio annual “Field Day” events taking place throughout the U.S. this weekend. In fact, thousands of Amateur Radio operators are showing off their wireless capabilities (often during emergencies) at locations in community parks, campgrounds, [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Events

National Weather Service Warns “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors” — It’s ‘Lightning Safety Awareness Week’

June 27th, 2009 · No Comments

The National Weather Service has declared June 21-27 “Lightning Safety Awareness Week” to highlight the dangers of lightning and show what people can do to prevent being struck. So far in 2009, 15 people have been killed by lightning and many others have been injured.

To avoid being struck by lightning, the National Weather Service recommends [...]

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Tags: Hurricane Preparedness · Preparedness Tips

Winners Of The ‘What Have You Done In Last Year To Prepare?’ Contest (And Their Entries) — Prize: “The Unthinkable” Book

June 26th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Last week’s The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes — And Why book contest asked: “What have you done in the last year to prepare yourself, your family, your workplace, your kids school or your community over last year?” Below are the winners with their entries; they will each receive a copy of the book’s [...]

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Tags: Contests

Question(s) For DHS Secretary Napolitano: “Are Americans In A ‘State of Readiness’? And If Not, What Should We Be Doing To Get There?”

June 25th, 2009 · 1 Comment

DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano held a “Pen & Pad” availability for reporters and bloggers who cover the Homeland Security Department earlier today (video here). Napolitano previewed some international visits she is making to Europe and the Middle East and highlighted a couple of new DHS initiatives, including her new mission statement of “The Department’s Five [...]

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Tags: Department of Homeland Security · Preparedness Events · Preparedness Interviews

NTSB Asking Public For Video From Washington, D.C. Metro Crash; Underscores Value Of User-Generated Content In Emergencies (& Growing Appreciation By Authorities Of It)

June 25th, 2009 · 2 Comments

In a move that highlights the proliferation of video cameras, the usefulness of citizen/user generated content in emergencies, and, maybe most importantly, the growing appreciation by government authorities of that content, the National Transportation Safety Board has made a public request that any individual who has video of this week’s Washington, D.C. Metro accident should [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0

A Small Proposal: Change The “C” In CERT From “Community” To “Citizen”

June 25th, 2009 · No Comments

In a recent Blogger Roundtable, new FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate while extolling the value of the CERT program misspoke and called it the “Citizen Emergency Response Team”. The actual name for these citizen-staffed squads is “Community Emergency Response Team.” Yet, Fugate is not alone in occasionally making that same slip. I hear it a lot [...]

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Tags: CERT

How Maintain & Sustain Interest In CERT? Emphasize “Ambassador” Role Says Former Florida CERT Coordinator

June 23rd, 2009 · 3 Comments

Bill Firestone was Florida’s first Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program coordinator from 1998-2001 (under new FEMA head Craig Fugate). Firestone now runs a consultancy EM Training. He is also a reader of the blog and sent me an email reacting to Fugate’s comment I wrote about urging CERT members to be “ambassadors” in their communities. [...]

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Tags: CERT · Federal Emergency Management Administration

D.C. Subway Crash Underscores ‘Initial Responder’ Role Of Riders/Citizens In Emergencies, Need To Include Them More In Crisis Planning

June 23rd, 2009 · 2 Comments

In the aftermath of yesterday’s Metrorail crash in Washington, D.C. which killed at least 7 9 and injured 70, Amanda Ripley, author of The Unthinkable, offers an excellent post about the role of the public in the accident and in emergencies in general as well as the need for authorities to better account for citizens [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness