In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Entries from April 2010

In D.C. Speech, Israeli Resilience Expert Argues “An Active Public Is A Resilient Public And A Passive Public Is A Vulnerable Public”

April 30th, 2010 · No Comments

As the concept of ‘resilience’ in homeland security gains prominence here in the U.S., the Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) at George Washington University hosted a timely speech by Brigadier-General (ret.) Meir Elran, of The Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University, “The Israeli Experience: From Civil Defense To Resilience.” According to the HSPI summary [...]

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Tags: International · Preparedness Events

“Gimme Shelter: The Need For A Contemporary Civil Defense Program”

April 29th, 2010 · 1 Comment

In an interesting new op-ed, “Gimme Shelter: The Need For A Contemporary Civil Defense Program,” on the website of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Stanford University professor Lawrence Wein argues that the federal government should immediately start a comprehensive public education campaign about the benefits of sheltering during a nuclear terrorist attack.
Wein along with two graduate [...]

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Tags: Nuclear Terrorism · Preparedness Ideas

New Study Indicates Most Washington, D.C. Area Residents Would Be Willing To Follow Instructions To ‘Shelter In Place’ After ‘Dirty Bomb’

April 29th, 2010 · 3 Comments

A new study by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management found that most people in the National Capital Region would follow instructions to stay where they are after a radiological dispersion device, or “dirty bomb.” The survey, “Population Behaviors in Dirty Bomb Attack Scenarios: A Survey of the National Capital Region,” explored how people get their information [...]

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Tags: Nuclear Terrorism · Preparedness Resources

GAO Says U.S. Has Expanded Its Preparedness For Tsunami Here, But Improved Planning Could Enhance Effectiveness

April 28th, 2010 · No Comments

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report says that since 2005 the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has “made progress in expanding and strengthening its tsunami warning and mitigation capabilities but faces challenges in both areas, as well as in moving its tsunami research to application.”
On the citizen and community preparedness front, the GAO urged NOAA to [...]

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Tags: Hurricane Preparedness · Preparedness Reports

FEMA Launches New Mobile Website For Smartphones; M.FEMA.Gov To Offer Easier Access To Disaster Preparedness Info

April 28th, 2010 · 1 Comment

FEMA today announced the launch of the agency’s new mobile website, m.FEMA.gov. According to the FEMA press release:
The mobile website makes it easier to access critical information regarding emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster right on a smartphone.
“Smartphones are becoming more prevalent, affordable, reliable and more viable to locate and [...]

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Tags: Federal Emergency Management Administration · Preparedness 2.0

In Experimental Federal Initiative, Public Being Asked To Report On “Significant Weather Information” Through Twitter

April 27th, 2010 · 1 Comment

The National Weather Service has just launched an experimental program that will be using Twitter ‘tweets’ to help monitor “significant weather information.” The Weather Service website explains:
Why Twitter?
An advantage of searching Twitter for weather reports is the capability to utilize recently added “geotagging” — geographical information that is associated with something, in this case individual [...]

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Tags: Hurricane Preparedness · Preparedness 2.0 · Volunteer Opportunities

“3 To Get Ready” Campaign Challenges Citizens To Encourage Friends To Prepare Through Twitter, Facebook…And Offers Prizes!

April 27th, 2010 · No Comments

On the subject of incentives mentioned in the above post, I just saw an online preparedness campaign created by Mynorthwest.com called, “3 To Get Ready Preparedness Challenge”. The campaign asks Washington state residents to take 3 preparedness steps and reach out to 3 friends through either Facebook, Twittter or email — and offers a prize package, [...]

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Tags: Media · Preparedness 2.0 · Preparedness Ideas · Preparedness Incentives

Upcoming Virginia Preparedness Tax Holiday Underscores Role Of Incentives To Gain Public, Business, Media Interest; Other States, Localities, Feds Should Take Note

April 25th, 2010 · 2 Comments

Virginia has announced that it will be holding its 3rd Annual Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from May 25-31. The development of the Commonwealth’s event can be instructive for other government preparedness authorities.
During the Holiday, citizens can purchase emergency preparedness-related supplies without paying the 5% state sales tax. According to the Virginia Department of Taxation, in [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Incentives

“The New Volunteers: Social Media, Disaster Response And You”

April 24th, 2010 · No Comments

Andy Carvin, the social media strategist at National Public Radio, has been a pioneer in the use of technology by the public and others in responding to disasters. At the TED-NYED conference in New York, Carvin gave an interesting presentation, “The New Volunteers: Social Media Disaster Response And You,”
He offers a nice overview of the evolution [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0

“National Flood Insurance Program: Back, Not Necessarily on Track”

April 23rd, 2010 · No Comments

The current issue of the always useful Disaster Research e-newsletter of the University of Colorado’s Natural Hazards Center has an article, “National Flood Insurance Program: Back, Not Necessarily on Track,” with an update on the effort to finance and possibly overhaul the program:
Congress reinstated the National Flood Insurance Program Monday. But the beleaguered plan is [...]

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Tags: Flooding · Hurricane Preparedness