In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

I wanted to point out a story now playing out in Las Vegas, Nevada, which to me is another example of how the public is too often infantilized when it comes to information on serious terrorist threats, including weapons of mass destruction — And, as a result, why we as citizens are not as prepared [...]

[Read more →]

I wanted to highlight two points I heard during a terrific recent webinar, “Social Media and Technology Breakthroughs: H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Communication”:  one about the Centers For Disease Control’s (CDC) view that mobile phones have an increasingly valuable role in public health communications and another about Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management’s expanded use of Twitter.
In [...]

[Read more →]

I recently had the opportunity to speak with James Featherstone, the General Manager of Los Angeles’ Emergency Management Department, about the City’s citizen outreach efforts, particularly the relaunch of the Department’s website Ready LA.
When it comes to public preparedness, Featherstone has a bad news/good news situation. On the negative side, the Department must prepare and respond [...]

[Read more →]

There are few positives about contracting Leukemia, but I got one perk  – a H1N1 vaccine. Because of my illness,  I am a member of the ‘underlying condition’ priority group, and therefore just received the vaccination shot.
Around the nation, authorities are now distributing the limited supplies to priority groups. Here in New York, the low [...]

[Read more →]

Yesterday, as I was searching the website of New York City Department of Health to find a vaccination center location near me to get a H1N1 vaccine I came upon a new citizen volunteer initiative just launched by the City, “Flu Fighters,” as part of its NYC Service program.
According to the “Flu Fighters”/NYC Service web [...]

[Read more →]

New York City’s Office of Emergency Management is taking advantage of Yankee-mania here as an angle in its most recent “Tip of the Week” sent out earlier this week:
“With a 3-1 lead over the Phillies, the [UPDATE: World Champion] Yankees have been focused on driving runs home this World Series. But when the catcher is [...]

[Read more →]

I had the wonderful opportunity this morning to view the arrival of the U.S.S. New York — which was built in part with steel from the fallen World Trade Center towers — into the harbor which bears its name.

THE USS NEW YORK PASSES BY GROUND ZERO THIS MORNING (ABOVE)
The Navy ship was welcomed on the [...]

[Read more →]

The City of Boston has just launched two new online tools to help residents prepare a family preparedness plan and find their local emergency shelter.

According to the ReadyBoston press release:
“The Family Preparedness Planner and the Shelter Finder provide interactive ways for residents to answer logistical questions that would arise in an emergency. The Planner is [...]

[Read more →]

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom yesterday announced “The Big Rumble” marking the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake with a week-long series of special preparedness events. In a letter to the community, Newsom wrote:
“To commemorate the Loma Prieta anniversary, we invite you to participate in The Big Rumble, a week-long series of special events [...]

[Read more →]

As we mark the anniversaries of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, I wanted to again mention a bill which would create a ‘tax holiday’ for preparedness supplies and “Go-Bags,” introduced in the New York State Assembly by Assemblyman Jonathan L. Bing. 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 [...]

[Read more →]