In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

One of the suggestions I’ve made to emergency preparedness communicators is that they talk more about their own personal efforts to ready themselves and their families. I think it makes what can be an imposing and off-putting process seem more accessible and relatable for average citizens. So, I was happy to see a video that FEMA […]

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Unfortunately, the New York Sun, a six-year-old daily newspaper, printed its last edition this past Tuesday. Each day, the Sun could be relied on for an interesting, often provocative, take on the news — whether on its front, editorial or sports page — that a reader might not find elsewhere. I will miss it. The paper’s […]

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The Hurricane Information Center (at www.hurricanes08.org) is a one-stop shop site with governmental information, weather updates, maps, evacuation housing as well as ways to help and be helped. There is a link to a related Hurricane Wiki at www.hurricanewiki.org/wiki/Main_Page.
To follow the Red Cross’ relief efforts and find resources, go to the Red Cross Hurricane Ike Newsroom at hurricaneike.wordpress.com/
The Red Cross’ Twitter feed which is being […]

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The Hurricane Information Center (at www.hurricanes08.org) is a one-stop shop site with governmental information, weather updates, maps, evacuation housing as well as ways to help and be helped. There is a link to a related Hurricane Wiki at www.hurricanewiki.org/wiki/Main_Page.
To follow the Red Cross’ relief efforts, go to the Red Cross Hurricane Ike Newsroom at hurricaneike.wordpress.com/
The Houston Chronicle’s website is doing excellent on the ground coverage – www.chron.com/
You […]

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Using particularly demonstrative language, FEMA is warning people on the Gulf Coast to ready themselves for Hurricane Ike. In a press release today, titled “Hurricane Ike Nearing Landfall: Act Now!”, the agency is asking residents:
Do you know what your local community’s evacuation plan is? If not, do you know where to locate it? […]

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I am in the Outer Banks of North Carolina this morning where my family and I have been vacationing. The area is getting ready for landfall, sometime later tonight and somewhere on the Carolina coast, of Tropical Storm Hanna — which forecasters say may strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane by nightfall.
I will be driving […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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A ‘near miss’ like yesterday’s Los Angeles earthquake often doesn’t motivate people to prepare. Sometimes, it requires something major to actually happen to you before doing anything.  
Yet, as Part 1, the Times-Picayune collection of preparedness tips I posted on Monday, indicates, the testimony of disaster survivors can also be very compelling and helpful. That’s why Pinellas […]

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