In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Red Cross/National Fire Protection Association Survey Indicates Economic Concerns Could Increase Number Of Home Fires

October 5th, 2008 · No Comments

The American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) have just released results of a survey showing a majority (79%) of Americans are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes, and may use an alternative heating source to reduce their bills this winter. That, according to the Red Cross and NFPA, could [...]

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Tags: Fire Safety · Preparedness Tips

As National Preparedness Month Ends, Make A “Pledge To Prepare”

October 1st, 2008 · No Comments

National Preparedness Month is now over, but you can make a last minute preparedness ‘commitment’ through the American Red Cross’ Pledge To Prepare checkoff here.
Among the possible pledges:
I will start gathering the supplies I need for my emergency preparedness kit.
I will make copies of important information for my emergency preparedness kit (insurance papers, proof of home ownership, lease, [...]

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Tags: Uncategorized

“What Should We Tell The Public?”/National Preparedness Month — Wendy Harman

September 13th, 2008 · 2 Comments

With the Gulf Coast dealing with Hurricane Ike, new personal communications technology tools are being employed by citizens, government officials, the media and the relief agencies, including the Red Cross. In this segment, Wendy Harman, who manages the Red Cross’ burgeoning social media operations — including the Red Cross Hurricane Ike Newsroom – underscores the increasingly vital [...]

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Tags: "What Should We Tell The Public?"

Support The American Red Cross’ Hurricane Gustav Relief Effort

September 1st, 2008 · 1 Comment

If you are interested in supporting the Red Cross’ relief efforts for Gustav (and, possibly in the next few days, Hurricane Hanna and Tropical Storm Ike), you can donate directly at http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main&s_subsrc=RCO_LatestNews&s_src=DRF
Thanks.

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Tags: Red Cross

Online Resources To Keep Informed About Hurricane Gustav

August 30th, 2008 · No Comments

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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Tags: Hurricane Preparedness

As “Fay” Reaches Florida Mainland, Red Cross Offers Range Of Helpful Web-Based Resources

August 18th, 2008 · 1 Comment

With Tropical Storm Fay hitting Florida, I wanted to highlight several Red Cross web-based resources that I found on their Twitter feed(which itself is a terrific information source). 
*One is the Red Cross’ Safe & Well program which provides a way for those who need to evacuate in a crisis to register themselves as “safe and well” [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Resources

“What Should We Tell The Public?” — Wendy Harman

August 13th, 2008 · 1 Comment

I am in Washington today and had an opportunity to record a “What Should We Tell The Public?” segment with Wendy Harman, who manages the American Red Cross’ burgeoning social media presence and is a good friend of this blog.
In the first segment, Wendy underscores what an important tool your cell phone or PDA can be in [...]

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Tags: "What Should We Tell The Public?"

“What Should We Tell The Public?” — Joe Becker, Part 2

July 21st, 2008 · 1 Comment

After the American Red Cross’ Senior Vice President of Preparedness and Response Joe Becker finished doing a segment for this blog’s new video series “What Should We Tell The Public?”, he said he had another one in him and was kind enough to stick around to tape it. In his second segment, Becker again [...]

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Tags: CERT

“Cross Blog” — The Oregon Red Cross’ Innovative Online Presence

June 22nd, 2008 · 2 Comments

One of the important goals of the American Red Cross’ Social Media Unit I just visited in Washington is drawing from (and spreading) creative preparedness 2.0 work being done in their chapters around the country.
This week, they invited Robin Parker, one of the founders of the Oregon chapter’s Cross Blog, to headquarters in Washington to help out with their social media efforts in response to the Midwest floods.   
 

 
 
 
Cross Blog’s Robin [...]

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Tags: Non-Profit Organizations · Preparedness 2.0

Visit To Red Cross’s D.C. Disaster Operations Center Highlights New New Media Initiative

June 21st, 2008 · 6 Comments

While I was in Washington, D.C. Thursday, I visited the American Red Cross‘ Disaster Response Center to learn more about the growing role of new media in the Red Cross’s response efforts during the Midwestern floods and tornadoes.
Wendy Harman and Claire Johnson of the Red Cross’ Social Media unit — which coordinates the organization’s online public affairs initiatives — kindly took a moment from their busy [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0 · Red Cross