In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

As Power Blackouts Increase, Public Should Make Sure They Have Backup Power For Their Mobile, Smart Phones

September 5th, 2010 · 1 Comment

A recent article on CNN.com “U.S. electricity blackouts skyrocketing,” reported on the national increase in non-disaster-related power outages:
During the past two decades, such blackouts have increased 124 percent — up from 41 blackouts between 1991 and 1995, to 92 between 2001 and 2005, according to research at the University of Minnesota. In the most recently analyzed [...]

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Tags: Power Failures · Preparedness Ideas

“Regulation 3.0″ — Real-Time Data Open To Government, Public — Could Prevent Future Oil Spills, Says Tech Expert

June 8th, 2010 · No Comments

David Stephenson, a leading thinker in how technology can be used for emergencies and transparent government in general, has an article in Federal Computer Week, “Future Oil Spills Could Be Averted By Regulation 3.0 Apps.”
In the piece, Stephenson, the principal of Stephenson Strategies, argues that “the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico highlights the [...]

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Tags: Business Preparedness · Preparedness 2.0

Are Americans “Seeing” And “Saying” Enough? Times Square Incident Offers Opportunity To Assess, Improve Public’s Role In Homeland Security

May 5th, 2010 · 1 Comment

It was clearly not the aim of the alleged Times Square bomber to spotlight the role of the citizen as part of the U.S.’s homeland security effort in one of the nation’s most high profile — and lit — places. But he did. The T-shirt vendors who tipped off a New York City Police Department (NYPD) [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Ideas · See Something/Terrorism Tips

Two Interesting Webinar Takeaways: CDC Believes Its Mobile Phone Texting Helps Bridge Not Broaden ‘Digital Divide’ On Public Health, Philly OEM ‘Following’ Hundreds Of Citizen Twitterers To Foster Two-Way Communication In Emergencies

November 20th, 2009 · 1 Comment

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 [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness · Preparedness 2.0

Webinar On Communicating With The Public, Other Stakeholders On #H1N1 & Seasonal Flu

September 20th, 2009 · No Comments

On Wednesday, there is a free webinar on utilizing social media and other technologies for H1N1 and seasonal flu communications. It is being organized by the Center of Excellence for Risk and Crisis Communications at Booz Allen Hamilton.
The one-hour webinar is co-sponsored by the American Public Health Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers and the [...]

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Tags: Education · Preparedness 2.0

With Voting Ending Tonight, Some ‘Endorsements’ In #H1N1 Flu.Gov Citizen Video PSA Election

September 16th, 2009 · 1 Comment

As today is the last day that you can vote in the U.S. Health and Human Services’ H1N1 Flu Prevention PSA contest on Flu.Gov, I thought I would ask some folks from the worlds of social media, public health and/or emergency preparedness for their top pick from the 10 worthy finalists.
Among those I surveyed, the most [...]

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Tags: Contests · Pandemic Flu

Public Radio, TV Developing SAFER Project To Help Local Stations Inform Public During Disasters

September 15th, 2009 · No Comments

The National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB), National Public Radio (NPR), and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) in collaboration with three public television stations, and the Integrated Media Association are developing the Station Action for Emergency Readiness (SAFER) project, a plan to help public broadcasters serve their communities when disaster strikes.
SAFER will develop customizable plans [...]

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Tags: Media · Preparedness 2.0

“New Anti-Terror Weapons: You, Me, iPhone & Twitter”

August 10th, 2009 · 1 Comment

My friend David Stephenson has a terrific post on the Huffington Post today, “New Anti-Terror Weapons: You, Me, iPhone & Twitter”. It picks up on Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano’s speech late last month in which she said: “For too long we’ve treated the public as a liability to be protected rather than an asset in our [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0

Postcard From This Weekend’s “CrisisCamp”: No Swimming, Hiking Or S’Mores, But Progress On Improving Emergency Preparedness/Response…And A Lot Of Fun Too

June 15th, 2009 · 13 Comments

Though I am too old for summer camp, I did get to go away this weekend to CrisisCamp in Washington, D.C.. CrisisCamp was a gathering of about a hundred campers from all over the country and the world with an expertise or interest in crisis management/disaster preparation and response, especially in how new technology and communications [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0 · Preparedness Events

Cancer Survivorship Walk, CERT Street Fair Pamphleting Make Today A Happy And Full 46th Birthday.

June 7th, 2009 · 4 Comments

I received a birthday e-card this morning from my friend, David Stephenson, which said: “I’m sure today will be one the happiest birthdays of your life. Enjoy it to your fullest.” He’s right. Finishing six months of chemotherapy just weeks ago has made today, my 46th birthday, happy indeed. And I tried to enjoy it to [...]

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Tags: CERT · Preparedness Events