In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

As Nation Marks 9/11 Anniversary, 20 Ideas To Improve Citizen Preparedness & Engagement

September 13th, 2010 · 3 Comments

As the U.S. marks the ninth anniversary of 9/11, I wanted to post some ideas that I think would help raise citizen preparedness and engagement. The recommendations come from discussions that I have had with people involved in all aspects of the issue, my own experiences as a parent and CERT member in New York [...]

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Tags: Business Preparedness · CERT · City Preparedness · Congress · County Preparedness · Cyber Security · Department of Homeland Security · Federal Emergency Management Administration · Fire Safety · Government Education Programs · Media · Non-Profit Organizations · Preparedness 2.0 · Preparedness Ideas · Preparedness Incentives · Preparedness Models · Preparedness and Business · Risk Communications · See Something/Terrorism Tips · State Preparedness · Volunteer Opportunities

New Study Calls For Public To Adopt “A Basement Shelter Strategy” Rather Than Evacuate In Event Of Nuclear Explosion. Government Should Begin That Discussion

September 13th, 2010 · 1 Comment

A new Stanford University study recommends that in the event of a nuclear explosion, people in large metropolitan areas are better off sheltering-in-place in basements for 12-24 hours than trying to evacuate immediately, unless a lengthy warning period is provided.
In the report, “Analyzing Evacuation Versus Shelter-in-Place Strategies After a Terrorist Nuclear Detonation,” which is published [...]

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Tags: Nuclear Terrorism

On 9/11 Anniv., Napolitano Looks To Field Bigger “Hometown Security” Team “Whether You Are…A Businessman, A Student, Or Stay-At-Home-Parent” To Address “Even More Dynamic” Threats, But Warns “We Can’t Seal Our Country Under A Glass Dome”; Suggests Return To Civil Defense Tradition

September 11th, 2010 · 2 Comments

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano travelled to the New York City’s Emergency Operations Center in downtown Brooklyn yesterday to make a major speech to local first responders on the eve of the ninth anniversary of 9/11. I was asked by the City’s Office of Emergency Management to represent the Community Emergency Response Team [...]

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Tags: See Something/Terrorism Tips

National Cyber Challenge Winner Is Example Of Government Reaching Out To Public On Homeland Security & How Civilians Can Be Asset

September 6th, 2010 · No Comments

In a good example of government involving average citizens in the nation’s homeland security effort, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has selected a 28-year-old Roanoke, Virginia woman’s public information campaign to help educate the public on cybersecurity.
Melissa Short’s “Cybersecurity Starts Here” campaign was one of the winners of the National Cyber Awareness Challenge “which called [...]

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Tags: Cyber Security · Department of Homeland Security

As Secretary Napolitano Orders “No Notice, Or Limited Notice” National Preparedness Drilling Program, DHS & FEMA Should Make Sure That Public Has A Role In Exercises

August 20th, 2010 · 1 Comment

In a memo to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate this week, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano ordered a “two-year progressive national drilling program which increases the total number of exercises and culminates in a full-scale, biennial intergovernmental National Level Exercise (NLE).”
Thanks to Bill Cumming for sending me the memo; he will be writing about it on his Vacation Lane [...]

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Tags: Department of Homeland Security · Federal Emergency Management Administration

‘Seeing Something & Saying Something’ Friday Night On Amtrak: National Anti-Terror Tips Program Asking Public For Help Begins Rollout On The Rails With New Posters

August 16th, 2010 · 2 Comments

On the Amtrak train back to New York City Friday night from Washington, I saw something and said something — but this tip was good news.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has just begun rolling out a national “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, and I saw its new advertising posters in many of [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness · County Preparedness · Department of Homeland Security · See Something/Terrorism Tips · State Preparedness · Transportation Preparedness

DHS Announces Initiatives To Increase Community, Citizen Involvement In Anti-Terror Efforts: “Homeland Security Begins With Hometown Security”

August 4th, 2010 · 1 Comment

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday announced a series of initiatives to support state and local law enforcement, community groups and the public in identifying and mitigating terror threats.
“Homeland security begins with hometown security, and our efforts to confront threats in our communities are most effective when they are led by [...]

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Tags: Department of Homeland Security · See Something/Terrorism Tips

As DHS & FEMA Develop New National Citizen Terrorism Tips Campaign, Addressing Public Skepticism Will Be Key

July 19th, 2010 · 3 Comments

Last week, I wrote about a new partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police to research how to improve the public’s response to suspicious activity. The findings will help the government as it expands the “See Something, Say Something” campaign nationally which was announced earlier this month [...]

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Tags: Department of Homeland Security · Federal Emergency Management Administration · See Something/Terrorism Tips

As Napolitano Announces National “See Something, Say Something” Campaign, A Need To Offer More Guidance To Public On What To See & Say

July 2nd, 2010 · 2 Comments

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced yesterday that the Department would be launching a nationwide “See Something, Say Something” campaign.
Napolitano made the announcement in New York City’s Penn Station at the beginning of a daylong train tour down the northeastern corridor highlighting rail security.
The “See Something” campaign was initially created by New York’s Metropolitan Transit [...]

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Tags: Department of Homeland Security · See Something/Terrorism Tips

Officials Shouldn’t Be Afraid Of “Fear” In Effort To (Responsibly & Constructively) Inform, Engage & Prepare Public On Terror Threats; It’s Used For Hurricanes & Global Warming, Why Not Terrorism?

June 1st, 2010 · 2 Comments

The word ‘fear’ has gotten a bit of bad rap this decade. And, I would argue that’s hurt the country’s public preparedness. Let me explain.
I think the fear of being accused of fearmongering has put a significant crimp in the ability of our leaders to communicate with and prepare Americans for terrorism. That’s a problem [...]

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Tags: Preparedness Ideas · Risk Communications