In Case of Emergency, Read This Blog

In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

A Citizen’s Eye View of Public Preparedness

Two-Day California Earthquake Disaster Drill Focuses On Testing Social Media Response

September 24th, 2010 · No Comments

A two-day drill, Exercise 24 (X24), was launched today by San Diego State University’s Immersive Visualization Center in large part to test how social media would be used to respond to a crisis. According to a CNN.com article, “Fake Earthquake Disaster Drill Tests Facebook, Twitter”:
The idea is to test the speed and widen the scope of responses [...]

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Tags: Earthquake Preparedness · Preparedness 2.0 · Preparedness Events · Volunteer Opportunities

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

“Twitter (& ‘Keynote Tweeters’) To The Rescue” In NZ Earthquake, Colorado Fires & San Bruno Explosion

September 13th, 2010 · 5 Comments

Gary Oldham from the blog, Wingineering, offers a nice case study and analysis of the use of Twitter during three recent emergencies — the New Zealand earthquake, Colorado fires and San Bruno gas explosion.
In this post, “Twitter to the Rescue: Social Media’s Evolving Role in Disasters,” Oldham highlights the role of “dedicated and thoughtful ‘keynote’ [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0

Emergency Managers Say Twitter & Facebook Being Used Differently — Twit: More “Informational,” Speed, Official Audience; FB: More “Emotional,” Community-Building, Public Discussion/Feedback. Though In Crises, Both Will Be Utilized To Distribute/Gather Info For Public

August 30th, 2010 · 9 Comments

As government emergency management offices and non-profit disaster relief groups increasingly utilize Twitter and Facebook as part of their operations, I thought I would check with some leading practioners in the field to see how the two social media platforms are being employed in their work with the public.
It turns out that in most cases [...]

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Tags: Federal Emergency Management Administration · Preparedness 2.0 · Preparedness Ideas

LAFD’s Brian Humphrey, Emergency 2.0 Pioneer, Urges Responder Agencies In Video “To Get In The [Social Media] Pool” — “If It Works In LA, It Can Work In Your Town Too”

August 27th, 2010 · 5 Comments

A major highlight of the Red Cross Emergency Data Summit earlier this month for me was meeting in person someone I have known — and have learned from — remotely for the last several years, Brian Humphrey from the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). Brian has been a pioneer in the use of personal technology [...]

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Tags: City Preparedness · Preparedness 2.0 · Preparedness Models

New Red Cross Study Finds Web Users Would Turn To Social Media In Emergencies & Expect 1st Responders To Be Listening: 74% Want Response Less Than An Hour After Their Tweet or Facebook Post

August 9th, 2010 · 9 Comments

A very interesting American Red Cross survey released this morning indicates that many web users would turn to social media to seek help for themselves or others during emergencies—and they expect first responders to be listening.
In fact, 74 percent of those polled expected help to come less than an hour after their tweet or Facebook post.
The [...]

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Tags: Public Opinion · Red Cross

Rider Tweet Helps Capture Boston Subway ‘Flasher’ — Despite The Fact That Transit Police Were Not Yet On Twitter

August 8th, 2010 · 1 Comment

I’m posting another story from today’s Boston Globe, because it is a good example of Twitter as a useful public safety tool, and it illustrates how a good number of government entities are late to the social media party.
The article explains how a Twitter tweet led to the arrest of a man accused of exposing [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0 · Transportation Preparedness

Tweeps Being Asked To #ThankACopThur On Twitter & On The Beat

August 5th, 2010 · 4 Comments

Mike Ellis from the Emergency Comunications Network decided yesterday to try to launch “Thank A Cop Thursdays” (hashtag: #ThankACopThur) on Twitter. He started tweeting the idea out with help from law enforcement social media expert, Lauri Stevens (@lawscomm).

This afternoon, Ellis gave me an update on the effort:
“The response to #ThankACopThur was immediate and continues today. I [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0

Kansas EM Office Smartly Uses Facebook & Twitter To Ask Public If Emergency Outdoor Siren Tests Are Working; Helps Improve System, Community Relationships

August 4th, 2010 · No Comments

The same people who brought you Preparedness Piggy, Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security in Kansas, have come up with another creative idea — using Twitter and Facebook to ask the public whether its emergency sirens are covering the area adequately.
Today, just after drill testing its 177 outdoor warning sirens, officials requested through Facebook [...]

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Tags: Emergency Alerts · Preparedness 2.0

Red Cross Announces New, Improved Technology To Help Public Reconnect With Loved Ones & Find Shelter During Disasters

August 4th, 2010 · No Comments

The American Red Cross today unveiled new and updated technology  – an improved “Safe and Well” site and a real-time way to find shelter — to help families during a disaster.
According to the Red Cross news release:
Safe and Well is a secure and easy-to-use online tool that allows people inside a disaster-affected area to list [...]

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Tags: Preparedness 2.0 · Red Cross