The Red Cross has organized a series of preparedness events for personnel and families on military bases, including one at Fort Belvoir earlier this summer and another at Fort Polk last month. The families were able to build an emergency preparedness kit and learn about emergency preparedness, according to a news release from Leann Murphy, CEO of the American Red Cross of Central Louisiana:

The goal is to provide 1,500 families at each location with basic elements of an emergency/disaster kit. The items that will be made available for military families at the event include:

ARC multipurpose lantern, Two LED flow sticks, Two emergency preparedness drawstring bags, Self-powered AM/FM National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration radio, Personal safety pack, Mini water storage system, and Multi-tool.

Red Cross volunteer teams from across Louisiana will be will be available to demonstrate how to assemble a disaster kit and to provide community disaster preparedness information. Other Fort Polk agencies and units will be supporting the event as well.

A military family at an American Red Cross preparedness event (Photo: Daniel Cima)

Ok. Everything seems all good. To me, there is no group that deserves free preparedness supplies than military families. And, it’s obviously better now that thousands of families are better prepared as a result of this initiative. However, here’s my ‘no good turn’ BUT — the fact that they are receiving their emergency kits gratis just underlines the challenge of getting the rest of the public to purchase or put together theirs. It is not inexpensive to do. And though it is great that thousands of military families get them free, it also underscores that fact that if emergency officials want the rest of the public to do so they need to make it easier and cheaper.

As I have proposed, one way would be for the Red Cross and government officials to work with the private sector to provide discounts on emergency products as part of an emergency supply marketing initiative which would lower the price and logistical obstacles for the public. That would help a wider range of Americans — including military families — build their emergency supply kits.

The public’s interest in free or discounted preparedness supplies was underscored this morning on the Red Cross’ Facebook page where the Eton Corporation gave away 700 free “Blackout Buddies,” an emergency LED blackout flashlight that plugs and recharges straight from a wall socket, in 30 minutes. Again, this giveaway is a positive private sector/Red Cross partnership, but it also serves to underline the need.

Eton Corporation’s “Blackout Buddy”

The Great California ShakeOut began in 2008, as the Great Southern California ShakeOut, an effort to educate the public about emergency management during a large earthquake. It was the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history at the time with a total of 5.4 million participants spanning eight counties in the southern part of the state.

In 2009, the ShakeOut expanded to include the entire state of California — all 58 counties, divided into 11 areas. More than 6.9 million Californians participated, practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On and other aspects of family, school, and organizational emergency plans. The 2010 ShakeOut will be on October 21st. To get more information and/or register for that event, click here.

According to one of the Midwest exercise organizers, the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), the event is to bring more attention to — and improve preparedness for – the earthquake threat in the middle of the country:

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut in April 2011 will involve more than 1 million people through a broad-based outreach program, partnership with the media, and public advocacy by hundreds of partners. This event is being organized by CUSEC and our Member States: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The ShakeOut will be centered around a simultaneous drop, cover, and hold drill that will be held at 10:15 AM CDT on April 28, 2011. The drill is designed to increase awareness and be a simple thing that can be done easily by many people…

The 2011 ShakeOut drill will be the largest earthquake preparedness event in central U.S. history. Soon, a website detailing ShakeOut drill procedures, registration, and promotion, will be ready at www.ShakeOut.org/centralus. At this website, you will be able to pledge your family, school, business, or organization’s participation in the drill. Registered participants will receive information on how to plan their drill and how to create a dialogue with others about earthquake preparedness. All organizers ask is that participants register (so the can be counted and receive communications), and at the minimum practice “drop, cover, and hold on” at the specified time. It is only a five minute commitment for something that can save your life. It all begins with registering, which is free and open to everyone.

To register for The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut click here. To register for The Great California ShakeOut, click here.

Melissa Short’s “Cybersecurity Starts Here” campaign was one of the winners of the National Cyber Awareness Challenge “which called on members of the public and private sector companies to develop creative and innovative ways to enhance awareness of the importance of cybersecurity and safeguard America’s computer systems and networks from attacks.”

Melissa Short, DHS Cyber Challenge Winner

The Challenge, which Secretary Napolitano announced in March, received more than 80 proposals, from which seven were selected which will help inform the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign. It is designed to engage the American public, the private sector and state and local governments in efforts to guard against cyber threats and communicate strategies for the public to help keep themselves, their families and communities safer online. The Campaign will kick off in October 2010, in conjunction with National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

It is also another deliverable on Secretary Napolitano’s pledge to begin “engaging and empowering our citizens to be part of collective effort” towards “creating a culture of awareness And preparation”. Cybersecurity has become more central to the nation’s homeland security and in fact was mentioned for first time in President Obama’s National Preparedness Month proclamation this year.

Short told me in an interview that in her campaign entry she wanted to make cybersecurity more accessible and doable for the average citizen: ”How do we make cyber security relevant to their lives? But give them steps they can actually do.”

“There’s no silver bullet. It won’t happen overnight,” she says, adding, ”I hope we can get a dialogue when we’re talking about security. Get a discussion going among the public.” Short works at the U.S. Veterans Administration in Roanoke, Virginia in information technology, but  says she is “non-technical” so she feels she can understand both the expert and non-expert worlds.

DHS spokesperson Meredith Isola explained why DHS reached out to the public:

“Everyone has a stake in cybersecurity –- and we believe that all Americans can be part of the solution to keeping our cyberspace safe. And so we knew that by tapping into some of the wisdom and creativity of the public and cyber experts, we could come up with some great ideas for getting the word out more broadly.”

“Every day Americans are incorporating new and innovative technologies into their lives. We’ve come to rely on computers, smartphones and many other online resources at home, at work and at school. That heightens the need for every single one of us – young or old, computer savvy or not – to learn about the potential threats and how to stay safe online.”

According to Short’s campaign proposal:

“Cybersecurity Starts Here” is my vision for a campaign to increase the cybersecurity awareness of the American public. The objective of this campaign is to build a general security consciousness among the American public through communication via a portal web site, advertising and public relations, Web 2.0 presence, and face-to-face interactions. The term “cybersecurity” conjures up images of complex networks and rooms aglow with monitors and buzzing with computing power. Cybersecurity sounds like a term for government and big business. However, the reality is that cybersecurity impacts all of our lives and we all have the ability and the need to take steps to protect our computers, ourselves, and even our Nation.

The general, non-technical public, is the primary target of this communication. The campaign also recognizes two key sub-groups of the American public: small businesses and students. In addition, this campaign makes considerations for educating the general news media on cybersecurity issues in order for these outlets to improve their coverage of the topic. This campaign will reach the American public with practical and ready-to-implement suggestions for integrating cybersecurity into the everyday computing experience.

A key to the long range success of the Cybersecurity Starts Here message is encouraging a nationwide dialogue on cybersecurity and engaging the public in face-to-face conversations on cybersecurity will help achieve this goal. The centerpiece is creating a “Cybersecurity Ambassadors Program” comprised  of people who work in IT (ex. IT specialists, ISOs, CIOs, system administrations, IT security specialists, help desk specialists), people who have an interest in IT security (ex. police personnel), or people who have a special relationship with a target public (ex. educators, school administrators, teen mentors, college residence life staff, small business support organizations) who want to build the cybersecurity awareness in their workplace, community, church, civic group, etc.

The campaign will be integrated into DHS’s cybersecurity public awareness efforts. Says Short: “It will be very cool to see my ideas implemented.” The other Challenge winners were:

Best Iconic and Overall Structure – Deloitte “Think Before You Click”

The Best Iconic and Overall Structure submission was Deloitte for their Cybersecurity call-to-action and “Think Before You Click” campaign. In addition to proposing creative messaging and tag lines, innovative marketing strategies and calls to action, Deloitte proposed a symbolic icon to help drive awareness and recognition of the campaign for adults and young adults, as well as a character to drive cyber awareness with kids.

Best Local/community Plan – eCity San Diego and MyMaine Privacy

For the Best Local/Community Plan, Securing Our eCity San Diego and MyMainePrivacy were both selected as winners. Both proposals offered innovated strategies for grassroots collaborative approaches with state and local government, public and private sector, and the academic community through their online classroom style trainings.

Most Creative – Beekeeper Group and LegalNetWORKs “Trot Against Bots”

For Most Creative, the submission from Beekeeper Group and LegalNetWORKS for their “Trot Against Bots” awareness 5K was selected. The strategy acknowledges that planned road races by their very nature close down city streets for a period of a few hours, and proposes working with local officials to organize a 5K in a city that would illustrate how a single runner (symbolizing a botnet) may not shut down traffic, but a group can (vehicle traffic would symbolize Internet traffic).

Best Educational plan – Penn State “CyberLink Games”

Penn State’s proposal was selected as the Best Educational Plan, for their CyberLink Games, which are aimed at improving Internet security. There are two games—CyberLink Duo helps players understand how society views cybersecurity risk and CyberLink Solo helps to educate players on the latest information from experts on cybersecurity threats.

Best Publicity and Marketing – CISCO “Cybersecurity is Everyone’s Responsibility”

Cisco Systems’ proposal was selected as the Best Publicity and Marketing plan for their “Cybersecurity is Everyone’s Responsibility” campaign. An overarching theme of the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign is creating a balance between Internet safety as a personal responsibility and a shared responsibility. The awareness campaign Cisco proposed aligns with this goal by creating an educational cybersecurity portal and a cybersecurity “IQ challenge,” and utilizing print, radio, TV and online advertisements to drive awareness of these programs.

* Volunteering for local law enforcement agencies through the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program. VIPS volunteers conduct traffic control, crowd control, and other duties that support local law enforcement

* Training to become a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in your area. CERT members support first responders before, during and after a disaster occurs by providing support for preparedness awareness and using their skills to execute response protocols to assist emergency responders

* Joining a Neighborhood Watch group to assist with crime and terrorism prevention by working more closely with local law enforcement, and emphasize the importance of emergency preparedness among families and homes in your neighborhood

* Donating time to a Medical Reserve Corps Unit through volunteering with medical and public health professionals to contribute skills and expertise throughout the year as well as during times of community need

* Becoming an advocate for fire safety and prevention education in the community and assisting with administrative duties at your local fire station through Fire Corps.

* Getting involved with an American Red Cross Chapter by giving blood to ensure a safe supply, volunteering with your local chapter, getting trained to respond to local disasters like home fires, or making a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund.

* Helping other community members prepare, including those children and adults with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

Thanks to the Hartman Inventory Blog where I originally saw this article.

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 data available, utilities reported 36 such outages in 2006 alone.

It offers a good reminder that citizens should be prepared for such events. One particular tip I would suggest is to make sure that you have requisite backup power for your mobile phone as communications in a crisis is paramount.

The need for — and importance — of backup power for mobiles in an emergency was brought home to me a couple years ago when I responded to a building collapse in Manhattan with my CERT team. The accident displaced a number of apartment residents who came to the Red Cross evacuation center with two questions: when can we get into our homes? and second, how can we could get our cellphones charged?

Eventually, power chargers for the various mobile phone makes owned by residents were found. But it was a bit of an epiphany for me. I believe that the cellphone or PDA is the most important emergency tool you need to have and learn how to use. In fact, I recommended, on the suggestion of Mitchell Moss, that everyone have an extra cellphone battery.

I had worked with the Wireless Foundation and technology expert David Stephenson to add mobile phones as a recommended tool on emergency management sites. The Ready.Gov Get A Kit section now also recommends a battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both; flashlight and era batteries; and cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger. Another option is to have an extra ‘low-end, energy-efficient’ phone.

Rebecca Marquis, the Ready Program’s Deputy Director told me she was at jazz concert in New Orleans where everyone was given a free Energizer® Energi To Go® Portable Power for Cell Phones. I think that is the type of business involvement in advance emergency preparedness which needs to be expanded.

Also, the American Red Cross has a broader checklist of how to prepare for power outage beyond just communications.

The City Council President, Deputy Mayor, the commissioners of OEM, Fire, Health Department and Immigrant Affairs all give their quick answers in the 30 second spot.

NYC-OEM/Ad Council PSA

I like the idea of involving public officials and publicizing their own preparedness process. I wrote earlier this summer there is a need for high profile people both in and out of the emergency management field to discuss publicly their own family readiness efforts as a model for the rest of the community. In this PSA, each interviewee only gets a quick one sentence answer. I would like to see another PSA where they go into more detail about their emergency plans.

To me, one of the biggest gaps in citizen preparedness communications is the lack of personalization and humanization. The messaging is far too institutional, and the result is that people largely do not respond. Officials ask average citizens to create emergency plans and kits, research threats and do practice run-throughs, but they never show them how (and if) they do it for themselves.

As a result, they do not have a full understanding of the challenges for the public in taking what seem to be simple preparedness steps but are not particularly easy for laypeople — there are always many questions and hidden obstacles for civilians going through the preparedness process. But those are almost never addressed in a personal way by those in authority, which is a major reason why the messages do not largely get through to the public. While officials are always asking the public “what’s your plan?” or “what’s in your kit?” but rarely tell us what’s in their plan or their kit.

Now, it is true that public officials are not going react like regular citizens in a disaster but instead will be likely be working managing the situation. So, they may not have to plan for themselves in the same way an average person would. However, most have families who are going to prepare and respond along with the rest of the public. The fact is that everyofficial is also a citizen; it would be helpful for other citizens if officials show that perspective more, and it would be similarly useful for leaders to take that point of view more in their preparedness planning and communications.

To enter, tweet just one thing that you’re doing to get prepared for emergencies to @RedCrossPDX and use the hashtag #just1thing.

It’s a terrific contest — fun, spurs action and creates a good preparedness list. Anyone can share anything they’re doing to get prepared at any time, but new this year each week of September will have a special theme and corresponding prize: Sept. 1-10: Children; Sept. 13-17: Families; Sept. 20-24: Workplace; Sept. 27-30: Pets. All participants are welcome, however only Oregon residents are eligible for prizes (valued at $100), to be awarded via random drawing.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate may want to enter the contest. Last month, he said in an interview that for National Preparedness Month, he wants Americans to do at least one thing: create an emergency communications plan for their family.

Here are some of the entries from last year:

KalCobalt: Gave house keys to trusted folks so if I’m separated from home by an emergency, my kitty can be cared for!

LouiseHornor: If we get separated from each other or our RV, our emergency meeting place will be closest Red Cross chapter. #just1thing

OberLaw: have beefed up supplies and created redundancy – car, home, work. inventoried everything w/ expiration dates!

nika7k: am dehydrating fruits, veg, trail mixes, and backpacking soups in case we have to eat w/o power! #just1thing

Bolz42: My #just1thing for today…staying home and not getting the office sick…

jcrawfordor: Finally joining Amateur Radio Group to participate in disaster management trainings

eakunkel: I’m putting together a disaster supplies kit (http://bit.ly/RLFvb) for the folks I’m house-sitting for

artisticbaker: I’m trying to keep first aid supplies handy in our house

MelindaJoy926: I’m buying bottled water

First, I handed out preparedness ‘goody bags’ to passersby in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle after stuffing the packages with other members in an impromptu assembly line. In each bag was a READY New York pen, hand santizer and info pamphlets. Most folks walking by our tent were interested in getting the bags maybe in part because of the increased awareness related to Hurricane Earl heading up the Eastern Seaboard.

Putting together preparedness bags.

Then, handing out the READY New York ‘goody’ bags in Columbus Circle.

After assembling and handing out the bags for a couple hours in Manhattan, I went to downtown Brooklyn where the City’s Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Bruno was announcing some new initiatives for National Preparedness Month, including a Facebook application to help New Yorkers locate family in an emergency. I was asked to stand with Bruno, the Fire Commissioner and officials from the Police Department, Red Cross and the Ad Council to represent CERT during the event.

Participating in a National Preparedness Month press conference in downtown Brooklyn.

After the press conference, I went over to a camera tent where OEM was interviewing/auditioning citizens for a preparedness public service announcement. In all, a full CERT day.

Auditioning for a READY New York public service announcement.

The Empire State Building lit in Ready New York Yellow tonight.

According to the press release:

Located on OEM’s Facebook page, the new interactive web mapping application allows New Yorkers to select a meeting place from thousands of locations in the metropolitan area in advance of an emergency. Users can search for meeting places closest to their home or office addresses, such as schools, museums, libraries, senior centers, courthouses, post offices, or police or fire stations.

Other options include choosing a meeting place between two addresses or choosing your own meeting place. After the meeting place is chosen, it can be shared via e-mail with those users who want to meet at the designated point in an emergency. Users will also be able to share their meeting place via text message in the coming months.

Screenshot of New York City Office of Emergency Management/Ad Council Facebook “My Meeting Place” Application.

In a video interview (below), Serino said that with Hurricane Earl heading up the Eastern Seaboard “today is the day for people to be prepared,” particularly in the New England area which may bear the brunt of the storm. Serino, who is from the Boston area, recommends that citizens get ready by charging their cellphones, filling their gas tanks and getting some extra cash.

FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino

According to The Daily Yomiuri:

The government on Wednesday conducted a disaster drill under a scenario in which three massive simultaneous earthquakes struck a wide area along the Pacific coast in central Japan. Wednesday’s drill, the first under the triple-earthquake scenario, was among many similar exercises conducted nationwide, marking this year’s Disaster Prevention Day.

Japan’s Disaster Prevention Day was established to mark the anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake which killed more than 100,000 people in 1923. And China, since its 8.0-magnitude 2008 Sichuan Province earthquake, has also held two national disaster prevention days with nationwide drills.

This blog has long advocated both more extensive civilian drills as well as a special preparedness day to undertake them. If Japan and China can do so, I think we can too.

Most every top national and local government preparedness official I’ve spoken to believes that preparedness exercise for the public would increase citizen readiness and engagement. Short of an actual incident, a drill is the best way to get people to think through what they would do if something actually happens. (For example, how to evacuate in a hurricane for residents, like in the northeast, who are not used to doing so.)

And, I strongly believe that there needs to be one day in the year dedicated to the emergency planning process. If we as a nation feel it is really important for the public to develop emergency plans, it would be far more effective if everyone was doing that at the same time — rather than asking individuals to do it on their own. This ‘preparedness day’ would also be the time that we all asked the questions about planning then practiced and updated those plans. It would be useful for both responders and the public.

Among the questions that will come out of that type of drilling day include: Where would you go? Would it depend on the type of emergency? Would you be able to get out of work? Would your kids’ school want you to come there? How would you get in touch with each other as well as how would the authorities would communicate with you?

The fact is that families will never be able to fully answer all these ‘what if’ questions in advance; it will always depend to some extent on circumstances (ie. evacuating vs. sheltering in place), but this day would at least begin the preparedness process.  It would be the time to think through some scenarios and link together some of the institutions/people families would need to rely on in a disaster.

Japanese children in Disaster Prevention Day drill.

As of last Friday, there were 3684 members breaking the biggest previous figure of 3200 two years ago. Coalition members “have pledged to provide information, host events and/or sponsor activities for their customers, members, employees, stakeholders and communities throughout the month of September.” Marquis attributes the number to “very strong outreach effort this year by all levels of government (federal, state and local) as well as the private sector.”

If you would like to become a coalition member, click here

Each day in September, CRESA is going to post an activity-based challenge which will take everyone who plays one step closer towards being more resilient as a community and ready to face the next crisis.

Anyone can play. In fact, we encourage EVERYONE to play along in this fun challenge. Even if you don’t complete all 30 days of challenges, by simply doing some of these activities, you may find yourself thinking about emergencies differently.

The Day 1 activity, posted this morning, is very relevant to those across the U.S. from CRESA on the East Coast who are being asked to monitor possible local evacuation orders as a result of Hurricane Earl.

DAY 1 ACTIVITY: Identify the name of your local Emergency Management Agency and how you would receive information from them during emergencies.

To enter:

PROOF OF COMPLETION: There are 3 ways that you can complete this task:  leave a comment with your answer in it on our blog, put your answer on our Facebook Fan Page or provide the answer on Twitter (please include @CRESA or hashtag #30days30ways in any tweets).

You do not have to complete the task on the day in which it is initially assigned; however, all proofs must be turned in by 9/30/10.

What Will I Win?

Besides the great self-actualization that you are prepared (or not, as the case may be), we have decided to provide some additional incentive beyond bragging rights for being the first 30 Days, 30 Ways winner. This includes:

Personal Mention in a media release about the contest results (you may choose to remain anonymous if you wish).

Invitation to a CRESA Emergency Management Staff Meeting to discuss your experience in this contest and to provide feedback on this contest. (If the winner does not live locally, we will set up a teleconference so that we can chat together.)

2011 Preparedness Calendar

“Behind the Scenes” Tour of the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA) which includes 9-1-1 and Emergency Management.

The person (or people, in the event of a tie) who completes the most challenges will be identified as the winner of this contest. We challenge you to join us in this amazing and fun quest to be better prepared together.

I look forward to following the contest through the month.

I recommend checking the LAFD blog the rest of the month to read more tips and to follow the Department’s trailblazing social media efforts led by my friend and communications pioneer Brian Humphrey.

To the editor:

I guess everyone in Scugog Township is prepared for any emergency that may arise.

They must be, because at the end of Emergency Preparedness Week, on Saturday May 8, the No. 1 fire hall in Port Perry was open to everyone to learn about numerous ways to prepare for emergencies, and no one came.

I know my wife and I were not the only ones disappointed with the turnout. Five speakers were lined up to discuss anything and everything needed to prepare for disasters and emergencies of all kinds.

Some of the emergency situations noted in the past that have affected residents of Scugog were H1N1, increasing windstorms and severe summer weather numerous times, resulting in downed trees and other damage as well as the blackout of 2003.

Do you remember what you and your family went through during that blackout? Were you prepared? It could happen again. Will you be ready? Have you ever considered what could happen if flooding were to occur here? Think about broken dams, torrential rain and backed-up storm drains and septics.

At the seminar, tables were set up with giveaway information and supplies. Volunteers were on hand to inform and assist with information and to answer questions. Enbridge set up and prepared hot dogs, hamburgers and pop for visitors.

We want to thank the chief, the mayor and councillors and all the volunteers that were on hand for this event.

Bruno and Darlene Gauweiler, Caesarea

I am also posting the letter for those organizing events this month to show that no matter how difficult things are to do, it always could be worse! I wish everyone the best — and great attendance — with all their activities during Preparedness Month.

Currently more than 20 million Pakistanis have been affected by the worst natural disaster in Pakistan’s history. The pictures we see coming out of Pakistan are painful images of human suffering at its worst. Americans have always shown great generosity to others facing crises around the world. And I call on you to do what you can.

Viewers are instructed to text “flood” to 2-7-7-2-2 to donate $10. More information can be found at State.gov.

State Department/Ad Council PSA for Pakistan flood relief.

He told Robin Roberts that people who live in evacuation zones need to plan to evacuate if necessary, have a destination now and follow the storm closely. For those who need guidance in creating an emergency plan, he suggested checking Ready.Gov.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate interviewed on “Good Morning America” today about Hurricane Earl.

Fugate has also been tweeting “Hurricane 101″ tips, including most recently: “if you evacuate, take your pets with you. looking for a hotel that takes pets www.petswelcome.com www.officialpethotels.com.”

Earl and Fiona Approach East Coast (Photo: NOAA)

Darryl Madden, Director, Ready Campaign

In an interview earlier this month, Madden told me there will be a special effort during the Month to get Americans to create a family emergency communications plan. To help Americans undertake the planning process, Ready.Gov and the Ad Council are offering some online tools to create a printable comprehensive Family Emergency Plan and an email/text containing basic information that can be shared with others. Madden said he also hopes the Americans will during the Month — if they have not already — check with their workplaces and kids’ schools about their emergency plans. This video is part of the blog’s “What Should We Tell The Public?” series.

Ready.Gov’s section on hurricane preparedness is here; information on flooding is here.

It turns out that in most cases the two services are being utilized in somewhat different ways by different types of external users. Twitter is being used mostly as an informational source with speed and news being paramount for more of an official audience, while Facebook pages tend to be more of a place for public discussion and community building with more depth (ie. multi-media) and emotional involvement often for average citizens. But in a crisis, the two platforms will be used similarly to distribute and solicit emergency information. Both, officials say, have been very helpful to their informational outreach to the public.

Here are the e-mail responses about Twitter and Facebook from some of the emergency management experts I contacted:

Jeremy J. Heidt, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency – ”We are seeing quite a difference in what TEMA’s social media followers and fans are looking for from our agency, but that may be due to how we are interacting on those platforms. We have 355 followers on Twitter, but a majority (>75%) of them are what I would call information gatherers, like yourself, looking for official information to share through their own distribution channels.

For example, our Twitter followers include the Associated Press and CNN Southeast Desk, as well as various federal, state and local agencies or officials. The general public makes up a small percentage of the direct audience, though they are welcome to receive the messages. TEMA primarily uses Twitter as an automatic distribution mechanism –using Google Feedburner and RSS feeds — for any information that has been updated, such as pictures or maps on Flickr, any official state news releases on TN.Gov or blog postings to TEMA’s website, as well as FEMA releases involving Tennessee and earthquake notices in the region from the U.S. Geological Service.

During the recent flooding, I repeatedly told media outlets that following TEMA on Twitter would ensure they received immediate notice of any new information that we had released. This cut down tremendously on the number of repeat phone calls from those media outlets looking for just routine updates to some previously released information. By utilizing the Twitter lists, I’m also able to get immediate feedback by watching what media outlets are saying about an event, as it is happening. We don’t have a lot of two-way conversations via Twitter though.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Twitter page.

The Facebook page, TNDisasterInfo, has 2,483 fans, but the daily impressions are 9,755. This site has much more grassroots appeal to its users. They are able to comment and give direct feedback via Facebook. Sixty-five percent of the fans are female, and most reside in Tennessee. I definitely think that how TEMA uses and interact through social media will continue to change.

In the future, I think emergency organizations will have to monitor social media, like Twitter or others, for ’emergency’ communications from our citizens. We need to adapt to how the public chooses to communicate, or we will lose a piece of situational awareness that is vital to any successful emergency operation.”

Gloria Huang, American Red Cross — “Yes, we definitely have a different community on Twitter versus Facebook. Our Facebook following [202,687] consists of a lot of Red Cross volunteers, donors, workers – people with some personal tie to the organization. As a result, they are incredibly interactive and love sharing and chatting with each other on our Facebook page. Because of that, we try to tailor our content on Facebook to encourage community building and we try to give them interesting topics to talk about. In contrast, our Twitter following [177,206] love to see more disaster-focused tweets. They are interested in hard facts and timely information that they can pass on. That is most of the reason why our Twitter account is so disaster-focused.

The nature of a Facebook Page is very community-oriented; our fans/followers are very happy to declare that they donated blood, or that their mother and grandmothers also volunteered, or that they recently got certified in CPR. On the flip side, the Twitter community is much more public and vast in size – if the information we tweet is current and relevant to what people are talking about (like the Haiti earthquake), it will get spread far and wide.”

Comments on the American Red Cross’ Facebook page.

Christina Stephens, Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management — “Our Twitter followers [2,636]  are interested in news. They expect to get information everyday. Facebook users [1,672] are more likely to want to engage with us and others in a discussion. Those on Facebook tend to be more emotionally connected and Twitter users more informationally connected. But in an emergency we would use them similarly getting information out and receiving feedback. And we would be instructing people to use each to alert their family and friends about their situations.”

Adam Crowe, Johnson County (Kansas) Emergency Management & Homeland Security – “There is significant overlap in the information that we post to Facebook [440] and Twitter [808]. The most significant minor differences are based around the use of multi-media. We typically post videos and pictures to facebook and merely post to Twitter a link back to the Facebook or YouTube page. The on except to this is our automated twitter feed (@jocoalert) that receives automated emergency information such as weather alerts or advisories. Our hope is that people will select to follow this account and be notified vis SMS text – thus creating a community-wide text notification system.”

Johnson County Office of Emergency Management’s Twitter feed.

Rachel Racusen, Federal Emergency Management Administration — “Our Twitter followers [16,492] tend to be interested in news and information. The Facebook page [15,409] offers more opportunity for discussion among and feedback from the public. And, we receive helpful comments on FEMA policies.”

Chi Kong Lui, American Red Cross of Greater New York –”We do see a difference between people who use Facebook versus Twitter under normal circumstances. Twitter is a bit faster paced and noisier. We don’t subject our Facebook fans to the real-time daily disaster updates that appear in our Twitter. That being said, when a major disaster or emergency strikes, the users want useful and relevant information as quickly as possible and in whatever format they can get it. So during a disaster, I think we would look to provide as much updates to both platforms as quickly as possible.”

It was little less cheeky than his reminder tweet from the day before:

Usually, preparedness messaging — particularly as a threat approaches — is Boy Scout earnest (and Fugate uses that approach as well — see below).

But Twitter has allowed the Administrator to also offer some more refreshingly more casual, irreverent messages — that use humor and even a little sarcasm to try to get through to Americans to prepare. The character limits, the volume of Tweets and the targeted nature of social media makes it a good medium for experimentation, particularly when (like Fugate) you have a gregarious, infectious personality with a nice sense of humor — and you have heard of every excuse for not preparing from the public during a long emergency management career. The fact is that the straight forward approach has largely not worked.

Fugate’s Twitter feed should embolden emergency managers to try some more direct and conversational approaches that officials might not feel comfortable saying during a news conference or in a press release.

The Times-Picayune, which did such heroic coverage during and after Katrina, solicited these ideas from readers in 2006 and printed them weekly during hurricane season. In June of 2007, the paper reprinted “a comprehensive selection”, calling it the ”ultimate insiders guide to evacuee readiness. Enjoy and prepare.” The list is so interesting, because it reflects the real-life experiences of disaster survivors.

Though you may not agree with all of the ideas suggested and some are area specific, I think you will find it worth reading through this collection as a resource, an example of citizen resilience and even, yes, how humor is necessary in the face of crisis. The article is also an example of the huge potential the media has to spur citizen preparedness if it focused more on the topic.

The approximately 75 submissions have been divided by the author James O’Byrne into categories, including: On The Road Again, Kids And Pets, Staying Behind, Guest Relations, Take This Job And Leave It, Precious Papers Important Photos, Food For Thought, Potty Time, & The Big Picture. The tips range from ”Take blank checks, internet passwords, copies of bills, long distance phone card, walkie talkies” and “Apply for a gas credit card” to “Perfume. No showers for 10 days. We stunk so bad” and “Keep nice with your Dallas relative with the big house.”

Below are a couple of representative e-mails that will give you a sense of these survivor tips:

I always prided myself in being super organized before Katrina. In the safe-deposit box at the bank, I had placed the original savings bonds I was using to finance my sons’ college education, a video of my home’s contents and negatives of both my sons’ first days of life. My home in Lakewood South had 6½ feet of water. The lobby of the bank in Lakeview flooded, too!

Only copies of important papers are kept in the safe-deposit box now. I personally keep all original documents in a small fireproof box that is portable and will go wherever I go. In that box, too, is a stash of cash (proved to be very valuable last year) as well as my “password list” containing all necessary info to manage bills and finances online.

Videos of my sons have now been transferred to DVDs. They’re in plastic bags that are stored in the bottom of my Rubbermaid container that also will go with me. Digital pictures of my new home replace the home video. (After a catastrophic loss, the insurance companies want only pictures, I have learned.) I have my “Katrina Book” that also will go with me this year — inside is every important phone number, registration number, etc., which are critical for life after a storm.

CHERYL LITWIN,
New Orleans

What worked for us? Nothing. What would I do differently? I shall start listing:
Do not watch the news anywhere around your kids. Ever.
Do not leave ANY pet behind thinking you will only be gone for two days.
Know how to text message if the cell phones are no longer working.
Have an emergency account set up with a NATIONAL bank so when you cannot access money from your local bank there is a back-up fund.
Bring more than a few days worth of clothes.
Bring a copy of children’s shot records.
Know what “teaching methods” are taught in your school (yes, I was asked that question several times!).
Every year when getting your pets vaccinated, get a copy of updates to bring while evacuating.
Let people who want to take care of you and love you do just that. This is not boot camp or a pride parade. Let others help.
Bring pictures of items in your home for your insurance claim.
Bring needed medications.
Bring some wine.
Tell your family and friends where you are going and work out a “contact person” on the outside who can give your information to worried friends and family.
Never depend on the government. If it looks like a storm is coming and Bob Breck and Margaret Orr are a little stressed — GET OUT.
Brush up on some of those prayers your momma taught you. And just know we have been through the worst. It can never get as bad as it did. We are a strong people.

CLAIRE KOCH,
New Orleans

The entire article with all the tips/lessons learned can be found here.

]]> http://incaseofemergencyblog.com/2010/08/29/on-katrina-5th-anniversary-a-compelling-useful-list-of-preparedness-tips-lessons-learned-from-the-hurricane-survivors-themselves/feed/ 2 http://incaseofemergencyblog.com/2010/08/29/on-katrina-5th-anniversary-a-compelling-useful-list-of-preparedness-tips-lessons-learned-from-the-hurricane-survivors-themselves/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/InCaseOfEmergencyReadBlog/~3/q1-ntLPgPIo/ http://incaseofemergencyblog.com/2010/08/27/lafds-brian-humphrey-emergency-2-0-pioneer-urges-responder-agencies-to-get-in-the-social-media-pool-if-it-works-in-la-it-can-work-in-your-town-too/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:10:03 +0000 admin http://incaseofemergencyblog.com/?p=12224 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 by government emergency officials to inform and engage the public.

Brian and his fellow LAFD public information officers manage an unparalleled social media operation in the government emergency field, including a blog about to hit three million visits and a Flickr site with seven million views. The Department recently split its Twitter account in two: @LAFD, which is reserved for fire and accident reports, and @LAFDTalk, which people can use to ask questions about fire extinguishers or whatever else fire-related is on their minds. Brian gave a terrific presentation at the Red Cross event about his work that can be found on C-SPAN’s website.

In the two-and-a-half minute video below, I asked Humphrey what he would tell other emergency responder agencies, which have not yet embraced social media in their work, ”I encourage agencies and people to jump in the water. That doesn’t mean enter head first. But get in the pool.” He urges a patient approach in which officials listen, absorb information initially. But he points out social media is a “force multiplier” for emergency agencies in distributing and gathering information. And he notes: “If it works in Los Angeles, it can work in your town too.”

Humphrey cites an example of social media’s usefulness in the wake of the stampede at Germany’s Love Parade at which 18 people died. He says that in similar types of events, LAFD uses social media to monitor the situation before it gets out of hand. He also urges the public to sign up for their local government text/email alerts, which offer an opportunity to get emergency information even before its delivered by the traditional media.

LAFD Public Information Officer Brian Humphrey discusses the use of social media and personal technology in the emergency services.

Public preparedness is an atypical beauty pageant platform. But Shepherd does not have typical beauty pageant credentials. She had served as a combat medic for six years with the Utah National Guard (1st Battalion, 211th Aviation), including a year-long stint in Afghanistan at Bagram Airfield where she earned five medals for outstanding service.

Miss Utah & Army Combat Medic Sgt. Jill Shepherd

Shepherd entered her first pageant at Southern Utah University where she was studying for a degree in Nursing. But she was having a really difficult time coming up with a platform and did not want to do a traditional pageant “health and fitness” subject. Then, she drew a connection between her experience in Afghanistan where “you had to be ready for anything” with that  of natural disasters and smaller emergencies back in Utah that civilians also had to be ready for anything. So, she made citizen emergency preparedness, with a particular focus on schools and students, her pageant platform.

In fact, Shepherd says sees a connection between her military service abroad and citizen preparedness at home as both involve a commitment from citizens to contribute in times of crisis. It is a great point. Last week, I wrote a post about how Americans should view preparedness as personal responsibility and responsibility of citizenship. But I didn’t include the idea that preparing for disaster was a way that civilians could (and should) make a contribution to complement the work and sacrifice of their fellow citizens in the military. (I will be adding it to that previous post.) It would seem to be another good angle for preparedness messaging, adding to the “personal responsibility” approach.

Jill Shepherd being crowned Miss Utah.

Shepherd feels that preparedness twas a good fit with her background as a medic and what she wanted to talk about to audiences around the state (and believes it helped her win the Miss Utah pageant). She also reached the semi-finals of the 2008 Miss America pageant. Afterwards, Shepherd got involved with the TeenCERT program at Eastern Michigan University and did public speaking on behalf of disaster readiness for young people. She is now an emergency room nurse at a Salt Lake City children’s hospital.

After I posted this, I got a Facebook comment from Robert Buzzard suggesting that Craig Fugate at FEMA ask Shepherd to again become a spokesperson for public preparedness; I think it’s a terrific idea.

Shepherd doing a school preparedness event as part of her “Miss Utah” responsibilities.

Nine nations now have nuclear weapons and the movie argues that number could continue to grow to over 40 countries as the construction knowledge spreads (and that’s not even including the non-state actors, including terror groups). The documentary, directed by Lucy Walker, effectively shows the great concern among those experts in the political, diplomatic and scientific fields, though it expresses concern that the public does not fully understand the gravity of the situation. The movie is meant as a ‘wake up call’ about the threat of an act of nuclear terrorism, failed diplomacy, or a simple accident.

Ultimately, the movie calls for nuclear disarmament and asks viewers to go to the website of an organization called Global Zero to sign a petition. I wish they had also included steps that citizens can do to protect themselves in case the efforts to stop a nuclear explosion does not completely work.

Nevertheless, it is definitely worth seeing “Countdown to Zero” if it comes to your town or when it comes out in DVD. To check its national opening schedule, check the Global Zero website here.