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Professor David Longshore gave a talk at an Emergency and Disaster Management information session about modern day piracy.

“If Facebook is where New Yorkers are looking for information, OEM needs to be there with answers,” OEM Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno told The New York Times in a June 16 article that appeared on The Times’ invaluable City Room site.

The Facebook venture is only the latest innovation in OEM’s already comprehensive preparedness notification program.  Building upon its solid successes in community outreach, notification, and emergency preparedness education, New York City’s OEM has once again shown the EM and HLS fields that it is not afraid to make use of new or emerging technology to address the age-old challenges of emergency preparedness and notification.  And for those who don’t believe that early warning and robust preparedness measures can save lives, Disaster Central urges that they remember their history…the history that saw over 600 lives in the northeastern United States lost to a “surprise” hurricane strike on Long Island and southeastern New England in September of 1938.

Disaster Central urges all New Yorkers to visit OEM’s Facebook page, and to regularly consult it as updates become available.  OEM is clearly doing its part to keep New Yorkers safe - are you, your family, your friends, and your workplace doing the same?

At this time, one of the most potentially serious internal threats to the security of our homeland is occurring right here in New York State.  According to media reports, it all started rather innocuously on June 8; a few members of the New York State Senate “defected” from the power majority to the power minority, thereby shifting the balance of power within the state senate from one political party to another.  In an effort to prevent this shift in the balance of power, the former power majority has undertaken a number of responses, each of which has only resulted in weakening the already-tenuous political credibility of the entire legislative body.  These include locking the Senate chamber, turning off the lighting, and essentially repeating what occurred in June of 1789, when France’s Estates-General, finding themselves locked out of their meeting chamber at the Palace of Versailles by order of King Louis XVI, gathered at a nearby indoor tennis court and swore an oath that they would never separated, and that they would not be dissuaded from providing France with a government that was at all times accountable to its people.

For the purposes of the Homeland Security discipline, it was the reaction of the French people to the Oath of the Tennis Court which is of most interest to us.  It so happens that what they wanted even more than bread and another circus was a government that was at all times accountable to them.  Their reasoning was that by having an accountable government, they were virtually assured as much bread and as many circuses as any civilization could properly handle.  So they denounced the King.  They stopped going to work.  They rioted.  They stopped paying their taxes, and took robust steps to prevent the monarchist government from collecting them.  They stopped buying French government debt.  They captured the Bastille.  They abolished feudalism and the privileges of the aristocracy.  They executed the King, the Queen, and even a Joker or two.  They eventually slid into a period of civil war and political terror - known as the Reign of Terror – in which tens of thousands of people perished.  They took what steps they believed – rightly or wrongly – to preserve their right to obtain future rights under a new and hopefully enlightened form of liberal democratic government…a government that was at all times accountable to its people.

While two centuries and half a world separate us from revolutionary France, the true lessons of history are always with us.  They are as omnipotent as air, and yet far more substantial.  They tell us that regardless of which political party is “in power” in the New York State Senate, the fact remains that at this time that legislative body is not discharging its Constitutional responsibilities to the people of New York State.  Indeed, photographs and accounts published by New York media outlets show a darkened, empty, shuttered and locked chamber whose shadowy decorative splendor does little to convey the greatness of the work of the people that should be undertaken there.  At a time when important issues related to the state’s budget, civil rights and operational efficiency are in need of direct and immediate attention, the people of New York State have no apparent choice but to confront the disillusioning spectacle of a state legislature that for whatever reasons, cannot apparently handle its Constitutionally-mandated duties and responsibilities.

For some observers, this may not amount to much of a reason for concern.  They are of the belief that New York State’s legislature has always been “dysfunctional”, and will attempt to mask their own carelessness or deny their embarrassment by simply laughing it off.  King Louis XVI tried a similar strategy at several points during the collapse of his government, but was ultimately unable to bring himself to make the necessary reforms in time enough to prevent the onset of revolution - and his own eventual downfall.  Part of his problem rested with his character; another was that he did not have a Disaster Central to respectfully warn him that the internal security of the French homeland was now in serious jeopardy because whatever political legitimacy, whatever faith or confidence his people had in his leadership, was rapidly disappearing.

And, what’s more, it was disappearing into a fog of seemingly insurmountable economic and social challenges, including a spiraling public debt coupled with a diminishment of what little social services there were.  Like present day New York State, France was facing a posse of problems, ranging from inefficient taxation to enormous disparities in economic and social capital.  These placed an untenable strain on the credibility of Louis’ government – and hence, the security and stability of the French homeland.  For the King and his ministers, for the nobles and their privileges, for the clergy and their privileges, and for the people and their sufferings, ancient regime France had become a veritable incident pit, a homeland security disaster that was many years and many political excuses in the making.

The net effect was, of course, that for a time France was left without a stable, functioning government.  And with this political vacuum came a violent, terror-ridden state – the type of homeland that no homeland security practitioner of the modern age would want or tolerate.  Likewise, owing to the recent activities in Albany, New York State has been left without a stable, functioning central government.  As the Constitution of the State of New York specifies that the state legislature be composed of an Assembly and Senate, one cannot function without the other – and that means, pure and simple, that the people of New York do not at this time have a stable, functioning government.  They are being denied the rights that are guaranteed to them, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, under the United States Constitution.  This should be of concern to all those who are truly responsible for the security and prosperity of the United States, and who want to prevent the further erosion of national confidence in our governmental systems.

As it now stands, there are three basic (but not necessarily exclusive) outcomes to this scenario.  The first, and most appetizing, is that the New York State legislature immediately returns to work for the people of New York.  The second is that the federal government, prompted by its Constitutional obligations, will intervene to guarantee that the business of New York State – the people’s business – is conducted.  And the third (in the absence of the former two) is that we slide into a Little Revolution, a widening upheaval of American society that history tells us is a virtual inevitability in a liberal democracy without stable, impartial, honest, and diligent government at the local, state and federal levels…without mature government that is truly accountable to its people.

In his 1837 history of the French Revolution, Thomas Carlyle wrote of the old regime:  “It is amazing how long a rotted apple will hold together if it is not handled too roughly.”  All the members of the New York State Senate, regardless of party affiliation, would do very well to remember that at this time in our history.

“This trip [to Israel] for me was a one-time life experience, not only in my professional career but also with a personal perspective. I had learned so much in the [IMI] Academy about other views of the immediate hazards of terrorism…Thank you for giving me the opportunity to have this international experience, where knowledge and awareness went hand in hand.”

B. C.
Team Hotel

“The Israeli Military Industries Academy seminar was one of the most useful blocks of instruction I have ever had the pleasure of receiving…The IMI experience provided a unique opportunity to observe and learn in one of the West’s premier and active laboratories for emergency and disaster management.”

M. C.
Team Hotel

“The trip to Israel was a success, and a meaningful educational experience.”

T. O.
Team Hotel

From an Emergency Management standpoint, Disaster Central couldn’t agree with Ms. Williams more.  In order to reach their full educational and operational potential, Emergency Management and Homeland Security need to become ritualized, need to become a more “natural” and integrated part of our collective culture in the United States.  Because all Americans - regardless of their socio-economic level - can and do suffer in disasters, it’s important to the EM field not to exclude the opportunity for all Americans (regardless of age, gender, religious affiliation, and the like) to become better prepared, and to stay that way.  Training the citizens of our great nation to better look after themselves, their families, their friends, their pets, and their property before, during, and after an emergency is one of the most important elements in reaching higher levels of preparedness and response, and our efforts should always be directed toward expanding that collective opportunity to save lives through saving systems.

Japan is a nation at risk from a number of natural hazards…volcanic eruptions, seismic activity (earthquakes), tsunami (”tidal waves”), typhoons, and actors in rubber Godzilla suits…have all, over the centuries, beset this major global power.  But unlike many other nations, Japan (which recognizes that nature is life) hasn’t attempted to downplay the risks of nature, but has instead reduced its collective vulnerability as a civilization to the deadly and destructive elements within these events.  There’s no stopping a typhoon - but more robust building codes and practices in Japan have significantly reduced the death tolls that such hazards used to regularly claim.

One way in which Japan has accomplished this is through the widespread ritualization of its preparedness message.  Every year since 1960, Japan has marked September 1 as “Disaster Preparedness Day”.  Disaster Central readers who are familiar with their history of catastrophes will no doubt remember that it was on September 1, 1923, that Japan was struck by the Great Kanto Earthquake, a natural disaster that claimed upwards of 100,000 people, and destroyed large sections of the capital city, Tokyo.  Every September 1, Japanese authorities host preparedness educational events for children and adults, as well as drills and field exercises.  The efficacy and wisdom of the Japanese model has been adopted by many countries and EM organizations, including our own top-notch New York City Office of Emergency Management, which frequently hosts educational venues for children and their parents.  From a very early age, we teach our children to be careful of strangers, to look both ways before crossing the street, and to avoid touching a hot stove.  But when it comes to teaching our children (and ourselves) to be prepared for natural and human-made disasters, we sometimes shy away for fear of - ?

For instance: on Thursday, April 30, 2009, The New York Daily News ran an article titled, “N.Y.ers see red as FEMA coloring book shows 9/11″.  The article severely criticizes FEMA for sponsoring a downloadable coloring book for children that contains a “horrific 9/11 image” which children can color in.  In its usual tongue-in-cheek fashion, The Daily News helpfully re-published the “horrific 9/11 image” (why is that, do you suppose?), while at the same time including soundbites from “offended” New Yorkers, one of whom stated that he, ”…should punch the person who did this in the face.”(!)  If you, too, want to “see red” (but for different reasons), you can access the article at: here.

I’d like to thank The Daily News for providing us with such a valuable discussion point.  But clearly, the American people cannot rely solely on corporate news media to objectively look after their best interests when it comes to devising and implementing a mature, sensible, accessible emergency preparedness educational program.  For too long now, Americans have relied too greatly on the established news media to tell us what to think about disasters, about the government and quasi-governmental organizations designed to manage disaster operations, and even when and what to fear.  But, over time, that twisted paradigm has started to change.  Just as Americans no longer believe a fraction what is told to them by the corporate media, they have likewise begun to start looking after themselves when it comes to preparedness, response, and recovery.  That’s not only a change we can believe in, but a change that one day may save your life.

And the best way to keep up this progress is through education on just what preparedness means, what response means, and how great recovery from a disaster event can feel.  FEMA is to be commended for its excellent efforts to educate the American people on how to be better prepared for disaster situations.  Disaster Central encourages its readers to take emergency preparedness seriously, and without fear of ridicule or derision simply because cynicism and greed are apparently more important to us as cultural priorities than are preparedness and prosperity.  It’s cool to be prepared.  It’s a happy hipster who’s got a hip Go-Bag ready to go in an un-hip emergency.  And it’s a responsible, caring parent who knows when and how to help a child understand that sometimes the winds blows, and the earth moves…

Okay, Disaster Central readers, you’ve read some of my thoughts on this issue – what do you think?  I’m quite certain we have some parents out there – how have you addressed disasters and emergency preparedness with your children?

“The Titanic Remembered” will begin at 6:30 pm on April 15, 2009, at MCNY’s Manhattan Campus, located at 431 Canal Street, 11th Floor Conference Center.

Unlike the Titanic, we have seats available for everyone, so please join us for this respectful, and interesting, remembrance.  Questions can be directed to Disaster Central, or to MCNY’s Admissions Office.

The Scholarship for Heroes will provide qualified members of Team Juliet (Spring 2009 semester) with $2,000 per semester (to be applied toward tuition costs) for the entire four semester duration of the program.  In order to preserve the scholarship, students will be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA, and be in good standing with the College.

Because this is a one-time opportunity, candidates who are interested in the Scholarship for Heroes should contact MCNY’s Office of Admissions without delay.  Registration for the spring semester is open for the next two weeks.  If you’re interested in joining this elite team with the advantage of a Scholarship for Heroes, please call (212) 343-1234, Ext. 5001 or log onto MCNY’s Admissions website at:www.metropolitan.edu.

HOPE 2009 will take place on Monday, January 26, 2009, from 10:30 pm until 4:00 am.  NYCDHS is looking for 2,500 volunteers to conduct this critical survey.  A brief training will be available upon volunteer registration, and on January 26, a more detailed training will be provided.

As the duty of government is to serve the best interests of the governed, Disaster Central believes it appropriate to put out the call for volunteers to assist NYCDHS in this effort.  Moreover, homeless citizens are often the most vulnerable when disaster occurs, and any effective emergency management and homeland security operation will make a strident effort to account for this segment of the population.

For additional information, or to register to volunteer, please visit NYCDHS’s website at www.nyc.gov/dhs  You can also call 311, or contact Disaster Central through the listed links.  Disaster Central encourages its readers, students, administrators, and qualified others to volunteer for this important - and interesting - public administration and affairs endeavor.

Since MCNY believes in vertically-integrated education, its Open Houses often feature a brief lecture or demonstration that simulates the spirit of its educational quality.  As part of the December 2008 Open House for the EDM program, Professor David Longshore will present, “Britannia’s Sorrow,” a Powerpoint show which details the tragic loss of the British warship, HMS Victoria, in June of 1893 - and those lessons learned from the event that are applicable to the Emergency Management and Homeland Security practitioners of today.

In addition, guests will be able to meet with admissions specialists, current students, faculty members, and program alumni.  More information on this event can be obtained by visiting MCNY’s website (please see the Links on Disaster Central’s menu bar), or calling MCNY at (212) 343-1234.