WSFC Countywide CERT

I think he is right on, but my problem is that there is no one to constantly monitor our social sites so that we can really establish that trust factor with the public. The only person to utilize our social media in our office is me and I can't fulfill my other emergency management responsibilities AND monitor AND effectively use the social media. Case in point....the tremors. I was in the office alone. Felt the tremors and got a call from county manager and asst city manager wanting immediate information and a media release. All the phone lines lit up, media was calling, citizens were reporting the tremors, 9-1-1 centers were calling me on the radio saying they needed a media release that stated NOT to call 9-1-1 to report the tremors, cell phones weren't working and I was on the phone with state EM to get info from USGS. NO WAY was able to monitor and post on social media or the website. It took quite a while to manage all of the above and THEN.....LATER, I was finally able to get info out on the social sites and the website. Even though I didn't see the tremors coming, I knew this was inevitable. That's ONE reason why I wanted a technical support group. I would really like to extract some volunteers from this group to help us in a time like this....especially with monitoring ReadyFORSYTH's social sites. The Red Cross (National level) does just that....utilizes volunteers to monitor their social sites during crises and during recovery.

I think this piece makes excellent arguments for incorporating social media into emergency planning as one component of information management. As it so happens, the SBTF that I'm volunteering with works on the Ushahidi platform. Reading about Ushahidi was how I found them.

Volunteers to monitor SM and ReadyFORSYTH's SM during EOC activations and disasters is a really good idea. That will be a topic for discussion with the Emergency Preparedness Technology Group (which I need to get going very soon!).

What the Pentagon values as an information stream, we should value also.

Looks as if they really value it, too! Should I send in a proposal? LOL! But seriously, I agree.

Heather's blog about her congressional testimony

Since I have worked with Heather Blanchard, I can tell you before reading her testimony that it was excellent. MUST READ.

To help advertise ReadyFORSYTH, Fairway donated space on the digital billboard in front of Baptist Hospital on Bus.40 during February of this year. They use the ReadyFORSYTH advertisement as filler all year long. They also use it on the digital sign at US52 & 28th. ReadyFORSYTH is considered a PSA - Public Service Announcement. Typically, digital advertising on these signs cost thousands of dollars per month!!

Just in case you haven't heard, there is a new mobile alert system coming.....PLAN (Personal Localized Alerting Network): http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=54882 It is being tested in NYC right now.

Very encouraging!