Emergencity :: Blog: October 2008
This is an important study (Homeland Security Today), but it is the takeaways from the study which are critical to review. How do we ensure that the government at every level has the ability to communicate with the citizens of our communities in such a way that people get timely information during a crisis?
New study shows states remiss in communicating emergency plans to public.
Nearly half of US states either have no state-level emergency plan or do not provide it readily to the public, according to a new study by George Mason University Professor of Communications Carl Botan.
The study, titled "Using Sense-Making and Co-orientation to Rank Strategic Public Communication in State Emergency Operations Plans," graded and ranked the state emergency operations plans of the 50 US states and the District of Columbia on their communication components. HSToday.us obtained a copy of the study, which will be officially presented at the National Communication Association annual conference in San Diego on Nov. 22.
One of the primary functions of strategic emergency public communication is to help publics make well informed choices in chaotic situations by helping reducing their uncertainty...
"While most Americans will have access to some important state-level information during emergencies, many may not. When minutes may make the difference between life and death in an emergency situation, the population should not have to waste precious time looking for answers or who to turn to," he added, “If folks are unsure about or even completely ignorant of what their state’s emergency plan is the evidence shows what they’ll do is make emergency decisions based on myths or rumors generated by similarly uninformed people.”
Patrick Philippe Meier has a comprehensive overview of crisis mapping, where crowdsourced data, primarily submitted by GPS-enabled cell phones ("Mobile Crisis Mapping"), has the ability to rewrite how our communities engage and respond during times of crisis.
Patrick was at the forefront of the conception of these ideas, but it wasn't until technology began to catch up that we've begun to see real-world implementation.
He has three "wishes" for the direction of crisis mapping:
First wish: we need to think of maps not simply as dynamic tools for
improving situational awareness but also as communication tools.
Second wish: RSS feeds need to be an integral part of mapping platforms, much like they are for Google Reader.
Third wish: this has to do with data security and connectivity. In terms of security, Mobile Crisis Mapping (MCM) platforms should integrate encrypted SMS and email communication.
Second wish: RSS feeds need to be an integral part of mapping platforms, much like they are for Google Reader.
Third wish: this has to do with data security and connectivity. In terms of security, Mobile Crisis Mapping (MCM) platforms should integrate encrypted SMS and email communication.
Very good read and nice overview for those unfamiliar with the subject.
Smart move by CNN. It is imperative that we get preparedness information in front of people on a regular basis via the media channels they already access.
CNN has hired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore as an Emergency Preparedness Contributor for all shows. Honore is best known for his role as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina three years ago.
"Everyone needs to be prepared for unexpected and uncontrollable events, and CNN is an ideal platform to inform and educate," said Honore in a press release, which you can read after the jump.
Ready.gov had a series of tips for National Preparedness Month in September.
Many local emergency management officials deliver important emergency alerts, notifications and updates during a major crisis or emergency via an e-mail/text-message alert system. Contact your local Office of Emergency Management to see if they use an alert system.
The email/text message system does offer value, but it only pushes information at unpredictable times, and it doesn't offer sustained information access for citizens.
It is imperative that actionable intelligence (really good, timely information that people can use to make smart decisions) is delivered to citizens where they already know to go during a crisis. And that's media outlets, where there continues to be a steady migration from traditional media sources (radio, tv, press) to online media, whether it is the online version of a local newspaper or a community site or a local blog or access via web-enabled cell phones.
