After a quick visit to the White House in July, I realized that August will also be a busy month.
Akron, Columbus, Wauseon, Wisconsin, then back to Columbus and then to Geneva.
So yes, all month I will be in FEMA Region-V.
If all goes well, September will include several trips to Region-III, but I’ll keep you posted.
Keep your head down peeps.
| 14-002: Precise Emergency Messaging | |
| Agency: Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Topic(s): Emergency Messaging |
| Date: Summer 2014 | Platform: General |
Mass notification and public messaging about dangerous inbound weather is the latest hot button topic in emergency management because no matter the location, everyone is susceptible. This year has been especially deadly with numerous tornadoes.
You can argue the use of automatic Emergency Alert System (EAS), Integrated Public Alert & Warning System’s (iPAWS) messages, and public address systems are good enough, but successful delivery still comes down to basic messaging.
On May 25, 2014, this message was put up on the main billboard on the field during the Indianapolis 500, which had 300,000+ fans during race time. The National Weather Service (NWS) declared a Tornado Warning before the start of the race.
Race Fans? C’mon, you have a captive audience at the motor speedway. And you are addressing everyone there, not just race fans. Most likely, your audience is saying “Great, now what is a Tornado Warning?”
Clear and concise messaging is incredibly important because seconds will matter in an immediate evacuation or leading others to shelter…especially with large, open, and unprotected public venues. This particular message was unclear, poorly worded, and definitely not concise.
A more effective messaging and follow-up post should have read:
DANGER! TORNADO WARNING NOW – SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!
Safe SHELTERS are located at AREA X and GATE X
By phrasing it this way:
1. Your message is short, sweet, and to the point.
2. Capital letters will grab the attention of your audience and convey urgency.
3. Have clearly identified safe locations IN CAPITAL LETTERS will assist those reading your message.
4. Shorter messaging could allow your followers to retweet/repost and amplify your emergency messaging.
5. It is still tornado season so make sure you are prepared by having pre-scripted messages on “what is a tornado warning” and messaging on how to “shelter-in-place”.
All concurrent Tweets, Facebook posts, Instagram posts, etc. should reflect this messaging. If a Tornado warning is issued, timing is of the essence. Do not be lax when it comes to emergency messaging because you don’t want to ruin the fun. For the sake of your constituents, it is better to error on the side of safety.
Time is valuable, so post good stuff.
***To download this as a single-page printable format, click this: Safety-PIO-SM-14-001
Early start today meeting with Doc Lumpkins who is the Director of National Integration Center for DHS/FEMA.
Numerous points discussed w/ the group:
Doc’s team engaged our questions and honestly answered several burning issues. As the week continues, Doc informed us that more materials were going to be released from the National Integration Center and National Protection Framework shortly for review. EXCELLENT!!!
Just like at the NEMA conferences, UASI conferences, etc…I really enjoy meeting with Doc Lumpkins. He provides great insight and he is HILARIOUS!
Overall, by engaging with the core prominent Social Media in Emergency Management peeps, Doc Lumpkins and the rest of the National Integration team can continue to incorporate real and pressing issues into the new doctrine.
Thanks again for the meeting Doc!
Now my ride just arrived, a black suburban, headed for the White House!
Great meeting this afternoon with the leadership at the Department of Homeland Security Bi0Watch program today in the DC area.
I look forward to having more interaction for the conference calls, national conferences, and closed-door workshops showcasing the use of social media as one facet of on intelligence gathering and preparedness information dissemination.
Looking forward to seeing some of you folks later this year!
Special mahalos to Monique for intros.
…
| 14-001: The made up #hashtag | |
| Agency: Bath Township Fire | Topic(s): Prevention and engagement |
| Date: Spring 2014 | Platform: Twitter |
Twice a year, moving our clocks ahead/behind one hour for daylight savings time provides all of us public safety the opportunity to push an easy fire safety tip to our constituents. It’s a good time to remind folks to test their smoke alarms. That’s what BTFD FC did when they posted this message on twitter, which included the #gopushthebuttton hashtag.
Keep in mind that Twitter’s mantra is short concise messaging limited to 140 characters. The idea behind a hashtag is to pair your tweet with other tweets out in the twittersverse. So I did a quick search for #gopushthebutton and found only one tweet from BTFD FC. With no other tweets using that hashtags, using #gopushthebutton was just wasted characters.
If you use irrelevant or made up hashtags, all you end up doing is wasting valuable space. Long tweets do not allow your followers the room to retweet your valuable content to their followers because of 140 maximum character counts.
A more effective tweet could have read:
Test every smoke alarm & CO detector in your home today. An easy safety reminder from XXFD. More info? www.XXFD.org
By phrasing it this way:
1. You have more visibility by reminding your followers test both smoke and CO detectors.
2. Twitter shows your twitter handle and name with the tweet, so don’t waste space by repeating information already in plain sight.
3. Do not use a made up hashtag as it will confuse your followers. In a serious tweet, use a serious hashtag.
4. Using the word “easy” will likely get your followers to complete a task because it’s easy.
5. Or consider using a more popular hashtag. In this case, #daylightsavings or #springforward
6. Reference your website for more information on detectors. Also you are establishing your agency as a trusted source with good information. And through analytics, you can also track how many people visited your tweeted website which could assist in quantifying your social media efforts.
Time is valuable, so tweet good stuff.
***To download this as a single-page printable format, click this: Safety-PIO-SM-14-001
City & County of Honolulu: Ambulance accident w/ patient on 07-12-14.
Here’s the initial picture from the incident.
Court of FAKE808SPORTS
Few things to review:
1. Good reminder to check your “Maximum height is ****” plate on your rig.
2. Law enforcement officials should really know the area, including height clearances.
3. Even if Police are leading you out, Fire/EMS should always be aware of your surroundings.
4. Social media is fast and information pertaining to your ongoing situations will always be faster than a PIO.
5. I can already see it now: “Dear Chief, I don’t know what happened…”
6. Crews should have their seatbelts on at all times while the vehicle is moving.
Court of FAKE808SPORTS
Thoughts and prayers to the initial victim of the first emergency call.
I hope the leadership in Honolulu figure out the issues at hand. Emergency Service Professionals need some rest.
Breaking down the social media mojo this morning in Miami County, Ohio in FEMA Region-V baby!
Lots of great questions so far…
…also a few questions about my T-Rex arms too.
After class, I’m looking forward to my detail at Tipp City Fire today.
Wait a sec…
You can get fired for posting an Instagram picture even without a patient in the picture?
Instagram post (Cort of ABCNews.com)
Apparently Katie Duke (RN) was fired from New York Presbyterian Hospital because of her Instagram post was deemed “insensitive”.
We talk a bunch about this my PIO/Social Media classes right?
Katie Duke on Instagram
Again I ask, can you get fired from your job because of an Instagram post?
Guess so…
How about them apples!
If you aren’t monitoring social media…
Now do you believe me?
Where is @rusnivek? 