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Public Alerts now on Google Maps

Yesterday Google launched the new Google Crisis Response project: Google Public Alerts, a platform designed to bring you relevant emergency alerts when and where you’re searching for them. 

See full article: http://blog.google.org/2012/01/public-alerts-now-on-google-maps.html

Flooding application released for North Dakota flood utilizing Google Maps

Just released from Minot State University: http://www.mouseriverflood2011.net/index.php

Emergency Alert System in Morris County, N.J., to Link 39 Cities via Social Media

In March, a powerful storm pummeled New Jersey, forcing police, utility and emergency crews to scramble as the severe weather sapped power, delayed trains and triggered floods. But publicly available information about the storm’s effects was scarce, and citizens searching for updates were left high and dry.

To avert such communication failures in the future, Morris County, N.J., has activated a shared emergency information network, using social media tools — Facebook and Twitter — to deliver crucial updates around the clock.

This is a great example of leveraging technology to provide widespread distribution of information!

See the entire article at: http://www.emergencymgmt.com/safety/Emergency-Alert-System-Social-Media.html

Cape Verde Tropical Storm Watch?

For the first time in history a tropical storm watch was issued for the Cape Verde Islands.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIATCPAT1.shtml

 

Text first, talk second

Safe America created the Text First. Talk Second. to raise public awareness around the importance of utilizing text messaging for non-emergency communications during a disaster.

When disasters strike, voice networks can become congested with people trying to call each other for non-vital communications.  This can result in people in desperate need of help being unable to contact those they need to reach, such as emergency services, friends or loved ones.  In some instances, this may also result in emergency service personnel being unable to communicate with each other.

Here is what you can do: http://www.safeamericaprepared.org/component/content/article/89.html

Widgets, Twitter to fuel FEMA emergency alerts

Social media strategy aims to disseminate disaster preparedness, response messages in near-real time.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced a new widget for disaster preparedness on its  Facebook page page as part of a series of releases to publicize its social media and Gov 2.0 tools for emergency readiness and response.

Full article at: http://gcn.com/articles/2010/06/23/fema-pushes-widgets-twitter-for-disaster-preparedness.aspx

Downtown Houston Emergency Response Plan

The downtown district has revised its Emergency Operations Plan for downtown businesses.  The plan describes the role of each party during an emergency.  Each organization within the downtown area, and elsewhere within the city should acquaint itself with the plan prior to an actual event.

A copy of the plan is available at: http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2010-05-26/Downtown_Emergency_Response_Plan_2010.pdf

Janusaitis to speak at US-CERT GFIRST conference

Bob Janusaitis is scheduled to present "Social Networking and Protecting Critical Infrastructure" at the US-CERT GFIRST conference in San Antonio, TX in August 2010.

For more information on the conference: GFIRST conference site

Resources for Emergency Planning for Schools

Emergency Planning resources from the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. 

This page provides information that can help school leaders plan for any emergency, including natural disasters, violent incidents and terrorist acts. For more information about what families and communities can do to be ready for an emergency, please visit School Resources

Largest full-scale exercise ever at Disaster City® this weekend

With ongoing violence overseas and international catastrophes around the globe, Texas’ elite search and rescue team – Texas Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) – will hone its skills in preparation for future responses by participating in a Full-Scale Exercise (FSE) this weekend in Disaster City® in College Station, TX. The 80-member TX-TF1 Red Team will be joined by more than 220 international search and rescue experts along with 200 medical responders for the two-day event.

This is the largest exercise of this type ever hosted in Disaster City. Members of the teams will face a variety of rescue situations at multiple venues within Disaster City resulting from a mock explosion. A situation of this type is easily simulated by the venues in Disaster City and will utilize the same skills necessary to respond to such an incident.

Additional details at:

http://www.teex.org/teex.cfm?pageid=teexresc&area=teex&storyid=991&templateid=23