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The decision by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (@sylvesterturner) to not order a voluntary evacuation of the city will be debated for years to come. As the full scope of the devastation becomes clearer, Monday morning quarterbacks are jumping all over ...

Today I reviewed a post I wrote in 2012. In looking through the cobwebs in my mind, I vividally recall this event, even after 5 years. I think it is worth sharing again, as my observations still ring true today. ...

Discounting the obvious when it comes to high visibility emergency events usually backfires. Case in point, watch this news report involving a representative from Imperial Oil Refinery in Sarina, Canada, and then read on. When asked by a reporter if ...

President-Elect Donald Trump is right…about one thing… Twitter, kicks ass when it comes to getting a message out. Folks in emergency services better take heed, for more reasons than The Donald’s methods. First, a disclaimer.  I didn’t vote for him. ...

My blood is boiling… I just read this article , and it pissed me off.  This “dad” advises, via public proclamation, his son to quit being a firefighter, and go do something else.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!!!! It has been ...

I’m stating it right up front: The recent introduction of Meerkat and Periscope will soon turn the world of #SMEM for emergency response professionals upside down. Let me explain. Last month I heard about Meerkat, a live streaming app that used ...

Well, it’s been two and a half weeks since I blogged on the new #SM kid in town, Meerkat. As the #SXSW conference started, the buzz over this new live streaming video tool evolved into a roar. It became the ...

Who’s tired of hearing about the ugliness in Ferguson, Missouri? Me, for one.  I’m tired of watching a community commit suicide by Molotov cocktail, while dedicated police officers try to contain the chaos without getting hurt. I’m tired of hearing ...

“Standardize hashtags”- Ugh, here we go again. Another call for standardizing the use of hashtags during crisis. A report by the United Nations was just released, “Hashtag Standards For Emergencies”. Patrick Meier’s recent blog post provides excellent summary and background information ...

Preaching about the use of social media tools during crisis is much easier than actually doing it. Especially for smaller agencies with limited staff. But, does that mean it can’t be done? Absolutely not. Because of the recent Ferguson, Missouri ...