It's Not My Emergency Retired Crisis Manager's Brain Dump

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 ...

Another media attack on career firefighters had a few fire service tongues a wagging this past week. A college professor’s superficial view of professional career firefighters (and their international union) in a Washington Post opinion piece made my friend Dave ...

“Everett firefighters in trouble for leaving homeless man under bridge” was a recent TV station story up in my neck of the woods. You can watch the story here, and read more of the details here. Of course, the Monday ...

“Verify twice, tweet once” is a mantra continually hammered home whenever quickly evolving, controversial or incredulous situations breaks on social media. But, an unsettling New York Times piece published yesterday reveals new challenges in “verifying twice”, and should be required ...

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 ...