FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate speaks to the impact of social media on emergency management over the years and how it is changing the way emergency managers do everything from gathering information to protecting the public. Video: Social Media and Emergency Management
During a long-term power outage, communications with utility companies often present one of the biggest challenges for local emergency management agencies. Use these tips to build and maintain a relationship with the local utility that allows for an open flow of information before, during and after a weather-induced power outage. Maintain your relationship with utilities… Read more
Using interviews with officials from North Carolina counties with established registries, this paper identifies key features of registries, considers challenges and offers tools for other counties to use in the development of special needs registries based on the experiences of their peers. Safe from the Storm: Tools for Establishing Special Needs Registries in North… Read more
Long-term, widespread power outages can cause a plethora of unexpected communications challenges. IBTS spoke with Monroe County, New York, Emergency Manager Tim Kohlmeier about his experiences communicating with stakeholders and his constituents after a severe wind storm — coupled with sub-zero temperatures — hit the county in March 2017, causing multi-day power outages for more than 125,000.… Read more
Having a social media presence is a must for emergency management agencies today, however many localities struggle to build the large following that allows social media to be effectively used to communicate with constituents and stakeholders during a natural disaster. IBTS spoke with Washington Emergency Management Digital Media Specialist Steven Friederich about the strategies… Read more
Reimbursement for snow assistance and winter storms requires highly-specific documentation, often for specific time periods or completing certain tasks. FEMA typically reimburses for a continuous 48-hour period of the storm, and for specific tasks like making two lanes passable on an arterial roadway. Use these tips to ensure your agency has proper documentation to provide… Read more
This report describes snow assistance and assistance for severe winter storms, the declaration process, the criteria used to make eligibility determinations and the types of assistance that are provided after the President has issued a major disaster declaration for the incident. Major Disaster Declarations for Snow Assistance and Severe Winter Storms: An Overview
IBTS spoke with Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, Emergency Management Public Information Officer (PIO) John Bobel about his plans for communicating during natural disasters at the local level. Below, Bobel offers advice to other localities on how disaster communications planning can increase effectiveness of public communication and outreach during and after an incident. Practice, practice, practice. Make… Read more
Communicating during a natural disaster is essential to emergency response, but is often intensely difficult due to inconsistent or nonexistent cell, internet and landline service. Amateur (or “ham”) radio enthusiasts can be an invaluable resource for your community during a disaster. Below are several tips for creating or improving your plan for calling on these… Read more
Amateur radio operators and organizations can play a key role in natural disaster communications. Even if cell, landline and internet service are knocked out, radio messages can still get through. IBTS spoke with Janelle Haible, public information officer for the St. Louis Metro Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) about her experiences assisting her community… Read more
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