Training Opportunity: Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) on Campuses Wednesday, May 8

***Webinar Reminder***

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) on Campuses 

Wednesday, May 8 

3:00 p.m. EDT 

Next week, on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 from 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EDT, FEMA’s Individual and Community Preparedness Division (ICPD) will host a free webinar entitled, “Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) on College Campuses.” This event serves as the kick-off for ICPD’s nationwide Campus CERT promotion and implementation effort, which is designed to increase the number of CERTs at higher education institutions across America.

With presentations from current Campus CERT programs at the University of Southern California, Michigan State University and North Carolina Central University, the webinar will provide the opportunity to learn more about Campus CERT and ICPD’s plans to develop tools and resources to support the implementation of Campus CERT programs.

To register, please visit: http://connect.hsin.gov/campuscert2013a/event/registration.html 

If you have already registered for this webinar, have registered for a previous webinar or are already a registered HSIN user, you can login here: http://connect.hsin.gov/campuscert2013a/event/registration_login.html

Can’t make the date? Technical difficulties get in the way? All of our webinars are recorded and transcribed, so you can view past events in our webinar library. Please be sure to visit the webinar library for a recording of the event.  

Do Emergency Managers Have a Personality?

Do Emergency Managers Have a Personality?

April 23, 2013

by Adam Crowe: Practical and strategic application of social media for emergency managers

Of course we do, but we don't often show it.

That's why I was so happy to see the Emergency Management Magazine article last week that was profiling various public safety and emergency management agencies in Edmond (OK), Albany(NY), and Tampa (FL) who had made videos of their version of the "Harlem Shake" internet fad.  While I don't know exactly what happened, I imagine some ambitious public safety personnel went to their boss (who then went to their boss) to a ask permission to this make this video.  The conversation probably went something like this:

"Can we make a Harlem Shake style video where we all dress up in strange outfits and dance around for 30 seconds?"

"Why?"

"Because everybody is doing it and it's HOT on the internet."

"Uh huh."

"It will be great.  They'll love it."

"Uh huh."

But somewhere in there, somebody realized that it's okay to have some fun and show a little personality.  It's important to maintain professionalism and purpose, but it's also okay (especially in an ever changing social media world) to relax and enjoy the ride.  While some members of your community (possibly including your boss or elected official) may object to fun imitation videos (see Gangham Style and Call Me Maybe as well) the community will greatly enjoy it because you show that you are human just like them.  You are more likable, more approachable, and far more apart of the community which is critically important before, during, and after emergency events.

I don't emergency managers will ever start an internet fad, but we can always ride the wave with our community and have a little fun while we do it!

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/disasters20/can-emergency-managers-have-personality-042313.html