This could be really big (so long as the Internet and/or cell service works during disasters). Via the Natural Hazards Center Natural Hazards Observer
Tag Archives | technology
Social Media as a Two-Way Street
Posted on September 26, 2011
It’s interesting watching savvy municipal employees of all stripes shift from viewing social media as another means of talking to the public, to viewing it as a new way to communicate with the public (two-way communication vs one-way bullhorn). The change is forcing professionals to view themselves as a node in the network of information, […]
Will the Next Hurricane Put You Underwater? New Site Shows How Deep
Posted on September 8, 2011
Have a look at the new Miami-Dade County Storm Surge Simulator which lets you click on a map to show where you live and then select the severity of the storm before it shows you just how deep that water will be when that next hurricane hits. You can even select whether you want to […]
No Budget? No Problem. Group Makes Hurricane Safety PSAs on a Shoestring Budget
Posted on September 6, 2011
With no funding (and a little help from the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium), Mississippi’s C-HOST (Coastal Hazard Outreach Strategy Team) group has created some great quick public service announcements. Below is one example, see the C-HOST videos page for more. (Does your group or community want its own StormSmart.org site? Let us know.)
US Army Corps of Engineers Uses Facebook for 2011 Mississippi River Flood Updates
Posted on May 24, 2011
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division and its districts have launched a new Facebook page to provide accurate, timely information on the 2011 flood. The page provides updates on the Corps of Engineers’ flood-fighting activities, to include videos, photos and tweets; links to local emergency management resources and federal coordinating agencies assisting […]
Are You an Emergency Manager? Why You Need Social Media (and it needs you)
Posted on April 19, 2011
A new article from USA Today takes another look at how emergency management officials are using social media. We’ve seen these before, but each one adds new evidence to this simple idea: If you’re working in emergency management and NOT using social media, you’re hampering your ability to do you job. This study from the […]
What Has the OCRM Done for You Lately?
Posted on March 15, 2011
Heard of NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), but not quite sure what they’re all about? Have a look at their new site The OCRM in Your State, and use some fancy GIS’esq tools to navigate around the country and your state. The OCRM in Your State
FEMA Now Offering Live Chat with Map Specialists
Posted on November 9, 2010
This in the latest newsletter from FEMA: The FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) is pleased to announce a new exciting service: Live Chat. Live Chat will allow FEMA stakeholders to interact with Map Specialists real-time via an online forum. Specialists can field inquiries pertaining to a wide variety of topics including Letters of Map Change, […]
New Hurricane Science and Society Website
Posted on October 28, 2010
The University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography launched a new website this week: Hurricanes: Science and Society. The site has loads of information on the science of hurricanes, methods of observing hurricanes, and modeling and forecasting of hurricanes. In addition to in-depth science content, the website includes educational resources, case studies, and a […]
Quick Proof that Building Codes Work [video]
Posted on October 27, 2010
The Institute for Business and Home Safety built a proper hurricane making machine, then constructed two homes in front of it. One was built to standard building codes, the other to their “Fortified for Safer Living” code. They turned the hurricane on and, well, you can see the results. Wow. Show this the next time […]