FEMA on AM radio (Atlanta)

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Yesterday I heard a paid announcement from FEMA, on a local AM radio station. The piece described FEMA's Project Impact, and urged people to come to meetings in this area to learn more. Y2K was not mentioned. The basic message was that community preparedness for disaster is necessary.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), January 31, 1999

Answers

Tom:

Are you sure it was a paid ad? Most government agencies take advantage of stations' willingness to run such as a public service announcement. (They're still required to run a certain number of PSAs.) If it was a paid ad, that will bear some pondering as to import.

-- Vic (Roadrunner@compliant.com), January 31, 1999.


Haven't heard it, nor heard about it.

Which station, when is the meeting? (Assuming Atlanta area, right?)

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), January 31, 1999.


Very astute of FEMA. It seems they've already learned that for many people the mention of Y2K means "fruitcake" issues will be discussed. By not mentioning the unmentionable, more people will attend the meeting and learn how to prepare for ANY emergency. Your post bodes well for FEMA's role in Y2K (and other) disaster preparedness. Gosh, did I actually praise FEMA (gasp!)? I must not be a total doombrooder after all!

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 31, 1999.

Yesterday I heard an ad on A.M. radio for the National Guard. It stated that again this year the NG will make up half of the U.S. military, and that NG will be ready to work side by side every branch of military service in the event of an emergency. The ad said taxpayers are their (NG) bosses, and it gave an 1-800 # to call to see how you (their boss) could help. Unfortunately, I was driving and didn't get the #. I have never heard this type of ad before for NG. (I suppose it is possible I just never paid attention, I am VERY good at tuning out commercials). Sounded like soothing public relations to me, however it could have been recruitment (or both?). Anyway, this post reminded me about it.

Deborah

-- Deborah (Guard@National.com), January 31, 1999.


Funny if Y2K has become unmentionable; Y2K-concerned the new social untouchables. ;^?

Just got back from 12-hour Y2K Seattle Expo immersion all Saturday.
Eye-opening on many levels. Very large # of ppl, didn't see any straggly End-Of-World types at all. Mostly @ 50ish solid citizen crowd, of course younger & older too but largely middle-aged normal citizens. Lots of ppl interested in community-building and just getting a grip on Y2K. Tremendous thirst for accurate info. Lotsa networking, good vibes.

Ed Yourdon's keynote address was excellent (natch). Saw Karen Anderson's talk; she's funny and related well to audience as a "Mom" type, also as a businesswoman. So many speakers, so many names we've seen here and finally saw in person! That was cool. Amazing how quickly the grassroots community upswell is arising and attracting really nice people. Many video & news cameras going, and they didn't seem to be looking for nuts. Maybe they were disappointed at what a nice better-than-normal vibed large crowd it was. ;)

Saw Jim Lord give a talk; it was great! He's fairly hard-hitting but with a nice manner, courteous to all questions, very disciplined and alert, quick with his information. He really drove the interconnectedness home and the sugar-coated obscure-truth nature of many press releases. He does his homework and has lots of real-life contacts, plus eMail tips, and does seem to be keeping a pulse on changing times. Great lecture, and he kept everybody's attention from 7-9/p, after audience already drained from whole day of Y2K inundation. If the place wasn't closing, he could easily have held the audience's fascination for another two hours. He's giving another free 3-hour lecture next Friday evening in Seattle, then a (fee) full-day workshop next Saturday. Sounds worthwhile.

I asked Jim Lord if he has ever been asked to dampen or tone down his presentation/message, and he said no, but that he's heard loud clicks on his phone, and seemed sure he's wiretapped, but not in the least concerned about it. He said he does come reading this Forum, but it's gotten so large that it's work looking for specific information. He said if we come across info we think he should know about, to eMail it to him. He seems knowledgeable across a large spectrum of Y2K-related concerns. Was very favorably impressed with him. A military guy who is now reaching out to many. BTW, he said that we the Y2K-aware are the leaders, and that now ppl think we're lunatics, but soon we will be regarded as visionaries, and don't stop helping ppl prepare!

Really super wonderful seeing Suzanne + Bud & Jor-El!

The FEMA ads y'all are posting are very interesting. The Seattle EOM folks said they offer it by neighborhood request. They seemed almost embarrassed hush-hush when I asked. Hhhmm. Those in areas where it's being offered, TAKE IT ! Also, if your workplace wants it for all employees so there's a better chance of the company continuing to function with prepared employees, FEMA/local Fire Depts may give the training if there's enough ppl. Called BET (Business Emergency Teams) in some locales.

Obviously whatever is going on is not perfectly organized and homogenized throughout the USA. Whatever your local environment is, BECOME PREPARED! Do it now. All Y2K Expo speakers we heard said a turning point is coming sooner rather than later.

Ashton & Leska (and Diane) in Cascadia

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), January 31, 1999.



Tom,

That ad for FEMA could be about Y2K. Or it could be that there's still concern about Iraq retaliating for the air strikes against them in December.

Or maybe it's both.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 31, 1999.


An example of local not-quite-organized plus turf undercurrents
Just popped up on Breaking News:

Sheriff Not Invited To Disaster Drill

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - When four people ``died'' and more than 100 others were ``injured'' in a mock terrorist attack at Cooper Stadium in December, everyone knew about the drill except one very important person: the sheriff.

Sheriff Jim Karnes said the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency never told him about the drill, even though it took place in his jurisdiction.

``The recent mock disaster was just that in my opinion - a disaster,''
Karnes wrote in a letter sent to city and county officials last week.

In the Dec. 3 drill, 700 participants from law enforcement agencies, health departments and the fire department responded to a pretend release of a chemical blistering agent at a football game.

Emergency management director J.R. Thomas said he apologized to the sheriff.

``We run these exercises for a particular purpose, and that's to learn. This is one of the things we found out we missed,'' he said. Karnes said that if the disaster had been real, he would have been in charge. The sheriff thinks he should run the emergency agency, a suggestion the president of the county board opposes.
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xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), January 31, 1999.


I live in a very rural area in northern Wisconsin. I was surprised to see 2 free classes coming up given by Red Cross. "Introduction to Disaster Services" and "Emergency Assistance to Families I" Y2K wasn't mentioned but I take it as a sign this area is starting to wake.

I've been a GI for 4 months and have sent lots of e-mails and made phone calls to officials about Y2K. Its been quite frustrating(as you know)being viewed as a NUT.

This forum is really great. I have learned alot and know I'm not alone. I will continue to prepare my family and hope for the best.

-- maji (abc@prepared.com), January 31, 1999.


Leska, Hi, I'm one of your neighbors East of the Cascades. I've been mostly lurking this forum for several weeks now, and have appreciated your contributions. There is no doubt in my mind that Y2K will result in serious, major disruptions, and I've begun (late in the process, I know) personal preparations accordingly. As a newbie, the names Karen Anderson and Jim Lord are unfamiliar, can you tell me more about them? Also, regarding Jim Lord's lecture and workshop next Friday, is there somewhere I could get an outline of the agenda? Thanks!

-- Wanda (lonevoice@mailexcite.com), January 31, 1999.

Hi Wanda! Glad to see you here. :)

Jim Lord =
http://www.survivey2k.com
Some of his articles are here:
http://www.y2ktimebomb.com/
eMail Jim Lord for next Friday's workshop:
um, don't know if he wants his eMail addy public? so eMail me at:
allaha@earthlink.net

Karen Anderson =
well, can't make the URL load.
Can anyone help on this one?

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), January 31, 1999.



Vic -- No, I can't be sure this was a paid ad. I just assumed it was, since the station ran no message with it about public service. This is a commercial station, not Public Radio.

Rob't Cook -- Atlanta is right. WGKA (I think those are the call letters) at 1190 AM. It was sometime Friday afternoon. (I didn't log it....) Don't remember the date/time of the meeting, I was in traffic and only figured out the implications a block or so later. FEMA must have some local office, someone there must have the schedule.

Old Git -- I agree. Someone's starting to think clearly. Consider this forum -- now attracting some real eccentrics. Presumably the object is to educate the population -- if the Y2K label is used a lot of folks will just shrug it off. If all they know about Y2K is what they've read in the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The coverage is there, but the closest piece to reality I've seen was in this morning's paper, and it amounted to stories about people worrying and stockpiling. No discussion of the facts -- and uncertainties -- that are persuading people to do that.

If enough people in a community are given some background in disaster response, the community's chances are improved somewhat.

Do what you can, when you can, however you can. If is isn't much, still it's something. Even bailing a rowboat in a storm makes sense.

"Disaster" covers the ground, it seems to me.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), January 31, 1999.


I don't watch much TV, so I don't know if this is unusual or not, but...

I saw two commercials on my local NBC affiliate this afternoon for the Army National Guard. Were these running a year ago, and I'm just paying more attention now?

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 31, 1999.


If I'm in a rowboat - I make sure the kids have their lifejackets on, then put on a lifejacket myself as a good example. Uncomfortable, but a good example.

Now - carrying your example, why does the government - always pushing safety and discomfort ahead of any business pragmatism or rational review of facts, seem so urgently possesive about year 2000 preparations? they are so demanding about child safety seats - then denigrate, intimidate, and castigate people who try to prepare for a disaster of unknown proportions coming soon and unavoidably.

It makes no sense.......why do they not want people to prepare?

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), January 31, 1999.


Project Impact is a five or so year project joint venture between FEMA, ARC, Salc vation Army, Menonites, and several other agencies. It piloted in a few cities in FLA and VA. It is a FEMA sponsored grass roots partnership between citizens, local bussinesses, ARC, Salvation Army, and FEMA. It is a GREAT idea!!

ARC "Intro to Disaster Services" and "Emergency Assistance to Families I" are basic courses required for volunteering with the Red Cross on ANY disaster response. "Intro" bives the legal basis for th eRed Cross function in disaster responses, and helps to understand the full range of ARC functions, options, and available service. It is a short tour through the ARC 3000 (ummm 3005 I think) document.

EAF I is essentially how to fill out the correct forms (901's) for tracking assistance given. This happens to be the form every FEMA Disaster Response office needs before any gov't assistance starts, much to the chagrin of a number of folks in a couple of counties I could name! It is also the basis for anything done by ARC including Building and Repair, etc.

Chuck

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), January 31, 1999.


OOPS SORRY!! As someone said, "Yelling NO NO!! after hitting submit does NOT work!!"

The 901 contains the street sheet data obtained by the people doing Survey Damage Assessment. It is these street sheets that FEMA has to have to start.

Chuck

-- Chuck, night driver (rienzoo@en.com), January 31, 1999.



"why do they not want people to prepare?"

Could be the spectrum of awareness/acceptance/rejection in "Government" is just as broad as it is on this forum. Any "Government" action is always an action by some person. Bureaucratic routine can carry people over the routine chores, but thinking about Y2K, dealing with Y2K, is a long way from routine. I think maybe individual mindsets among the various dept. heads have a lot to do with the disparate responses we're seeing from "Government."

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), February 01, 1999.


I'm planning to take the next FEMA training course in April, in addition to some of the local Red Cross ones.

I just think it's part of a well-rounded Y2K "preppie's" arsenal of key capabilities.

Diane

(Leska, will post my observations about the Seattle Y2K Expo as I put the info together inbetween meetings. It's a complete "pain" being away from my Mac's bookmarks, etc., and on a "borrowed" PC).

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 01, 1999.


Diane, sympathize, going from Mac to PC is frustrating devolution ;^P

Come with us to our Wednesday FEMA class. We will learn how to size up our immediate surrounding area after disaster strikes. Invaluable and applicable in many situations! Lots of very practical safety tips & considerations from the Firemen who find themselves facing collapse daily.

Search Techniques + Procedures
Victim Transport (Do you know how to move an injured person safely? How do you carry an unconscious relative downstairs fast in a burning building? )
Rescuer Safety Review
Basic Search & Rescue Tools and Equipment
(In Columbia, ppl frantically dug with bare hands to try to free their loved ones screaming and moaning beneath the rubble. Result: Dead loved ones and injured/infected anguished relatives. )
This class teaches how to use all types of materials on hand to quickly safely extricate trapped + wounded victims.
Potential Hazards to You
Special Hazards ... Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
Signs of Possible Structural Damage
Neighborhood Emergency Teams' Strategies and Tactics
Building Marking
NET Search Check Lists
Lifting Heavy Objects
Cribbing Techniques, Considerations, and Group Practice Drills
etc. etc. etc.
Besides, Diane, you have to return those Y2K videos to Michael Dowd then anyway, and he'll be there; good opportunity to discuss all those community-preparing lectures at the Seattle Y2K Expo.

Building networks, learning skills, becoming self-reliant -- 6 months ago, who would have known our lives would become so busy in such unexpected ways. Feel for those coming to the Y2K roundtable this late; hardly time to adjust.

Ashton & Leska in Cascadia, doing their 3rd round of emergency response marathon classes, and still feeling overwhelmed and inadequate, but chipping away at the necessities

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 01, 1999.


Leska,

Will have to see what meetings are planned.

Haven't finished with those videos yet -- will talk to Michael.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 01, 1999.


Here ye go, Wanda (for Leska) -

Karen Anderson's Y2K for Women

Cheers,

Mac (Cascadian-in-exile in oh-so-solar-Socal)

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), February 01, 1999.


Mac, thanks, sweet of you; I couldn't make that addy load earlier so didn't want to post it. Thanks so much :)

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 02, 1999.

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