Zombies and Preparedness: Five tips for using metaphors in exercises and outreach
Download Zombies and Preparedness Oct 2012
Focus for success: A Tail from the Dog Park
Kona's best friend, Nala, is all about focus. She hits the dog park running, wrestles hard with Kona and some of her other friends but it's just a warm up. Soon she's looking for THE BALL. And it's not just any ball she wants – it has to be the specific one she has decided […]
Firefighters on motorcycles: thinking outside the box
This image of a firefighter from 1917 suggests that while the application is new the concept has been around for awhile. When you think of first responders on motorcycles, you almost always think of police officers. But firefighters? It goes against tradition. Yet this is just what is happening across the country in major metropolitan […]
Pirates and the power of ideas
Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho,It's "Talk Like A Pirate" Day!That time in September when sea dogs rememberThat grown-ups still know how ta play! Today is, believe or not, the 10th Anniversary of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. I've blogged on this phenomenon before, citing it as an example of how an idea that resonates with […]
Promises Kept: A reflection on 9/11
In 2002 I had the privilege of making a few remarks at the unveiling of the new Heroes stamp issued by the US Postal Service to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001. I think I surprised my colleagues by beginning my comments by saying that I didn't think the term "heroes" should be applied […]
Teams are made of individuals: A Tail From the Dog Park
Our labrador/border collie mix, Kona, has a rare gift. When she meets a new dog, she sizes them up almost instantly and adjusts her play to the other dog's needs. With some, she's the aggressor, clearly dominating the other dog in their puppy wrestling matches. With others, she's more passive and allows herself to be […]
Public warning: Misuse can lead to confusion
Here's another no-brainer lesson that seems to have to be relearned on a regular basis: use you warning system only for actual warnings. The City of San Francisco has had a system of warning sirens in place since the Cold War. In 2004 the old air raid sirens were replaced with a modern system. The […]
Crisis management and public expectations
Here's a no-brainer for crisis managers – if you don't have the capability to do something, don't give the public the impression that you can. Case in point is the latest controversy over real time monitoring of hazardous substances released in the recent Chevron refinery fire. Media reports both during and immediately after the fire […]
Social media and plausible deniability
It's no secret that for years government agencies have used euphemisms such "sources close to the investigation" or "source who asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak for the agency" to leak insider information to the media. This allows the agency to distance itself from any political fallout if the […]