Twitter as an Emergency Tool

Jeff Bressler — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:34:28 +0000

The most practical government applications for Twitter are in public safety and emergency notifications. I’m currently kicking around a blueprint for exactly how I can use Twitter more effectively to keep the community instantaneously informed of fires, road closings from MVA’s, power outages etc.

Currently I use Twitter as a tool to spread information on stories I post on my departments website. These Tweets about incident reports usually draw a good number of followers who go to the story via a link on the Twitter post. I truly know though that the value of Twitter is being able to give real time information during an emergency.

The Los Angeles Fire Department has been at the forefront of Twitter usage. They Tweet with bulletins about structural fires, the number of responding firefighters, and injuries and casualties. A typical post is something like: “12126 Burbank Bl* No ‘formal’ evacuations; Firefighters maintaining 500′ exclusion zone pending LAFD Hazmat arrival.”

When a commuter train derailed Sept. 12, 2008, in Chatsworth, Calif., killing dozens and injuring hundreds, the LAFD tweeted several times to update the public about rescue operations. And citizens near a wildfire in Griffith Park in 2007 tweeted to the LAFD about wind direction and smoldering hot spots, which helped firefighters, control the 800-acre blaze.

I know the value of Twitter, and once my blueprint is complete I will embark on the marketing phase to get the community involved as followers.

I would appreciate hearing from my fellow PIO’s about any department that has a Twitter emergency response plan in place.

Here is a quick video about the emergency use of Twitter by Public Service of New Hampshire when thousands of homes lost power during a major ice storm.

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LA PIO Wagon Envy

Jeff Bressler — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:04:56 +0000

I have posted about the logistical problems of occasionally getting transportation to a scene forthwith. How can I not envy the deluxe digs the PIO staff travels in when heading to a scene in Los Angeles.

FDNNTV did a video piece on this superb piece of equipment. Here is the skinny on the rig and a video tour of the layout.

Oh, by the way, if you have PIO wheels send me a picture we can post – jeff@thefirepio.org.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Public Information Officers (PIO) have a state-of-the-art command vehicle, giving them the tools they need to keep the members of their community informed during large scale emergency incidents, such as wildfires, extended commercial building fires, and natural disasters.

The 2007 Freightliner SVI Command Vehicle was purchased by Los Angeles County with a $375,000 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant, according to Captain Mike Brown, a Los Angeles County Fire Department PIO.

The “rolling office”, as Brown calls it, has everything that his team of PIO’s needs during emergency responses. The truck is set up with six work stations, but can accommodate up to 8 personnel. The stations are each outfitted with laptops that are connected to a printer and fax machine. They each have electrical outlets for cell phones and provide access to both TV and radio with headsets for each officer.

The vehicle also has an extensive communications system with VHF radios, and accommodates a CAD unit so that officials can monitor all resources on an incident. It features twelve 15″ televisions with access to all local television stations and satellite feeds. In the middle of the television bank is a 40″ conversion Smart Board/Television.

Explaining how the PIO’s use the Smart Board during a wildfire, Brown says, “We can actually go and draw on the map where the fire is actually burning. As the fire grows, we can actually move with the fire.” A self-stabilizing system keeps the truck level and all work surfaces horizontal.

The Freightliner SVI Command Vehicle also has video recording capabilities, allowing personnel to download and dub video from a camera in the field for training purposes. An onboard PA system and a portable podium allow PIO’s to hold on-scene press conferences and to host public speaking events.

The truck carries 80 gallons of fuel and has an onboard generator to power up all of the equipment and electronics. It is also stocked with bedding and tables for use by personnel in the case of long-term responses. Although the Los Angeles County Fire Department maintains and uses it primarily, the command vehicle is also available for use by other county agencies for public information purposes.

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The Fire PIO » Los Angeles County Fire Department

Twitter as an Emergency Tool

LA PIO Wagon Envy