OEM has started using hashtags in Twitter

Starting today, the OEM Twitter run by Jennifer Bailey will start to use the #OEMAlerts hashtag for any tweet that is part of an actual alert or notification. This does not affect anyone who is already following us through Twitter - you will still receive our tweets as normal. What this will do is make it easier for people who are not already following us to be able to search for our tweets in search engines, and through the hashtags website.

To search hashtags, use the hashtag's website (or search in Twitter): http://hashtags.org/

You can view the #OEMAlerts stats at http://wthashtag.com/Oemalerts

For more about hashtags and how they work, check out the following pages:

http://www.searchenginejournal.com/twitter-hashtags/9419/

http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/10/22/twitter-hashtags-for-emergency-coordination-and-disaster-relief/

Interviewed in the Statesman Journal!

On Monday, April 5th, I had an interview for the Statesmen Journal published on page 6C. The interview is about how OEM tries to educate the public on being prepared for emergencies.

An excerpt from the interview:

Q: Is it difficult to straddle the line between urging people to plan intelligently and scaring people?

A: It is difficult. I talk to schools and some parents have said, "We don't want you to talk to our kids because you're going to scare them." But if you think about it, how long did it take the fire department to get fire drills in school? How many fire drills do you have in a school during the year, and nobody thinks anything about it. It doesn't scare the kids. I've got to get there with emergency kits.

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20104050311

I want to put the question to you, my readers. What kind of message do you think would be effective in communicating the importance of preparation to the public without scaring them? How can we get people thinking about disaster preparation in a meaningful way?

If you have a good idea, email it to me at jbailey@oem.state.or.us and I will present those ideas here on the blog.

Oregon Emergency Management is planning for future

Statesman Journal column

October 28, 2009


The 911 emergency call system has been around so long that many take it for granted. But there is more to the 911 system that we should know.

There are 50 911 call centers across Oregon. They are called Public Safety Answering Points, and equipment connects to the local telephone exchange carrier. PSAP equipment must be upgraded about every five years.

Oregon Emergency Management is responsible for coordination of the PSAPs and the 911 call-taking equipment and is looking ahead to the needs of Oregonians in the future. During the next few years as equipment is scheduled for upgrade or replacement, OEM is making sure that all equipment is "next generation capable." This means that when this new complex network is available, we will be able to not only call 911, but also text message the PSAPS.

During the Virginia Tech shooting, students sent texts to the 911 center not knowing that they were not getting through. This system is going to be valuable in getting emergency messages to the PSAPs faster and more effectively during different types of emergencies.

Jennifer Bailey, formerly of FEMA, is the public affairs coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294 or jbailey@oem.state.or.us.

Make Emergency Plans Now - Statesman Journal

Jennifer Bailey • August 5, 2009

When I ask people if they are prepared for an emergency, I hear something like "We've got extra food in the cupboards, and there's a flashlight somewhere. We could get it all together if we needed to." Nothing is said about a family plan or other emergency preparations.

I'm glad people have supplies, but what they don't seem to understand is that there may not be time to "get it all together." Recent research conducted by FEMA on preparedness showed 40 percent of survey respondents did not have household plans, 80 percent had not conducted home evacuation drills, and nearly 60 percent did not know their community's evacuation routes.

Nearly 20 percent reported having a disability that would affect their capacity to respond to an emergency situation, but shockingly only one out of four of them had made arrangements specific to their disability to help them respond safely in the event of an emergency.

Go to this Web site for details: www.serve.gov/toolkits/disaster/.

Our nation's emergency responders do an incredible job of keeping us safe, but they can't do it alone.

For example, Marion County has 826 firefighters. Just 252 are paid, and 574 are volunteers. That's 826 firefighters for 314,606 people. It is our responsibility to be prepared and to prepare our families.

Jennifer Bailey, formerly of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the Public Affairs Coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294, or jbailey@oem.state.or.us.

Statesman Journal Column May 20

Businesses must plan for sick workers

Be prepared and know what to do when staffers are unable to come to work

Jennifer Bailey

Has anyone in your company been sick this year? Have employees had to stay home with sick children? Have employees come to work sick and spread germs to others just because you didn't have any other way to stay in business?

When we think of disasters, we usually think of flooding or winter storms. The recent flu scare was a bit of a wake-up call to some. Sick employees can be a disaster that will cause businesses to suffer, and in this economy most can't afford to be closed even one day.

Previously, we have discussed what small businesses can do to stay in business immediately after a big storm, stressing the importance of having a Continuity of Operations Plan. If your business does not have such a plan, you may find yourself floundering when your employees call in sick.

To make sure your business continues running smoothly with fewer employees, include a section of information in your Continuity of Operations Plan that addresses this issue. When you write your epidemic Continuity of Operations Plan, a few questions that need to be answered are:

-Who will be in charge, and who will take over if that person is not available?

-Who can work from home?

-Which staffers, materials, procedures and equipment are absolutely necessary to keep the business operating?

-Do you have an emergency fund to get through tough times?

-How can you provide good customer service and meet deadlines with fewer employees?

More information about Continuity of Operations Plan plans is available on the Internet, and Oregon Emergency Management would also be happy to assist. Planning ahead can save you money.

Jennifer Bailey, formerly of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is the Public Affairs Coordinator of Oregon Emergency Management. She may be reached at (503) 378-2911, Ext. 22294, or jbailey@oem.state.or.us.

Additional Facts
Learn more

Please send questions about emergency preparedness to be answered in this column to jbailey@oem.state.or.us. Other information may be found at www.oregon.gov/omd/oem or www.fema.gov.

WELCOME TO THE OREGON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BLOG

Hello - I am Jennifer Bailey, the Public Affairs Coordinator for Oregon Emergency Management (OEM).

On this blog, I will try to provide you with information on how to be prepared for emergencies. During an actual disaster, I or members of my team, will post news, disaster updates, information on where to get assistance, and other valuable messages.

As long as we have electricity, we will put information on the blog. On a weekly basis, I will also post the OEM column from the Statesman Journal.

For now - let me just encourage you to have a 72 hour emergency kit and a plan for your family. Please write comments and ask questions. I will do my best to assist you.

Jennifer