The document outlines a comprehensive approach to emergency communications and disaster preparedness, emphasizing the importance of planning, community engagement, and establishing effective communication channels. It highlights initiatives from organizations like Skywarn and CoCoRaHS for citizen involvement and urges municipalities to coordinate regionally for effective response. Furthermore, it recommends leveraging existing resources and training to enhance disaster management efforts.

1. Disaster Info Team
Emergency Communications
“It isn’t a question of whether
your municipality will be involved in a
natural disaster or emergency event,
it’s a question of when and
will you be prepared.”

2. NJ GMIS Tec Conference
April 7, 2016Disaster Info Team
Whole Community Approach
• Determine Demographics & Local Actors
• Choose Channels & Teams
• Develop a Plan
• Establish a Workflow
• Build a Contact List
• Exercise and Implement the Plan, involving all parties
• Cross Market all Digital Communications Channels

3. NJ GMIS Tec Conference
April 7, 2016Disaster Info Team
Whole Community Approach
• Engage Your Community
– Skywarn.org: National Weather Service Skywarn Training
o Skywarn: 400,000 volunteers across the country
o Training is free – about 2 hours
o Citizen reporting online or via an unpublished phone number
– CoCoRaHS.org: Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, Snow
Network
o Grassroots effort to measure precipitation in the backyards of citizens
o Get a gauge; report precipitation online
o Data is public and accessible online

4. NJ GMIS Tec Conference
April 7, 2016Disaster Info Team
Sustainable Jersey Actions
Emergency Management and Resiliency
1. Emergency Communications Planning
 Develop a plan outlining the steps a town will take to disseminate important
information during emergencies
 Utilize varied communications channels (traditional & digital media, text and
email, sign boards, community posting boards & community networks)
 Create a process for citizens to register for alerts
2. Vulnerable Populations Identification for Emergencies
 Identify vulnerable individuals within the community and market “NJ Register
Ready” to register them so that they can receive updates during emergencies
 Keep a list of key community stakeholders that can help get word out to
special needs populations
 Use of alternative communication formats for people with special needs
SustainableJersey.com

5. NJ GMIS Tec Conference
April 7, 2016Disaster Info Team
Think and Act Regionally
• Disasters don’t end at municipal boundaries
• Use a social media dashboard (example: Hootsuite)
– Manage teams and publish to many channels
– Monitor municipal, county, state and private channels
– Use Google Alerts (google.com/alerts), keyword searches
• Aim for standards and consistency across jurisdictions
– http://morriscountynj.gov/about/municipalities/
• Regional solution example: MCUrgent
(Morris County Urgent)

6. NJ GMIS Tec Conference
April 7, 2016Disaster Info Team
How MCUrgent Works
Towns create a post
using a dashboard
#hashtag post
Twitter
(MCUrgent)
Facebook
(MorrisCountyNJ)
Twitter
(MorrisCountyNJ)
Facebook
(Town page)
Twitter
(Town feed)
Town 2
Town 1
Town 3
Town 4
Town 5
Facebook
(MCUrgent)

7. NJ GMIS Tec Conference
April 7, 2016Disaster Info Team
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
• See what others are doing in the social space
– Facebook.com/mcurgent
– Facebook.com/Bastrop-County-Office-of-Emergency-Management-
193202960708177/
• Read evaluative reports on disaster communications
– Boston Marathon, Superstorm Sandy, Nepal Earthquake,
Japan Tsunami, Hidden Pines Fires, Colorado Floods….
• Train:
– FEMA NIMS/ICS: https://training.fema.gov/nims/
– NWS Skywarn: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/skywarn/
– ESF #2: http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/32174

8. NJ GMIS Tec Conference
April 7, 2016Disaster Info Team
Connect
#SMEM on Twitter #smemchat Friday, noon to 1PM, Twitter
GoWProNJ.net Gov’t Web Professionals of NJ
NVOAD.org Nat’l Voluntary Orgs Active in Disaster
APCO.org Assoc of Public-Safety Comm Officials
NAGConline.org Nat’l Assoc of Gov’t Communicators
CERT Community Emergency Response Team
R.A.C.E.S Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
Emergency Mgmt Magazine http://www.emergencymgmt.com/
Carol Spencer, Stormzero.com carol@stormzero.com; 973-637-0483