Volunteers...

Volunteering, as defined by Wikipedia, is generally considered an altruistic activity and is intended to promote good or improve human quality of life. In return, this activity produces a feeling of self-worth and respect; however, there is no financial gain...

In the United States, about two-thirds of firefighters are volunteers.  The first fire companies formed in the embryonic Colonies were volunteers, and the tradition has continued for over three-hundred years.

Today as the State of Texas remembered those who died in West, Texas at a fertilizer plant explosion, I chatted with a friend who was in attendance.  We talked about how these volunteers are our nation's true heroes, who through a selfless spirit of altruism, committed themselves to the defense of their community.  This was the scene today.  I have no more words to share.

Photo from www.mysanantonio.com

Southern Comfort Zone..

By the time you read this, Mini-Me and I will be in my own Southern Comfort Zone somewhere in North-central Mississippi.  It's a beautiful April day, one worthy of spending outdoors refining our shooting skills with various firearms.  After that, crawfish and grilled oysters are on tap for dinner at a friend's lake.  Have a great afternoon friends!  Oh, we don't have elephants and giraffes there.  Sorry, no petting zoo...

Local hypocritical politicians

Mississippi State Senator David Jordan of Greenwood has long been a vocal figure, and an advocate of civil rights (whether or not you agree with him is a different story).  However, his use of the pejorative "boy" when speaking to an African-American on the local school board is purely meant to intimidate, taunt, and shock.  It is unacceptable and uncalled for, no matter the circumstance nor the speaker.  Hypocrisy in action.

I don't know the details, but apparently Jordan was attempting to insert himself onto the school board's meeting agenda.  I'm not familiar with this board's rules, but most boards require advance notice of agenda items and speakers.  Rule like this may fly in the face of open democratic processes, but they do aid in maintaining order and civility at public meetings.  Jordan, as both a senator and city council member, should be well aware of this.  Hat-tip to Justin Moore and his Youtube channel.

This week...

My goodness, what a week this has been.  A bombing in Boston.  Ricin in the mail.  A small Texas community devastated.  Ending the week on a high note, a 100-hour manhunt ends with the capture of one of the Boston bombing suspects.

This week I was in a conference with some 600 of Mississippi's emergency response officials, including police officers, firefighters, medics, hospital personnel, and emergency managers.  To say we had a lot to talk about would be a gross understatement! 

First, let's look at Boston.  As you know, two explosive devices detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.  While the picture is still being put together, there doesn't appear to be a specific target, making this incident a classic act of terrorism.  The aim of terrorists isn't to kill....it is to instill fear.  We don't yet know if the bombers were influenced by foreign players, or if they were just two young men playing out a demented prank.  Three were killed, hundreds injured.  Boston medics, officers, and firefighters dove into harm's way and saved many.  We saw Bostonians stand up and fight back, and they did not let fear rule the day.  Certainly there was apprehension as the suspects became known.  A police officer was killed by the suspects; another gravely injured.  Communities were locked down, neighborhoods evacuated during the manhunt.  When the final review is penned though, the case was cracked by everyday citizens reporting information to the police.  Boston-area residents fought back in a civilized manner by working with police, not as vigilante hero-wannabe's.

At our conference this week, we heard how, as emergency mangers, we should "engage the public" in a "culture of preparedness".  Also, "it's a team sport, what yall do".  The discussion regarded disaster preparedness, but those words rang true in Massachusetts this week.  Police officers - civilian guardians - engaged the public in a team sport, and it paid off.  It can work to capture terrorists, and it can work for floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

The drama that unfolded in the northeast, however, almost overshadowed the events in a small town where a "culture of preparedness" is a way of daily life.  West, Texas, is a small town of 2800, and like many small towns it is protected by a cadre of volunteer firefighters.  On April 17, an alarm of fire at a fertilizer plant brought these volunteers from their homes and jobs.  Before the day would end, five volunteer firefighters and four emergency medical volunteers were killed in a massive explosion that devastated the small town.  There is not a single person in that town who is unaffected.  If their house or business wasn't damaged, they were probably related to a responder.  In larger cities, public safety personnel have a natural disconnect from most of the public, as it's just a job.  In towns like West, that depend on volunteers, your barber might be the fire chief; your pastor may be an EMT.  They're not just public servants, they're friends integral to your everyday life.  The town lost firefighters who may have been mechanics, teachers, welders, church deacons.

So as you go on your way, two communities separated by a half a country share a common pain.  Keep them both in your prayers.  When you can, take time to visit your police officers, paramedics, and firefighters.  They may be paid for what they do.  But they may be doing it simply from the goodness of their hearts, giving their all for you.  Embrace a "culture of preparedness" in your home by getting to know these men and women.  Do not simply ride the wave of appreciation we'll see in the next few days.  They're there every day...

I can't call you...

I manage another blog site for amateur radio and weather information at www.k5jaw.com.  Earlier today, I posted an article that looks at ways to plan for situations similar to those experienced in Boston following the bombings this week, when many were unable to communicate with loved ones.  I wanted to share it here, in case you don't read or subscribe to the other blog site.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I can't call you...

Earlier today, fellow amateur radio operator and blogger Steve, K9ZW, posted this entry on his blog site: Sudden Radio Silence in High Risk Situations.  Click the link, give it a read, then come back for the rest of my entry here.

Reading Steve's article brought to mind the notion that we all need multiple pathways or means of communication.  We may never know whether or not the Boston-area cellular service was intentionally shut down for safety, or if it was simply overloaded.  Based on personal experience, I'm subscribing to the idea of a system overload.  Telephone systems can handle a certain number of simultaneous service requests.  Your local phone system is designed using a mathematical formula that estimates a percentage of all subscribers using the system at the same time.  In other words, there may be 100,000 phones in a system, but it may be designed to only carry 10,000 conversations at once.  Consider how many hours a day your phone goes unused, and you'll understand why systems aren't designed for 100% loads.  Cellular systems are designed in the same way, based on an estimated number of subscriber requests.  It has been postulated that even if you can't get a voice channel on  your cellular phone, you can get a text message out.  This is true, but you may suffer a delay.  Depending on your phone, your text may attempt a number of transmissions, then time out with a fail-to-send message.  If you're not checking your phone, the message will be waiting for you to re-send it.

The military utilizes the mnemonic of P.A.C.E or Primary, Alternate, Contingency, Emergency when formulating communications plans.

Your PRIMARY means of communicating with your family may be via cell phone.  For example, "I'll call you when I get to the hotel."  We all use some system, each and every day, and it works under normal conditions.  This is our Primary.  But what if your battery is dead, or cell service is out?

That's when we need to have an ALTERNATE plan.  Our alternate would accomplish the same goal, but with little impact to our routine.  If the cell phone won't work when you get to the hotel as in our example, the Alternate would be to place a call from the land-line in your room.  At most, we may be inconvenienced by having to find a pay phone, or ask to borrow a phone, but we can make the call without much trouble.  In a perfect world, your Primary and Alternate could be interchanged at any time.

But what if both of those aren't available?  Now we've got to think ahead.  Your CONTINGENCY method would accomplish the task within an acceptable time frame.  It may not be important that we call home as soon as we get to the hotel.  But our family would like to know we made it there safely, say within an hour or two's time of expected arrival.  For most of us, this is where it gets complicated, because all we have is our cell and the hotel's land-line.  Sometimes, it's easier to get a call into an area than it is to place an out-bound call.  Perhaps your Contingency plan involved leaving the hotel phone number with your family for them to call, if they haven't heard from you by a certain time.  Whatever the case, the Contingency plan involves laying the groundwork well before its needed.

Beyond all those, what would be your EMERGENCY plan?  Amateur radio if its available? (yes, that was a shameless plug!  If you're not licensed, you can still dictate a short message to an amateur radio operator, who will send it out.)  Hand-written note via messenger?  Messenger may sound extreme, but it may not be out of the question.  At this point, anything may be fair game.  Most of us don't like to give it much thought, but it is certainly worth your consideration, especially when traveling.

The thousands in Boston this week experienced a communications system failure.  Not because the system was damaged, but because it was overloaded.  Cellular systems can be, and have been, overloaded by high-attendance parades and sporting events.  If you've been to a major parade, major college game, or race, you may have experienced delays in getting calls and messages on your cellular phone, solely due to the increased system demand.  If you add a layer of  crisis, whether from a bombing as we saw this week, or from a sudden thunderstorm or tornado causing damage and injuries, the system demand grows exponentially.

How do you call home and let your loved ones know you're OK?  Have you thought about alternatives?  How much of a time delay is acceptable to you and  your family?

42 Years...

Well, I wanted to write an introspective post for my birthday.  I started writing a few days ago.  After a few paragraphs introspect turned into a borderline depressive missive.  My mind goes into dark places sometimes.  The draft got deleted tonight.  In its place, I'm starting up my own Bucket List.  Here are two that have been on my list for a LONG time.
....................
I want to see the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra in Boston on the Fourth of July.  I want to feel the concussion from the fireworks over the Charles River for the finale. I want to hear Beethoven's 9th Symphony at The Proms in London....all the while having no idea where my tastes for classical music comes from...


Götterfunken!

Loving Springtime...

Here was the view I had today on the way home from a workshop with a great group of communications leaders from around the state.  We get together on occasion to discuss new technologies, brainstorm ideas on how to better utilize what we currently have, and to exercise various communication emergency scenarios.

80-degree days under blue skies just scream "open sunroof" for the drive home!

More to Come...

The other night I wrote "Considering a Change", and a few of you have asked what that means.  Well, it simply means that I intend to interact more through the medium of this blog than through the short-and-sweet snippets afforded by more popular forms of social media.

I'm not a writer by any means, but many of you who have read my past entries here have encouraged me along the way to continue writing.  So, I shall do just that.

I have no idea what I'll write, but I plan to start it again.  Sometimes I just vent the day's woes into words.  Other days will be more contemplative.  Either way, this offers me more flexibility than a quick status update.

So to my current readers, welcome back.  To my future readers, welcome.  There are several entries-in-draft to be finished and posted.  I've devised a way to digitally capture random thoughts that occur during the day, so they can be digested into future posts.  Join me on the journey.

Tonight's entry is brought to you as I listen to "Simple Gifts" as arranged by Aaron Copeland for Appalachian Spring. (scroll below video for the lyrics)

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,

'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,

And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,

Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,

'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",

And when we hear what others really think and really feel,

Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come 'round right

Tis the gift to be loving, tis the best gift of all

Like a quiet rain it blesses where it falls

And with it we will truly believe

Tis better to give than it is to receive

EMT Extrication Night

Tonight we took our EMT students out for their hands-on automobile rescue class.  This is always a highlight of the semester for them, and for us as instructors.  By this time, they've been through almost three months of classroom lecture, and they're itching for some outdoor experience.  Like every other class, it's always enjoyable to watch them learn over the months.  For the most part, we don't hear much from them after graduation.  But a few keep in touch, or work locally.  While watching them grow in class is nice, the real reward comes from watching them grow in the field.  I've always said that we can teach them what an EMT needs to know, but they learn "how" to be an EMT in the field.

A Friend's Book...

Let me introduce you to a friend of mine who's working on a book due out in September, 2013.  Jeff Billingsley was a Memphis, Tennessee police officer who grew up in a small town in Illinois.  After a stint as an officer in his home town, he moved to the "big time" of Memphis.  Jeff has an amazing story to tell, and instead of spilling the beans here, I'd rather him tell it in his own words.

"My Second Chance" – A Book by Jeff Billingsley

~ A small town police officer pursuing his dream in Memphis, Tennessee. Shot twice during a traffic stop and near death. A prayer with an angel. Healed of PTSD. A life of peaks and valleys. An honest discussion about faith, church, and divorce. An encounter with the true nature of Jesus whose love, forgiveness, and healing never ends. Available September 2013.

Drop by the website, "My Second Chance".  Catch up on the excerpts.  Get the book when it comes out.  You'll be glad you did.

Considering a change...

This will be a ramble, so hang in there...

Over the past few years I embraced various social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.  Each one have their merits, pro's and con's unique to each service.  I share some friends across all three, others are unique to one outlet. 

This blog links out to all three whenever I tap out a new entry.  Within a half-hour of a new posting, the title and link are spread out to many friends and acquaintances.  A blog gives your much more than 140 characters to convey more depth to the reader.  But in today's world, anything much longer than the 140-character limit may gain the writer a TL;DR (too long; didn't read).  So be it.  The brevity of instant messaging must soothe the sensitivities of those who are challenged by a meaningful exchange of ideas.  Again, so be it.

Guilty as charged, I've been a contributor to the short-message communications format.  It's easy to formulate a quick text to my three favorite social media services.  Tap out the characters on the phone, hit send, and the earth-shattering thought of the moment is forever digitally enshrined in the annals of history of modern man.  What I had for supper, what music I was listening to while driving, snarky comments while sitting in random meetings.  It's all out there, somewhere in the digital ether.  I'm sure my great-great grandchildren will be impressed with my collection of works.  I shall, perhaps, upon my passing, leave directions to my progeny to download and have bound all of my status updates.  I'm certain such a volume will gather little dust in the great libraries of the world.

All social media services evolve.  Facebook has, of late, seemed to become not so much of a place to proffer personal updates, but more of an avenue to simple "share" and re-post content created by others.  My newsfeed is littered with a host of shared recipes, satirical political and animal memes.  Perhaps the politics and LOLCats are somehow cyber-related.  I've been considering giving the digital axe to Facebook friends who never post original content.  Twitter, depending on who you follow, can be a good source of news and special-interest information.  I like it.  Google+ still doesn't have its legs yet, but some in my cyber-society are migrating there.  There are unique offerings in Google+ that I haven't fully explored yet, but I plan to.

So, after that diatribe....I'm considering coming back to this blog more often in the future.  The format here may not be as dynamic, but I can offer more.  The Big Three social media will still post links from here, but you'll have to actually visit to read it all.  And that might require a bit more neurological power than is required to process just less than one gross of text characters.

PS:  I don't play Mafia Wars, Lucky Slots, or any other game on Facebook.  No matter how good our friendship may be, repeated game invitations only serve to nudge you closer to the "Defriend" cliff.

Another Shameless Self-Promotion

It's National Public Health Week...

Emergency Response Coordinator Jim Whitfield talks about being a public health emergency professional.