Good Idea Piñata

Distribute Mini AM/FM radios w/batteries in "dark" neighborhoods.

Include flyers with specific information about getting assistance.

Maybe our Private Sector business partners are looking for ways to donate? I've found some cheap ones starting at $3. In volume it could be cheaper.

Local advertising agencies know their communities and the people -- what messages, media, and methods work best for the population. These professionals also have ways of measuring effectiveness of their efforts -- can fine-tune to to get the best return on investment. Engage local advertisers to create communications / advertising strategy / campaign to get-the-word-out to survivors on everything pertaining to the response ...more »

Alternative to billboards and electronic means (wireless, phones, and etc) -- highly visible to great numbers of survivors.

Could be particularly useful in NYC and NJ during aftermath of Sandy.

Bring back FEMA distinctive clothing so that FEMA's presence is seen in the field. Maybe something like reflective vest could serve a dual-propose; safety and visibility.

Recommend that we use the US Postal Service to ship our official mail and packages instead of FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

Why spend money with the competition when we have our own Post Offices hurting for business?

How do we build a modeling & simulation capability into the tools we already have?

This would allow practitioners to use the same systems with the same look-and-feel whether in a response or in a simulation.

Do you have experience with this or have you seen it elsewhere? How did it work?

Adopt a common standard for collecting, storing, and disseminating Geospatial Information.

Fully embrace the DHS OneView system that hosts a great number of data layers and then allows users from the Whole Community to view those layers. Will build shared awareness.

See https://gii.dhs.gov/OneView

Current organization of a Joint Field Office has the External Affairs Officer (EAO) and supporting elements as part of the Command Staff. (per FEMA IMH) Recommend that the Assistant External Affairs Officer, Joint Information Center (AEIC) be retained on the Command Staff as the “Public Information Officer” to lead the Joint Information Center in order to ensure consistency in the provision of information to the public. ...more »

Sponsor an ideascale community where we can share apps that you have found useful before, during, or after disasters and emergencies. . . A place for sharing recommendations, comments, and insights about those apps find most useful for responders, citizens, or emergency managers (or those not worth the download). . . 3 example sites: http://iOS-disasterapps.ideascale.com/ http://Android-disasterapps.ideascale.com/ http://Blackberry-disasterapps.ideascale.com/ ...more »