**#FEMARDP Tweetlog**

This is the log as I captured it. If anyone feels there is something I
missed, then please let me know by sending an \@reply or direct message
to us at femainfocus. We tried to stick to the #FEMARDP hashtag and
realized that some people sent \@replies we didn't see. If you have an
outstanding reply, then please send again. This was a bit of a whirlwind
and we tried to answer everyone. I captured only what we replied to for
a matter of public record, typos and all.

Thanks to everyone who participated. This was fantastic for us to engage
so many communities and individuals in a way that helps to bring
attention to predisaster planning and FEMA's mission. The Administrator
had a good time and we will be posting the audio as soon as we
transcribe for the deaf and hearing impaired.

Below is first Paulison's statement, then the questions he answered, and
then the follow-up by FEMA staff so far. Please continue to use the
#FEMARDP hashtag to discuss this event and ask us questions following
the posting of this.

Monday, January 12, 2009 3:01:32 PM

-   start by thanking everybody for the opportunity to chant with them

-   When I took over FEMA, I recognized this nation deserved a strong,
    vibrant organization

-   The first thing I recognized was that we needed to bring in strong
    leadership

-   I started by recruiting people who had years of experience dealing
    with disasters

-   I also wanted to change the culture of the organization

-   I wanted to change FEMA from a reactive organization to a proactive
    organization

-   I also recognized that FEMA couldn\'t do it all by itself\
    That change also involved the entire emergency management community
    around this country

-   Some examples are law enforcement and private sector along with
    nonprofits

-   And developing new forms of communication, which is why we are using
    Twitter

-   Friday we produced a YouTube video #FEMARDP

**Questions: Femainfocus responses in Bold**

**JohnDSolomon** -#FEMARDP How can FEMA raise public awareness of social
media\'s (eg. Twitter) value in disaster prep/resp and accelerate use of
these tools?

-   **The more we use it, the more the people become aware of its value.
    -- P**

-   **There is a whole new generation coming up who are very familiar
    with this type of communication**

**Sjsanford** - has FEMA ever considered dedicated twitter acct or rss
feeds for disaster/emergency-only broadcasts? challenges?

-   **Yes, we have RSS
    [http://www.fema.gov/help/rs\...](http://www.fema.gov/help/rss.shtm)
    This is a new type of com for FEMA, all suggestions are welcome
    --P**

**mirmello** - #FEMARDP I understand regional disability coordinator
positions are not to be filled until 2011. Is this true? Why the delay?

-   **We\'re putting the disability coordinator positions in the 2010
    budget -- P**

**Mirmello** - #FEMARDP Do you intend to to continue the policy of using
Blackwater mercenaries domestically?

-   **We don\'t currently have any contracts with Blackwater -P
    #FEMARDP**

**Bobc_mass** #FEMARDP Chief Paulison: I\'ll be en route to DC during
this briefing, but wanted to wish you the best of luck and say THANKS!!

-   **Thanks Bob! -- P**

**Mheadd** - how does the recent incident where Twitter accounts were
compromised affect your plans for using it in the future? #FEMARDP

-   **Technology like Twitter is fairly new and there will be problems
    but shouldn\'t stop us from using them -- P**

**Saferhermosa** - #FEMARDP Looking forward to participating in this
social media interaction. What is the chain of command from FEMA to
resident?

-   **Do you mean President or resident? #FEMARDP**

**Kmcurry** - where can we find more information about how FEMA is using
or plans to use SMS for disaster planning and response? #FEMARDP

-   **We\'re working hard to develop this technology. It hasa great
    future in Emergency Mgmnt
    [http://www.fema.gov/help/rs\...](http://www.fema.gov/help/rss.shtm)**

**Carlmalamud -** Do U think #FEMARDP Twitter Press Conf. is Meaningful
Dialogue w/Public? Is it a useful forum for U for communicating policy?

-   **I think the answer is yes --P**

**Sradick** - do you see Twitter being more of a benefit for public
outreach or for emergency management? #FEMARDP

-   **The potential is the benefit for both. --P**

-   **Getting info to public has always been difficult; twitter is
    another tool to do that - P #FEMARDP**

**squirrel325** - How will FEMA overcome challenges to frontline
responder perception and implementation of NIMS/ICS in the future?
#femardp

-   **Based on my disaster experience, we have to operate under 1 system
    and NIMS provides that for us. -P #FEMARDP**

-   **Just like when ICS was introduced in the fire service, it took a
    while for it to be accepted. Now everyone uses it -P #FEMARDP**

**Kadidid -** What are some of your findings so far from the
conversational outreach? Any surprising feedback? #FEMARDP

-   **Pleased by the number of people using this new technology -P
    #FEMARDP**

**Saferhermosa -** I do mean individual resident. #FEMARDP

-   **not sure what you are asking - sorry -JPS**

**mirmelo -** Since Matt Jadacki called for FEMA to monitor debris
removal, has there been an update to FEMA\'s plans #FEMARDP

-   **We use Corps of Engineers to do the monitoring of our debris
    removal -P #FEMARDP**

**Mirmelo** - how exactly is twitter helpful in disaster management?
#FEMARDP

-   **Twitter is new, but we see it as a potential for better
    communication -P #FEMARDP**

**Sradick -** I agree and I think this is a great way to do that\...are
you liking this format, and will u do again? #FEMARDP

-   **My term is up on Tuesday (20), but highly recommend next
    Administrator use it -P #FEMARDP**

**Depfenn** - W/ countless Web 2.0 applications available, how will FEMA
determine the most proper ones to use for info dissemin.? #FEMARDP

-   **Pretty much trial and error. Find the ones that work -P #FEMARDP**

**Kmcurry** - not to mention greater accessibility of mobile comms and
SMS in remote areas. Is Twitter being used by NEP? If so, which events?
#FEMARDP

-   **Not a bad idea! -P #FEMARDP**

**Squirrel325** - thanks for your response- hearing from the FEMA
Administrator really brightens an emergency mgr\'s day! #femardp

-   **Thanks -P #FEMARDP**

**Kmallwein -** Is FEMA considering data mining Twitter during disasters
to look for possible problem areas? #FEMARDP

-   **We\'re just started using this but picked up some customer service
    use with Twitter - P #FEMARDP**

**Saferhermosa** - If there are several breaks in the chain of command I
want to know the next link to contact before the disaster. #FEMARDP

-   **The first step is your local emergency manager, most accurate info
    to public comes from local Emergency Management -P #FEMARDP**

**Mirmelo -** we\'re finding it hard to find well written and
implemented local goverment plans, what then? #FEMARDP

-   **We recently did a Gap Analysis of several states and found
    planning one of the areas we need to improve on -P #FEMARDP**

-   **Some of our grants we are requiring 25 % to be spent on planning
    -P #FEMARDP**

**Nursekare**- Thank you, sir. Using twitter is a very good idea. Gives
a human touch to the agency and gets info to the public. #FEMARDP

-   **:) -P #FEMARDP**

**FEMAINFOCUS**

-   **It has been an honor to serve you, the public. And a very humbling
    experience - P #FEMARDP**

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-   **We have time for one more question -JPS #FEMARDP**

**Vsquirel325** - How can FEMA more effectively manage the public\'s
disaster response expectations re: local, state & fed agency roles?
#femardp

-   **Very difficult indeed. NRF/NIMS lays out roles and
    responsibilities -P #FEMARDP**

**Margaretoleary** - Where is FEMA going? #FEMARDP

-   **FEMA is going toward a more proactive rather than reactive
    organization -P #FEMARDP**

**Saracreid -** Do you believe FEMA should remain within DHS? Why/why
not? Thanks. #FEMARDP

-   **From my perspective, i have received a tremendous amount of
    support from Sec. Chertoff and DHS. -P #FEMARDP**

**FEMAINFOCUS**

-   **Thank you, The Administrator has left, however, we will continue
    to answer inquiries -JPS #FEMARDP**

-   **Thank you to everyone for participating and following. We will
    have the audio and thranscripts up as fast as we can. -JPS
    #FEMARDP**

**Post- event questions**

There were a number of questions that came in as \@replies that didn't
have the hashmarks so we didn't have the chance to track them during the
availability. We followed up with the Administrator on those we could
and will list all inquiries so far related to this grouping below. Some
came in after the event ended and we are following up on those. You can
continue to follow the discussion by using the hashtags #FEMARDP:

**Altusem** -Good afternoon, sir. Where do you see FEMA in five years?
Have you achieved the goals you established?

-   **Sorry, you missed Paulison. We were tracking through the hashmarks
    #FEMARDP. i will follow up and get back to you --JPS**

-   **Re 5 years: continue to work with our partners in Emergency
    Management response - P #FEMARDP**

-   **RE: goals - Achieved most of goals - Catastrophic housing not
    finished yet - P #FEMARDP**

**Eric_Holdeman** - What are some things that didn\'t get done during
your tenure that you wanted to accomplish?

-   **We were following the #FEMARDP, so Paulison didn\'t see your
    question.Will try to follow up b/c should\'ve --JPS**

-   **Finishing Catastrophic housing - P #FEMARDP**

**Avillafana** - will FEMA be using twitter as information sharing and
collaboration tool during disasters?

-   **yes, but we need to stay in ICS lane. Locals and state have best
    info and we want to support message --JPS**

**michaeldumlao -** is FEMA taking examples/ lessons from Twitter\'s
role in the Mumbai incident? #frmardp

-   **Sorry I mistyped #frmrdp. Should\'ve been #FEMARD. And yes, very
    interested in what it can do for incidents -- JPS**

**Meangrape -** OK, you can only use ONE hashtag per update. And it\'s
got to actually contain text.

-   **Thanks. Was using tweetgrid to automate the hashtag. had a few
    flubs with keyboard --JPS**

**Vixen_var -** Thank you so much for your service! We\'re with ya all
the way. #FEMARDP

-   **Thanks. We are trying to apply right tools to our need to
    communicate with public and partners. Had been following #waflood
    --JPS**

**Mirmelo** - Where are you using the 20,000 GPS units currently? \#
FEMARDP

-   **Not sure where this is meant to go. Is this related to logistics
    tracking? TAV?**

**Kc5fm** - Thank you, sir, for your service to our Nation. What plans
do you have to include your state and local partners in WEB2.0 use?

-   **Lloyd, we were following the #FEMARDP for tracking and responding
    to queries. I will try to get this for response. -- JPS**

-   **Reach out more to local Emergency Managers than FEMA has in the
    past; web 2.0 is very valuable -P #FEMARDP**

**Cokesjr24** - How do you use flickr?

-   **are currently working w/ Flickr to start using-We have to modify
    user agreements since we are gov\'t. Let field staff post --JPS**

**avillafana** in regard to your comment about being more proactive, how
does FEMA plan to use the latest weather prediction technologies?

-   **I will have to follow up. We were tracking #FEMARDP for the avail.
    But NOAA @[nhc_noaa](http://twitter.com/nhc_noaa) would be a good
    start.**

**Wharman** - nice job with the Twitter press conference. We\'re looking
forward to working with you here.

-   **Thanks Wendy. It is good to work w/ ARC \-- especially outside of
    disasters! --JPS**

**Mheadd** - Very original use of Twitter by a public organization.
Bravo! #FEMARD

-   **Thank you. We are trying. We wanted to get people thinking about
    how they can use social media to communicate in disasters -- JPS**

**Boxednoise** - Crisis responses can be complex; how do you manage
expectations w/response times using new tech when the may be
unrealistic?

-   **We still have to follow ICS. Local/state will have latest. We want
    to support their efforts to reach public --JPS**

**Asu_polytechnic** I found the reply arrow to the right of the text.
This is great technology for Campus Public Emergency Communications

-   **Very useful for reaching students / employees with emergency text
    messages too! --JPS**

**Leighjones -** Will FEMA have enough money to cover the projected \$1
billion Hurricane Ike recovery cost?

-   **FEMA will reimburse Texas for ALL eligible recovery costs. More
    than \$1.4b in federal aid is already out the door. --SEC**

**Bobc_mass** - #FEMADP Chief: what\'s the one most significant piece of
advice you will give to your successor (besides sleep is overrated)

Bob, sorry Paulison didn\'t get the message (hashtag missing R). I will
try to get the answer and respond -- JPS

-   **Create a staff from experienced emergency managers -P #FEMARDP**

**Sophiabliu** - just wondering why you decided to follow me, possibly
after the #boulderfire?

-   **Yes it was. You had very good information. Good job. --JPS**

**Mirmelo** - Are there plans to fill the 11 remaining 13 - 15 level
jobs? if so, when? #FEMARDP

-   **Hi. Sorry, but Paulison didn\'t get the message since we were
    following hashtags. I will get you a response -JPS**

**Kadid -** Do you have different comm. strategy targeting baby boomers
vs gen x&y since social tech adoption is greater btwn XY? #FEMARDP

-   **We have an overall communications strategy
    <http://tinyurl.com/a8t6sn>. Social media is new and important
    -JPS**

**Hamcohealth -** Can you send link to your new youtube video? Would
love to see it!

-   **That will be up shortly. Our channel is
    [www.youtube.com/fema](http://www.youtube.com/fema) . There are
    other videos now. -- JPS**

**Jgarrow -**Thanks for pulling #FEMARDP together

-   **Thank you for participating. -- JPS**

**DaveNF2g** - For next time it should be noted that the user tag and
hash tag combined take up 20 characters of a tweet.

-   **Thanks Dave. Will put it in the SOP! --JPS**

**Dniehaus** - Why the seeming resistance to modular emergency units vs.
these trailers that offer no long-term advantages ? #FEMARDP

-   **hi there. i am going to have to get some info and get back to
    you - JPS #FEMARDP**

That is it as of 8:07 pm EST. If we missed anyone, then we are truly
sorry. We have some follow-ups for folks. Just resend your question as
an \@reply with the #FEMARDP and we will follow up.

Thank You.