Disaster Management

submitted by Mike Kraft

hstoday.us - by Judi Hasson - July 9, 2013

In the days following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey and New York, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched a “Rumor Control” operation to dispel the considerable gossip that emerged from the massive storm, a top FEMA official said during a House subcommittee hearing on Tuesday.

FEMA senior manager of digital engagement Shayne Adamski outlined FEMA’s increasing use of social media before the Committee on Homeland Security subcommittee on emergency preparedness, response and communications.

publicknowledge.org - by Harold Feld - May 9, 2013

Verizon wants to replace copper landlines destroyed by Hurricane Sandy with a new fixed wireless service called Voice Link. But should victims of natural disaster be guinea pigs when fundamental basic services are at stake? Especially when it means losing access to broadband?

Ever since Hurricane Sandy destroyed huge pieces of its landline network last October, Verizon made it clear it did not want to rebuild its traditional copper network. Most folks assumed that meant replacing damaged copper with fiber. While some consumers have grumbled about being upgraded to a more expensive service, no one doubts fiber to the home represents a step up – especially on the broadband side. 

But what about those communities where Verizon does not want to spend the money upgrading to FIOS? Turns out, rather than an upgrade to fiber, these communities will play guinea pig for Verizon’s new, cheaper, more limited wireless alternative called “Voice Link.”