The Scenario: an explosion has occurred in the sleepy town of Central City California. This humorous, hands-on session will bring “volunteers” from the group into a Joint Information Center (JIC) that is set up to address the crisis. The participants will simulate a few of the 21 functions of a JIC according to the NIMS model for Emergency Public Information. Lucky participants will receive a copy of the award winning Go Book.

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September 6th, 2010 | Tags: CESA2010, JIC, Karen Terrill, NIMS | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The NASA Ames Intelligent Robotics Group (IRG) is a DMI partner.

Situated in the world’s beating heart of technological innovation—and an extremely earthquake and wildfire prone state—the Carnegie Mellon University Silicon Valley campus is quietly emerging as hub for a technological revolution in disaster management. In March 2010, the university launched the Disaster Management Initiative (DMI). This far-reaching effort combines local talent and resources in the public and private sectors with the university’s expertise in software engineering, mobility, robotics, cyber-security, networking, data mining and wireless sensors. All-in-all, it’s pretty cool stuff.

Attend DMI’s session “Journey to the Far Point: The Silicon Valley’s Development of the Disaster Management Initiative” at CESA2010 to learn about ongoing projects and partnerships. Check out DMI’s visions for fully integrated technological solutions to disaster management challenges. And, DMI robots will be conducting a “meet and greet” and signing autographs at the end of the session. Just kidding.

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September 4th, 2010 | Tags: CESA2010, DMI, Steven Ray, Technology | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The next generation of emergency managers faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. The 2010 CESA Conference is designed to help participants fully embrace these opportunities and succeed in the face of our challenges. This dynamic gathering includes representatives from government agencies, utilities, academic institutions, and businesses of all types, nonprofits and faith agencies, as well as media, funders and elected officials.

Together, we are the leaders and practitioners in Preparedness, Response, Recovery, Mitigation, and Protection in California; we’re seasoned professionals, total novices and world class experts; and we are part-time, full-time, paid staff and volunteer — yet we share common goals. Please join us!

The 2010 CESA Conference and Training will help you:

• Cultivate effective relationships, liaisons and partnerships

• Find innovative solutions to today’s emergency management challenges

• Get top-rated professional training on emerging technologies and best practices

• Learn how Social Media can help you to do so much more, with so much less

• Find true balance, avoid the burnout, and discover your brilliance!

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September 4th, 2010 | Tags: CESA2010, mitigation, Preparedness, Recovery, social media | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

In this tight job market, you need every advantage to get ahead. Have you thought of becoming a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)? More than ever, employers are requiring that applicants are certified. When an employer sees “CEM” on your resume, they know you’ve got the skills, knowledge and experience to handle challenging roles in their emergency management program.

CESA2010 will offer a CEM exam preparatory workshop (a basic exam overview, with practice questions, to help relieve pre-test anxiety) in Monterey on Monday, September 13, 2010 and the exam itself on the morning of September 14, 2010 (leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the rest of the conference!)

Register directly with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) for these opportunities.

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September 4th, 2010 | Tags: CEM, CESA2010, IAEM | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

This year’s CESA2010 Conference has been developed to help participants embrace new opportunities in the field of emergency management and succeed in the face of our challenges. Consistent with the theme for this year’s conference, “The Next Generation of Emergency Management,” CESA is asking for your participation in a Living History Project.  If you’ve worked in the Emergency Management field for many years, please consider participating by responding to a few questions that can be downloaded here. Depending on your responses, you may be asked to videotape your answers to be shown at the CESA Conference.  It is not necessary to answer all questions— just those you find interesting.  If you have any questions about the Living History Project, please contact Marsha Hovey at 408-722-1210 or email her at marshahovey@mac.com.

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September 4th, 2010 | Tags: CESA2010, Living History, Marsha Hovey | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Not a member of Facebook?  Register your organization! You’ll have a new way to connect with the public or volunteers and be able to update it from anywhere in the world!  The only requirements to register are a First Name & Last Name (such as “Cupertino OES” for first name and “Cupertino” for last name);  an email address (this is also a great time to create an organization gmail account as a backup); and a birthdate (how about the day your organization was founded?).  Now you can connect to CESA2010 and still keep personal information intact! Head over to www.facebook.com to get started.

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September 4th, 2010 | Tags: Ana-Marie Jones, CESA2010, FaceBook, social media | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

CESA is always striving to make our conferences better. This year we’re proud to announce all-new breakout sessions called “Birds of a Feather.” Because we know that our colleagues are our greatest resource, we’ve created these additional sessions to be held during lunch and after the official breakouts each day. Birds of a Feather sessions can be organized by participants and are designed to let small groups with similar questions/interests get together and discuss. By allowing a variety of discussion/brainstorming topics to occur informally, CESA organizers hope that conference attendees will be able to further customize and thereby maximize their experience. Is there a topic you’re just itching to mull over informally with colleagues? Propose a Birds of a Feather session by notifying the CESA Registration desk at the conference.

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September 4th, 2010 | Tags: Birds of a Feather, Brainstorming, CESA2010 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Why should you attend CESA2010? For starters, to learn about the state-of-the-art programs and technologies shaping emergency management today and in years to come. But, if you’re on the fence about attending, the deal cincher might be this: the home for CESA2010 is the Portola Hotel and Spa at Monterey Bay—a world class facility designed to bring people together, and spur creative thinking and problem solving.  While you’re here, the CESA2010 Cyber-Cafe and Portola’s wi-fi means staying connected throughout the conference.  Plus, you can always come early to the conference or stay the weekend, giving you time to check out all that Monterey has to offer.

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September 4th, 2010 | Tags: CESA2010, Cyber-Cafe, Monterey, Portola Hotel and Spa | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

CESA2010 is thrilled to welcome Amanda Ripley to the conference! An author and former senior writer for Time magazine, she believes that “the best way to get the brain to perform under extreme stress is to repeatedly run it through rehearsals beforehand.” In her book, “The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disasters Strikes—And Why,” Ripley takes readers (quite literally with cutting edge MRI scans) into the brains of professionals in high stress fields and trauma survivors to understand why some thrive under duress—and others struggle with fear.

As the Keynote Speaker at CESA2010, Ms. Ripley will delve not just into brain science, but also evolutionary psychology and the role it’s played in shaping the way both individuals and groups respond to threats and disaster. Fortunately, there’s good news to report! “We have the ability to do better, and in some places, we clearly have,” she writes in “The Unthinkable.” Ripley will tell CESA2010 why she believes that equipped with the right training and information, many in the public can weather disaster to the point of not just surviving, but even thriving.

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September 4th, 2010 | Tags: Amanda Ripley, Brain, CESA2010, The Unthinkable | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment