FMChip on mobile phones can be used for PSA's and phone carriers won't activate it.

So I was doing some work with the radio with 94.7 Fresh on and was intrigued when I heard an announcement about a Campaign #FreeRadioOnMyPhone to get the word out that  Radio Broadcasters can use the chip in Mobile phone even if the network is down to allow Radio communications to be send out  and the our US based carriers haven't' simply activated this capability. 

Evidently: 

Every smart phone manufactured today contains an FM chip, but unlike in Europe, most in the U.S. are not activated. Increasingly, the device that people use for connecting to the world is their smart phone. For that reason, NPR and APM are working with our friends in commercial radio and religious broadcasting to urge the major cell phone service providers to activate the FM chip that is already in all the mobile phones they sell

http://digital.vpr.net/post/unlock-fm-radio-hiding-your-smart-phone

Yes there are broader implication to this about general broadcasting of FM on our mobiles if we choose; However there should be no barriers to Emergency Personal getting messages out to the public.  And for that alone Emergency Responder's should help get the word out about this missing tool in their PIO's and overall responsibilities to the public.



#FMCHIP4PSAs

Calling All to --Disaster App Challenge, atten APP development teams, help earth win cash.

The National Defense University’s Center for Technology and National Security Policy (CTNSP) will be launching a Disaster Apps Challenge. 

The CTNSP Disaster Apps Challenge encourages developers to build upon an open source disaster relief application that is already being used in the field. The challenge is looking for disaster aps that are well built and useful to a broad range of users. The challenge offers developers the opportunity to demonstrate their application’s value to citizens and first responders.

A $3,000 cash award will be given to the winner. Second place will receive $1,500 and third place will receive $500. Winners will receive mentoring and feedback on further development of their applications, along with exposure to experts and organizations across the disaster response field.

The competition kicks off at 12:00 p.m. EST and submissions will be accepted between March 19, 2014 to June 20, 2014. 

To learn more visit disasterapps.challengepost.com

National Defense University is the Nation’s premier national security institution focused on advanced joint education, leader development, and scholarship. The University is an accredited graduate-level institution that provides an educational and research environment to prepare future leaders of the Armed Forces and civilian agencies for high-level policy, command, and staff responsibilities. http://www.ndu.edu/

2014 Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience Submissions.

The application period for the 2014 Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience is open! The Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience is the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) first national resilience award for superior leadership and innovation by an organization who exemplifies the qualities and achievements of Rick Rescorla, emphasizing leadership in effective preparation, response, and recovery in the face of disasters. DHS will present the 2014 Rescorla Award to honorees in three categories:

• Individuals;
• Not-for-profit organizations; and
• For-profit organizations.

Eligible candidates may be nominated for the award during the nomination period which closes on July 17, 2014 at 11:59 p.m (EDT). All nominations must be submitted by email to the following DHS email address:rescorlaaward@hq.dhs.gov.  The nomination form can be found athttp://www.dhs.gov/publication/rescorla-award-nomination-form. 

For criteria, eligibility and additional information check outhttp://www.dhs.gov/rick-rescorla-national-award-resilience.

What does it mean years later to be a crisis responder

From CrowdMapping in Hurricane Sandy to by a few skilled CrisisMappers, to wide scale crowdsourcing of it during Super Typhoon Haiyan that hit the Philippians.

In only a few short years we come a very long way; And, from a group floor seat I'm impressed and resilient knowing it gets better.  And! indeed better is coming. So please make sure you subscribe to this blog and be in on the announcement. 

FYI the Egpytian revolution was all free agents

If you have heard of the term then thinking about the dynamics of what just happened in Egypt show the power of the people and there ain't more of a people then a free agent.  Because not one established pro democracy or revolution group had a hand in this undertaking. .

If was all done by Free Agents.   

Local nonprofits want off charity website - The Boston Globe

Local nonprofits want off charity website - The Boston Globe

This article talks about a service from CherryBlossom.org that finds a non profit and then direct folks to a place that will accept money and direct it to the Charity. While the Nonprofits that were interviewed for the article seemed to object. I wonder if this is not an act of a free agent that is seeking to help many at the objection of the few.

There are a lot of questions to ask for sure however the bigger one is So the question is why wouldn't someone want money donated to them? What does the donor expect? I would think it would be a rather low expectation since they didn't contact the charity. Who knows, what we do know it that this is something new and before we stay stop. We need to ask, review and co-create with them this new experience.

The 1st CFA was probably a Hastati

The notion that someone out side of the community helping out in a disaster is not a new story it's one of the oldest stories. The furthest I can find takes place in the states of Lagash and Umma of Sumer in 2525 B.C



Stele of Vultures was commemorated after a particular battle in which the king Eannatum of Lagash sent a single solider called a Hastati to a neighbor province that he had agreed to a mutual aide pack of forces.

The fears of this neighbor where satisfied when they defeated the invading force and Kind Eannatum erected the Stele IMHO it was a message for future generations accept the aid or be picked apart by the lions and vultures.