Wanted: Cranks required for live web blog.

[Skillsy]

Hi Cranks and Crankesses,
  We are currently trialling a bit of funky software that allows local residents who are near or might be affected by fires to ask questions and have others respond.

The aim is to trial it for a week or two and see if it is a valuable tool for bigger days in SA.

We are after a couple of cranks to talk it up and let the listeners know what is going on on larger fires. If the bin outside the fish and chip shop starts smouldering, it doesn't get a gig.

Times on-line are up to you - it's whenever you can.

A few rules only...

• No internal CFS or government docs or text to be used. EG non-public info in CRIIMSON cannot be given out.
• Support the vols and staff on the ground.
• Limited bagging of all things Victorian is expected.

Interested? Enter your details into the Google Form and we will get you online for a few days...
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dE5saThPUTlUVDEybDN1aTRYUEdLS1E6MA

Skillsy

Incident Alert

[Alex]

Wow... on face value this seems fraught with danger.

[Skillsy]

Hi Alex,
   Would you be so kind to explain what sort of dangers you perceive?

    This process was developed as a response to the federal governments emergency 2.0 EM2AU project which is looking at Community to Community (C2C) and Community to Agency (C2A) interaction via the web and mobiles.

  Whilst this type of C2C/C2A worked well in Haiti recently and has been identified as a valuable tool in floods and cyclones for Australia, the jury is out for bushfires in the response phase. Recovery phase is another story.

   As stated it is a test. We take our results, refine them and then see if this is a tool that can be used in the future.

Hope this helps

Skillsy

[Alex]

Sorry mate, just going by the first post it seems to me like a web blog setup for scanner jockeys to listen in on jobs, guess at what is happening then pass it on, down an unofficial means to the public.

Hence why i said it seems dangerous.

Surely the best way of disseminating information to the public [although in some cases it has seemed lacking] is via the appropriate agencies media releases, bushfire information and warning messages and the official web sites of the CFS/MFS?

Can you provide further information on where the site is 'coming from'? ie; government approved? agency approved and establsihed? etc... or is it a private company doing its own thing?

Thanks, Alex

[Skillsy]

Sorry mate, just going by the first post it seems to me like a web blog setup for scanner jockeys to listen in on jobs, guess at what is happening then pass it on, down an unofficial means to the public.


Yes you are almost spot on but it's more than that with queries from locals looking for information or passing it on.

We have found a level of hysteria on 98% of call outs that are basic bread and butter jobs where the truck is back in the station within the hour.

An example from Woodend, Victoria
The first callout for one crew at the start of this fire season was for a basic mva, no injuries. This escalated to ABC Radio and then the press the following day just because the brigade siren went off at 7:45 and locals were scared as the fire-season had been called and it was after Black Saturday.

Showing most incidents are mundane and giving a human response may pacify some of the "ill at ease" who bring this up. This allows for more bandwidth when the CFS needs to be heard.


Surely the best way of disseminating information to the public [although in some cases it has seemed lacking] is via the appropriate agencies media releases, bushfire information and warning messages and the official web sites of the CFS/MFS?

Yes,
  And the system does use some of the RSS attributes of the CFS system to show what is new and produced officially. It is another tool you may want to use.

Can you provide further information on where the site is 'coming from'? ie; government approved? agency approved and establsihed? etc... or is it a private company doing its own thing?

   The system is a trial by a private company and has been involved with the Federal government EM2AU project. We are yet to discuss this project with the CFS or SA Government as it is in trial but if we believe we can offer something in 2011, we certainly will and hope to meet with some of them in April if it all goes well.

  Happy to chat to you via PM if required.

Skillsy

[Alex]

No problems mate, that answers pretty much everything i wanted to know.