Emergency Management Solutions Newsletter

 

Helping Managers Lead Better in Crisis

August 2012


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In This Issue
Chevron Oil Refinery Fire
Video: Richmond Rage
Professional Development
Life Balance
From the Bookshelf
Speaker's Corner

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Chevron Refinery Fire

A case study in crisis management

 

The recent fire at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond CA offers some interesting lessons in crisis management. The fire has sparked community outrage and raised concern over Chevron's safety practices. Despite a slow start, though, Chevron is clearly taking the incident seriously and is doing quite a lot to diffuse the situation.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE

Richmond Rage


"Chevron Rage" Richmond, CA Community Demands Justice And Nationalization of Energy
This rather-biased collection of interviews is a classic example of the type of public concerns that surface after an event. Issues range from compensation to environmental racism to nationalization of the oil industry. Note that the issues are emotional rather than rational and consider how your organization would respond.

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Greetings!  

Welcome to the August issue of Emergency Management Solutions.

 

This month's article and video both deal with aspects of the recent Chevron oil refinery fire in Richmond CA. While not a disaster, it is an interesting study on how an accident can cause outrage in a community and bring out long-simmering issues.

 

If you are having trouble viewing my featured article, try clicking on the link at the top of the page. Alternatively, you can always find my articles in the white paper section of my blog site,  Canton on Emergency Management. 

 Regards,
 
Lucien Canton
PS: If you're enjoying my newsletter, be sure you also sign up for my blog, Canton on Emergency ManagementClick the link below and sign up today!

 

 

Visit my blog

Professional Development 

 

One of the less well known resources I rely upon quite a bit is the FEMA Higher Education Program website sponsored by the Emergency Management Institute. While the Higher Ed Program is intended to promote college-based emergency management education for future emergency managers, the Program offers a wealth of resources for the practitioner as well.

 

Among the resources you'll find are complete college courses materials and textbooks. There are both academic research papers and short articles submitted by practitioners. There's even a section with historic documents related to the Civil Defense Program that provide context for where we are today.

 

Check it out - it's not just for academics!


Life Balance 

 

"If we're confident and have a support system, we can better weather the hurricanes of life that often threaten to engulf us. We need to lead our own lives, not be caught up in the winds and rains of shouting, fads, pressures, and demands. Those, too, shall pass and we can get on with our lives."
 
These lines from consultant Alan Weiss' recent Monday Morning Memo articulates what I have always felt is one of the primary responsibilities of an emergency manager: to bring balance to our discussions on risk. While we must be advocates for preparedness, we must not be alarmists. It is our job to provide facts and solid recommendations, not the rhetoric and over-reaction that has become commonplace today.
 
But being balanced in our work also means being balanced in our life - something not always easy to achieve. As Alan reminds us, you have to first have confidence in yourself and then the support of others, both professionally and in your private life.
 
From the Bookshelf  

 

One issue that is always sure to spark heated debate is the overwhelming emphasis on terrorism over the past decade. In Top Secret America: The rise of the new American security state Washington Post reporters Dana Priest and William Arkin chart the explosive growth of the intelligence community since 9/11. Priest and Arkin show how the demands of the war on terror in a time of decreased budgets has generated a toxic mix of inter-agency competition, conflicting priorities, and over-reliance on contractors and resulted in a bloated system that is inefficient and self-perpetuating. Despite the provocative title, the book is largely objective and heavily bolstered by facts and provides a context for those of us that deal with Homeland Security issues.

Speaker's Corner 
Speaking Engagements  

 

December 4: Crisis in Leadership or Leadership in Crisis?, Emergency Management Magazine All-Hazards Summit, Miami
 
December 6: Crisis in Leadership or Leadership in Crisis?, Emergency Management Magazine All-Hazards Summit, Houston
  

Looking for a Speaker?

 

Need a speaker for your next conference? I offer keynotes, seminars and workshops. You can find more details on my website or on my SpeakerMix page. 

 

Lucien Canton Seminar Excerpts
Lucien Canton Seminar Excerpts
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...I'd greatly appreciate it if you would take a minute to give me feedback on SpeakerMix. Just go to the site and click on the "Write A Review" button. 

 

Many thanks!

�Lucien G. Canton August 2012