A Running Reminder
I recently went running with a friend on a section of the Marine Corps Marathon course through Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. As an avid runner and homeland security professional, the tragic events of the Boston Marathon flooded my mind. Currently, state and local governments and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) use the information from the Boston Marathon Bombings to inform marathon participants and other special event organizers about public safety throughout the United States.
Shortly after the Boston Marathon Bombings, the City of Indianapolis’ Department of Public Safety gave updates through their Twitter account to inform participants in a city wide running event about safety tips in case of an emergency.
Follow the public safety teams working together for a safe #MiniMarathon. @Indy_DPS @IndianapolisEMS @IMPD_News @IFD_NEWS @SpeedwayPD
— Indpls Public Safety (@Indy_DPS) May 4, 2013
Fairfax County, Virginia, gave tips to the public after the Boston Marathon Bombings to promote the Department of Homeland Security’s “See Something Say Something” campaign to remind the public to report suspicious activity to the local Fusion Centers along with the following public safety tips; Stay Informed, Be Vigilant, Prepare.
This year, I plan to participate in several races and will follow the local Twitter updates along with FEMA and DHS preparedness tips to stay safe and ready in the event of an incident. I will assist law enforcement by being aware of my surroundings and notifying officials if something needs attention.
During this marathon season, I will choose to make a difference be the difference maker. Unlike marathons that take hours to complete, catastrophes like the Boston Marathon Bombings take seconds to unfold. Despite this, marathon running and emergency preparedness both require years of training to be ready for any challenge.