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Do You Have Writer’s Block? No Problem

ChatGPT and other tools are coming to your rescue.

I remember the first time I had to write what was called a Disposition Form (DF) in the Army and I had no idea how to do it in the third person, which is how most things are written in the Army. Well, I got the hang of it.

Which brings me to ChatGPT and other new tools out there on the Internet today to help you write.

Glen Woodbury tried it out on me. Here is what he asked it to do: “Summarize Eric Holdeman’s ‘Disaster Zone’ writings in terms of his main areas of interest and perspectives.”

This is what it came up with. I think it is on the mark and a great example of what artificial intelligence (AI) can do for you. If I was grading it, I’d give it an A+!

See for yourself:

"Eric Holdeman is a highly respected and renowned expert in the field of disaster management with a wealth of experience in public safety and emergency management. His writings in the Disaster Zone blog showcase his depth of knowledge and experience in these areas. Here are some key themes and perspectives that emerge from his writings:

1. Emergency Preparedness: Holdeman often emphasizes the importance of preparedness at all levels - individual, community, state, and federal - for all types of disasters. He advocates for robust planning, regular training, and continuous learning from past disasters to improve preparedness.

2. Interagency Cooperation: He often speaks about the importance of coordination and cooperation between different agencies and jurisdictions during disaster response and recovery. He stresses on the need for clear communication and defined roles and responsibilities.

3. Technological Integration: Holdeman has a keen interest in exploring how technology can aid in disaster management. He discusses topics such as the role of social media in disaster communication, use of drones in search and rescue, and importance of cybersecurity in emergency management.

4. Policy and Governance**: Holdeman frequently discusses policy issues related to disaster management. He critiques existing policies and proposes recommendations for policy and legislative changes to improve disaster management.

5. Public-Private Partnerships: He often emphasizes the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors in managing disasters. He believes that businesses can play a crucial role in disaster response and recovery efforts.

6. Climate Change and Disasters: Holdeman shows a clear concern for the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters due to climate change. He discusses the need for integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in disaster management.

7. Community Resilience: Holdeman's writings reflect his belief in the importance of building community resilience. He argues that a resilient community is better equipped to withstand, respond to, and recover from disasters.In terms of his perspective,

Holdeman approaches disaster management from a practical, on-the-ground point of view, informed by his experiences as the Director of the King County Office of Emergency Management in Washington State. He is pragmatic, forward-thinking, and always emphasizes the importance of learning from past experiences to improve future disaster management efforts.”

This excerpt has been lightly edited.

My mother would be proud!
Eric Holdeman is a contributing writer for Emergency Management magazine and is the former director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.