Phillips’ Post

I took Tuesday morning off to catch a few fresh runs in the mountains, leaving me with no signal. I’m currently listening to “Fire Weather” for the second time, and one of the chapters I was intentionally revisiting was 15. By the time I got back in cell range, my phone had exploded and things haven’t felt right since. If you’re working in wildfire, whether it be in California, Florida, or Peru, this incident has hit hard. Not just because the shock, devastation, potential life and property loss, but because deep down in us there is a sense of “We told you so.” Every day, we post articles and have conversations on here that tell us wildfires are no longer constricted to the WUI and that a fire of this scale could happen; and when something like this happens it can leave us feeling like we’re shouting into the void.  In both the Camp and Zogg Fires, wildfire prevention activities were planned that would have helped mitigate the level of devastation those communities faced, but the fire got there first. Days before the Camp Fire ignited, PG&E conducted its very first PSPS. There is usually a level of irony and/or coincidence associated with disaster, and I believe it is meant to teach us a bigger lesson. One of the most common sayings in wildfire is, “hurry up and wait.” To a firefighter, driven by action, those are the last words you want to hear. However, the additional time allows us the opportunity for exploration and to make sure we are getting the facts right.  Right now, we need to hurry up and wait. We need to realize that this small circle represents the experts in a growing, yet misunderstood field. In the coming days, weeks, months and years, as we’re called on for our expertise we need to make sure that we’ve taken a moment to deal with our own emotions so we can make sure we are showing up to the conversation with objective eyes and a compassionate heart. I know I certainly needed this reminder, but I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I love being behind the scenes of this great project, #GOVChats are webinar series live on #YouTube focused on discussing common technology issues across states. #accesibility #government #communications #latinasintech #technology

Enjoyed the GOVChats: Georgia + Colorado discussion! I want to commend Jasmyne Epps for emphasizing how accessibility isn't just about physical disabilities, but situational as well (sensory, motor, cognitive, environmental, etc.) This perspective of accessibility is often overlooked during the design and development process. How can we do better? By spreading awareness. Share with your designers, developers, and project managers. Let's do our part to make websites and applications more accessible to everyone. To learn more about situational disabilities, check out this article: https://lnkd.in/gZ7ZK_F5.

The Presidential potential is undeniable.

I wrote a blog! It would be great if you could check it out! We had a great interview with Banner Elk Fire Department. You can find the full interview at the end of the blog. https://lnkd.in/e-ZMwtfT

Charleston County, South Carolina

Well Done

In conjunction with the recent formation of #troutmanpepperlocke, our governmental affairs subsidiary is expanding and rebranding to #troutmanstrategies. Effective immediately, Troutman Strategies will grow to over 25 team members and extend its presence to Illinois, Texas, and Massachusetts, in addition to our existing locations in Georgia, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. We look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service in these new regions. #governmentalaffairs Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZVaiMGk

Charleston County, South Carolina

Expect adversity. Expect a greater reward. In this life, we have a way of experiencing adversity. - By our own doing. - By someone else's doing. - Because we live in a fallen world. Sometimes you need to be gritty to get through the adversity. _____ While traveling from Iowa to Louisiana to take part, - in a community event - meet with partners in person - see tremendous progress of our BTR the statement above in the first two lines, is evident. On this development, we have experienced adversity in many ways... - One of rainiest seasons in history. - Extra hurdles to navigate with regulation. - An event for community thwarted by what can't be controlled. Despite this and much more not listed, we have 50 of 90 homes started and 5 ready to come online by the end of December. _____ The race is not given to the swift, but to those who endure. Never give up!