Common sense trumps 'expertise',

especially self-annointed experts. Like 911 operators and dispatchers who are miles from the scene.
Money quote (yes, the emphasis is added):
"We know that US borders are porous, that major targets are largely undefended, and that the multicolor threat alert scheme known affectionately as "the rainbow of doom" is a national joke. Anybody who has been paying attention probably suspects that if we rely on orders from above to protect us, we'll be in terrible shape. But in a networked era, we have increasing opportunities to help ourselves. This is the real source of homeland security: not authoritarian schemes of surveillance and punishment, but multichannel networks of advice, information, and mutual aid."
Wired 13.06: START