EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARCHIVES
Helping First Responders & the Public Bring Home Missing Kids
Michael Breslin and Trish McCall
May 25, 2023
Over the years, society has faced increasing threats that have become more diverse and severe, making them more easily accessible to those with malicious intent. From insider threats to transnational cyber criminals and nation-states, these dangers pose a significant risk to critical infrastructure and public safety, creating a charged
Covenant School – Reviewing Another Tragic Shooting
Tanya M. Scherr and Daniel Scherr
April 19, 2023
March 2023 saw four school shootings, with the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, serving as the deadliest and garnering the most media attention. With so much coverage, focus, and effort to counter school shootings since Columbine, it raises the question of why the United States still has so many
The DoD Defense Coordinating Element and How It Is Certified
Patrick McNiece
April 17, 2023
While the main mission of the defense coordinating element (DCE) is defending the homeland, Department of Defense (DoD) capabilities can be important in supporting citizens in case of major disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and the like. This article describes the mission and composition of the DCE and how Army
Biosafety Laboratory Issues and Failures
Robert C. Hutchinson
April 12, 2023
Concerns regarding unexpected biological incidents and their public health implications were discussed in a 2014 Domestic Preparedness biosecurity and bioterrorism article. From the improper possession and storage of decades-old live smallpox virus in a former Food and Drug Administration laboratory (lab) on the National Institute of Health (NIH) campus to
Preparing the Next Generation for Increasing Disasters
Kay C. Goss
April 5, 2023
When examining the national, state, tribal, and local efforts to prepare children for disasters and to educate them on emergency management as a profession, emergency planners often look to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), other federal agencies, states, tribes, and local governments. However, many businesses, nonprofits, and other entities
Guidance for Preparing Professionals Mentally for the Worst
James Greenstone and Weldon Walles
March 22, 2023
Professional groups have debated and researched the best practices relating to the standards and quality of care sufficient to maintain minimum standards during a disaster. Due to the fluid nature of a disaster, it is difficult to abide by a standard that will fit every situation. For example, the onset
A National Plan to Link Response and Recovery
Robert J. (Bob) Roller
March 15, 2023
Federal government-wide disaster planning dates to the Cold War-era Federal Response Plan (FRP) and similar documents that described how the United States would respond to nuclear war and severe disasters. This singular plan was maintained and updated after the Cold War ended. However, following the attacks of September 11, 2001,
An Integrated Public Safety Approach for Evolving Threats
Eva Jernegan
March 1, 2023
Violence prevention, hardening potential targets, eliminating threats, and reducing victim count are shared goals among all public safety stakeholders during mass casualty and other high-threat incidents. However, priorities and strategies among first responders and regional policymakers vary, and bad actors are often a step ahead of those committed to saving
Linking Resilience and Innovation for Emergency Preparedness
Nia D'Emilio and Christopher Tarantino
February 15, 2023
Most industries suggest a certain level of resilience and innovation. It is important to get through challenging times to keep a company going, and “innovate or die” has long been a mantra of the business world. While these concepts – or in some cases, buzzwords – come up in various lines of
Building Business Post-Disaster – A Florida Case Study
Mark McQueen
February 8, 2023
There is a familiar saying among emergency planners: “Never let a crisis go to waste.” Though it seems counterintuitive to those outside the industry, planners and decision-makers understand opportunities can be found in the wake of great devastation. Even as they recognize this potential, it can be challenging to know
Winter Storm – Reimagining Recovery Using Support Functions
Jamie Hannon and Stephanie Wright
February 1, 2023
In early February 2021, Harris County, Texas, and many other jurisdictions began monitoring a Siberian Air Mass that threatened nearly all of North America. This was the genesis of Winter Storm Uri. In the week preceding the storm’s arrival, the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM)
Applications for a Newly Developed Risk and Resilience Tool
Kyle Pfeiffer, Rao Kotamarthi and Christina Nuñez
January 25, 2023
By the mid-century, many parts of the United States will experience longer summers with more extreme heat events. While swelteringly hot days are uncomfortable, they can become dangerous for some households, particularly those without air conditioning. Intense heat, stronger storms, extended droughts – climate change poses a formidable list of hazards for
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.
