Exercise Because of Want, Not Because of Need
Nitin Natarajan
September 27, 2017
For decades, governments have conducted emergency preparedness exercises as a method to evaluate
the ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and manmade disasters. There is no
doubt the tens of thousands of exercises conducted across the nation have improved the nation’s
preparedness but, in order to tackle new and emerging threats, more must be done.
National Preparedness Month: A Year-Round Endeavor
Catherine L. Feinman
September 27, 2017
Throughout National Preparedness Month many communities’ preparedness plans have been tested.
Hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and drought are just some of the threats faced this month.
Although preparedness is highlighted during the month of September, recent events reinforce the need for
preparedness to be a year-round effort – especially during months when daily operations are not being
overshadowed by catastrophe, and agencies and organizations are not being tested in full public view.
Active Shooter Incidents: The Rescue Task Force Concept
Robert Mueck
September 20, 2017
The concept of the Rescue Task Force (RTF) came from the Arlington County (Virginia) Fire
Department. Looking at active shooter events around the country, these fire department leaders created a
model that enables emergency medical services (EMS) to provide emergency medical intervention faster and
within the Incident Command System (ICS) construct.
Enhancing Infrastructure Protection Through Special Events
Erin Mohres
September 20, 2017
In an atmosphere of limited resources, critical infrastructure (CI) protection can be difficult to prioritize with crime-fighting and disaster response. Understanding real-world lessons learned from local agencies is one way to make progress. Leveraging the urgency demanded by special events can be a particularly productive path forward. This article offers suggestions from practitioners to develop CI protection programs through special events management, at varying levels of capability and scale.
Helping School Districts Move Forward After Tragedy
Guy Grace
September 13, 2017
In fall 2013, the Littleton Public Schools District (Colorado), with great support from the
community, passed an $80 million bond election for capital improvements within the school district.
Immediately following the bond election, the Littleton Public Schools Security Department personnel
began planning to implement their portion of the bond funds, which was about $7.5 million. Its security
team’s journey toward security technology and infrastructure is a good example for other school systems
Rethinking Disaster Evacuation
Daniel M. Gerstein and Andrew Lauland
September 11, 2017
No two disasters are the same. Yet it is not unusual for officials to be confronted with a common
critical public safety decision: whether to evacuate the public or advise them to shelter in place. This
crucial decision, which is normally time sensitive, can set the tone for the remainder of the response
and recovery phases.
Animals in Distress: A Community Preparedness Checklist
Richard Green and Lacie Davis
September 6, 2017
Recent studies have shown that pets have the ability to relieve stress, provide purpose, and give unconditional love and support to those who need them. This profound connection is referred to as the “human-animal bond.” During an emergency or disaster, this bond is exhibited with the great lengths people go to both remain with and save their pets, including putting themselves and others at risk. A new tool addresses this gap.
