HHS Should Address Deficiencies Highlighted by Recent Hurricanes in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Domestic Preparedness
September 30, 2019
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review the federal public health and medical services response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto
Trauma-Informed Crisis Management
Michael Ross
September 25, 2019
There is a growing industry of “realistic active shooter” drills. Many are focused on teaching participants how to “survive” an event. These drills involve imitation attacks, physical confrontations, fake weapons, and simulated deaths. Some of these drills have led to actual shootings, people being locked in closets or storage rooms, and deployment of tactical squads who were not pre-briefed or included on the drill. These drills do not promote resilience.
Preparing a Nation for Disaster – One Community at a Time
Catherine L. Feinman
September 25, 2019
Each year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Ready campaign recognizes September as National Preparedness Month. Agencies and organizations across the United States participate in this national preparedness effort by
Integrating Jurisdiction Plans
Allen B. King III
September 18, 2019
Guidance for developing an integrated, coordinated, and synchronized emergency operations plan (EOP) is provided in Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 (CPG 101). Although many emergency managers consider the EOP the foundation of emergency and disaster plans, CPG 101 acknowledges that it is not the only plan that supports emergency management within a jurisdiction.
WMD Capabilities Enabled by Additive Manufacturing
Domestic Preparedness
September 17, 2019
This report highlights recent developments in Additive Manufacturing (AM) relevant to nuclear proliferation and adds analyses of the impact of AM on delivery systems as well as chemical and biological
Life Support – Ensuring Proper Regulation of the Electric Grid
Michael Mabee
September 11, 2019
With few exceptions, human beings in the United States are literally on life support – plugged in to the electric grid. If that connection is unplugged, everything necessary to sustain the human population stops, including: food, water, fuel, transportation, medical resources, communications, and financial resources. According to a 28 March 2017 Senate report, in a long-term national-scale blackout, millions of U.S. citizens could die. After only a few weeks, deaths would escalate from waterborne diseases, starvation, and societal collapse. Immediate action could reduce these threats.
Disasters and People With Serious Mental Illness
Domestic Preparedness
September 9, 2019
This bulletin focuses on the experiences of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) before, during, and after disasters. Research focused on individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and post-traumatic
Government Shutdowns: Emergencies, Disasters, or Expected Events
Kay C. Goss
September 4, 2019
The 35-day government shutdown of 2018-2019 became the longest in U.S. government history. Food banks, firefighters, and community services agencies ramped up their food and other care services. Much like during natural disasters, a significant number of federal workers and contractors did not have sufficient savings to cover expenses during this hiatus in pay and experienced uncertainty in insurance and other financial considerations during such a lengthy and uncertain time, occurring during the Christmas holidays.
