The Continuity Gap
Vincent B. Davis
February 24, 2016
Corporate confusion could spell a disastrous response in a crisis. To dispel such confusion, companies should have an emergency manager on staff, ensure that employees are well prepared, and recognize
Railroad Ties Communities Together
James Metzger
February 24, 2016
With Amtrak’s rail lines spanning communities across the United States (and parts of Canada), it is in a prime position to engage the whole community and to build national
Planning & Operations: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Sharon Russell
February 17, 2016
For an emergency, planning personnel provide direction and operations personnel provide action. At first glance, their roles may seem very different but, in reality, they are dependent on one another
Public Health Preparedness Realities
Raphael M. Barishansky and Seth Komansky
February 17, 2016
The term “situational awareness” typically conjures images of emergency responders on the scene of a complex incident with many emergency vehicles and various levels of activity, both command and operationally oriented. Public health normally does not enter into the equation, but perhaps it is time to change that thinking.
State of Preparedness 2016: Children & Child Care
Andrew R. Roszak
February 10, 2016
By 30 September 2016, all states will be required to create child care disaster plans under the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, which include procedures for facilities to: evacuate; relocate; shelter-in-place; lock-down; communicate; reunify families; continue operations; and accommodate infants, toddlers, and children with additional physical, mental, or medical needs.
Status of Preparedness: Emergency Medical Services
Seth Komansky
February 10, 2016
Responders in the pre-hospital emergency medical field must be in a state of readiness at all times. Working on the front lines of an emergency incident requires the ability to leverage external resources, the determination to harden operations, and the skillfulness to manage patient surge.
Fire Department Preparedness Made Simple
Michael E. Cox Jr.
February 9, 2016
In the fire service, it is time for leaders to think strategically, challenge long-held assumptions, and move beyond the “norm,” to ensure that their communities are fully prepared for any emergency or incident they may encounter. This can be achieved through careful planning, effective communication, and extensive training.
Emergency Management: The State of Preparedness
Kay C. Goss
February 3, 2016
The United States has built a solid foundation for emergency preparedness, which is based on the whole community concept of bringing together all levels of government, the private and nonprofit sectors, and the public. By working together and building strong leaders, the nation can withstand the many natural and human-caused incidents that may occur.