Most recently published
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ā On the Way to the Jetsonsā Era
Charles J. Guddemi
November 8, 2017
Debuting in 1962, āThe Jetsonsā depicted the family of the future, with people movers, tube travel, vehicles that folded up into brief cases for parking purposes, home computers, internet, microwave ovens, CT x-ray for medical purposes, cellphones, and speed limits of up to 2,500 miles per hour. Fast-forward to today,
Drones ā Both a Force Multiplier & Headache
Catherine L. Feinman
November 1, 2017
Until the federal government decides how to best secure the skies from unmanned aerial systems (UAS), first responders, emergency managers, and public safety professionals will have a big problem to deal with. However, in light of the recent hurricanes and wildfires, this technology is also a real game changer for
Prioritizing Life Safety While Addressing Classroom Security
Lori Greene
October 25, 2017
As school districts across the country provide an effective level of security within budgetary constraints, dozens of new retrofit security devices are being marketed to enhance the safety and security of students and teachers. Although the price tag for some of these security methods may be attractive, there are also
Implications of the Opioid Crisis During Disaster Response
Dawn Thomas
October 24, 2017
During disaster response, individuals suffering from opioid addiction have both similar and unique needs as compared to those suffering from other types of illness. Emergency responders need the resources to manage opioid-addicted victims of a disaster, and response teams must be appropriately staffed to meet the physical and behavioral health
Surviving the First Disaster Deployment
Arthur (Art) Samaras
October 23, 2017
When runners compete in their first marathon or triathlon, they often set goals such as, āI hope to break four hours,ā or āI want to beat my brotherās time.ā However, a different mindset should be taken for a first attempt at an endurance event. Rather than placing benchmarks or targets,
Lone Wolves ā Finding the Red Flags
Richard Schoeberl and Dan Scherr
October 18, 2017
The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged that the threat of ālone wolfā attacks continues to represent the greatest threat to national security. This acknowledgment is supported by the fact that the United States is experiencing an unprecedented number of active shooter events ā whether ideologically or non-ideologically inspired. Two
Hurricane Harvey & What It Means for Future Disasters
Dawn Thomas
October 18, 2017
As initial search and rescue operations in Houston, Texas, following Hurricane Harvey shifted to recovery efforts, three CNA experts discussed the various challenges metropolitan areas face during, immediately after, and throughout the long-term recovery from a large-scale disaster. Drawing on their 40 years of collective experience, panel moderator Monica Giovachino,
Three Storms Demonstrate Five Forms of Flooding
John Englander
October 11, 2017
Flooding results from three primary forces: rainfall, coastal storm surge, and rising sea level, made even worse with by runoff and extreme tides. Recently, hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria showcased the new environmental conditions the world faces as well as the devastating damage that can occur when any combination of
Unmanned Aerial Systems & Emergency Management
Kay C. Goss
October 11, 2017
Long before the invention of drones, emergency managers determined the overall scope of a crisis using information from emergency personnel on the ground, and from the chain of command created through the Incident Command System. Today, drones have many capabilities that could enhance response activities and change the way disasters
National Safe Schools Week: Securing Learning Environments
Mark Williams
October 4, 2017
Studies show that childrenās learning improves when they feel both physically and emotionally safe. As āNational Safe Schools Weekā (16-20 October 2017) approaches, it is an appropriate time to discuss how to create these environments through safe schools programs in local communities across the United States.
National Preparedness Month: A Year-Round Endeavor
Catherine L. Feinman
September 27, 2017
Throughout National Preparedness Month many communitiesā 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 ā especially during
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 nationās preparedness but, in order to
Staying āPRIMEDā for a Radiation Event
Grant Coffey
November 13, 2017
Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) events are low in frequency, but high in consequence, requiring a frequent and more targeted emphasis on the way that responders train and learn. Radiation is often not well understood. It can be intimidating for both the public and for first responders. Radiation
Unmanned Aircraft Systems ā On the Way to the Jetsonsā Era
Charles J. Guddemi
November 8, 2017
Debuting in 1962, āThe Jetsonsā depicted the family of the future, with people movers, tube travel, vehicles that folded up into brief cases for parking purposes, home computers, internet, microwave ovens, CT x-ray for medical purposes, cellphones, and speed limits of up to 2,500 miles per hour. Fast-forward to today,
Drones ā Both a Force Multiplier & Headache
Catherine L. Feinman
November 1, 2017
Until the federal government decides how to best secure the skies from unmanned aerial systems (UAS), first responders, emergency managers, and public safety professionals will have a big problem to deal with. However, in light of the recent hurricanes and wildfires, this technology is also a real game changer for
Prioritizing Life Safety While Addressing Classroom Security
Lori Greene
October 25, 2017
As school districts across the country provide an effective level of security within budgetary constraints, dozens of new retrofit security devices are being marketed to enhance the safety and security of students and teachers. Although the price tag for some of these security methods may be attractive, there are also
Implications of the Opioid Crisis During Disaster Response
Dawn Thomas
October 24, 2017
During disaster response, individuals suffering from opioid addiction have both similar and unique needs as compared to those suffering from other types of illness. Emergency responders need the resources to manage opioid-addicted victims of a disaster, and response teams must be appropriately staffed to meet the physical and behavioral health
Surviving the First Disaster Deployment
Arthur (Art) Samaras
October 23, 2017
When runners compete in their first marathon or triathlon, they often set goals such as, āI hope to break four hours,ā or āI want to beat my brotherās time.ā However, a different mindset should be taken for a first attempt at an endurance event. Rather than placing benchmarks or targets,
Lone Wolves ā Finding the Red Flags
Richard Schoeberl and Dan Scherr
October 18, 2017
The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged that the threat of ālone wolfā attacks continues to represent the greatest threat to national security. This acknowledgment is supported by the fact that the United States is experiencing an unprecedented number of active shooter events ā whether ideologically or non-ideologically inspired. Two
Hurricane Harvey & What It Means for Future Disasters
Dawn Thomas
October 18, 2017
As initial search and rescue operations in Houston, Texas, following Hurricane Harvey shifted to recovery efforts, three CNA experts discussed the various challenges metropolitan areas face during, immediately after, and throughout the long-term recovery from a large-scale disaster. Drawing on their 40 years of collective experience, panel moderator Monica Giovachino,
Three Storms Demonstrate Five Forms of Flooding
John Englander
October 11, 2017
Flooding results from three primary forces: rainfall, coastal storm surge, and rising sea level, made even worse with by runoff and extreme tides. Recently, hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria showcased the new environmental conditions the world faces as well as the devastating damage that can occur when any combination of
Unmanned Aerial Systems & Emergency Management
Kay C. Goss
October 11, 2017
Long before the invention of drones, emergency managers determined the overall scope of a crisis using information from emergency personnel on the ground, and from the chain of command created through the Incident Command System. Today, drones have many capabilities that could enhance response activities and change the way disasters
National Safe Schools Week: Securing Learning Environments
Mark Williams
October 4, 2017
Studies show that childrenās learning improves when they feel both physically and emotionally safe. As āNational Safe Schools Weekā (16-20 October 2017) approaches, it is an appropriate time to discuss how to create these environments through safe schools programs in local communities across the United States.
National Preparedness Month: A Year-Round Endeavor
Catherine L. Feinman
September 27, 2017
Throughout National Preparedness Month many communitiesā 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 ā especially during
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
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,
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
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 āhuman-animal bond.ā During an emergency or disaster, this bond is exhibited with the great lengths people go
In Memoriam MG Timothy J Lowenberg (Ret.)
Martin D. Masiuk
August 30, 2017
On 27 August 2017, DomPrep and the Preparedness Leadership Council lost a long-time friend and the nation lost a highly revered icon of domestic preparedness and homeland security. Major General (Ret.) Timothy J. Lowenberg (Washington National Guard) was above all a public servant who sought to protect the lives and
Disasters Are About the People
Catherine L. Feinman
August 30, 2017
Hurricane Harvey has caused widespread destruction, and its aftermath continues to pose a significant threat to life and safety. In this and other large-scale incidents, the exact number of people affected is hard to determine because of the complex physical and social networks that exist within and between jurisdictional boundaries.
When Pandemic Management Meets Cybersecurity
Nitin Natarajan
August 28, 2017
When faced with a health crisis such as a pandemic, the primary objective is ensuring the health and well being of the public and finding the fastest and easiest method to limit the spread of disease and take care of those who are sick. Cyberthreats can hinder public health efforts
Mortuary Logistic Challenges of Mass Fatality Incidents
O. Shawn Cupp
August 25, 2017
Today in the United States, some in society are hesitant to acknowledge or plan for āfailure optionsā ā in other words, admit that the worst of the worst can happen. The military requires planning for just about every situation including when operations do not go as planned. However, those in
Plugging the Experience Drain in Hazmat Response
Christopher Wrenn
August 24, 2017
As a metaphor for picturing the maintenance of preparedness, imagine a number of 5-gallon buckets, where each one represents some aspect of readiness ā detection, personal protective equipment (PPE), communications, training, etc. Each bucket is filled with water andeally each would stay filled representing a steady state of preparedness.
Responding to Unique Operating Environments
Seth Komansky
August 23, 2017
Effective trainings are ones where the participants remember and later implement what they learned into their daily operations. Not everyone knows how they would respond in a true emergency. However, some trainings provide a more realistic glimpse into disaster scenarios than others. This first-hand account describes what it was like
Mass Fatality Incidents & Challenges for First Responders
Daryl D. Sensenig
August 23, 2017
Mass fatality incidents present many challenges. To effectively plan for such events, certain key factors must be taken into consideration: common causes and challenges, as well as resources available. By communicating with the local medical examiner/coroner, being familiar with mass fatality plans, and learning about any pertinent capabilities and limitations,
Plan Big, Even to Respond Small
Donald (Doc) Lumpkins
August 9, 2017
In emergency planning efforts, there is much debate about whether to plan for the worst and scale down, or plan for current threats and scale up. Of course, in complex systems, small changes in initial conditions can have profound effects. By considering larger, low-frequency events, communities can overcome this challenge
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