Most recently published
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
Wearable Sensors for Chemical & Biological Detection
Richard Ozanich
August 9, 2017
One of the strengths of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is the ability to conduct comprehensive technology foraging and objective assessments of various technology areas. This article highlights leading research by others in the area of chemical and biological (chem/bio) detection that could be further developed into robust, highly
Preparing for High-Impact, Low-Probability (HILP) Events
Jerome H. Kahan
August 2, 2017
The interconnected global environment can increase the number of vulnerabilities as well as the destabilizing effects of both natural and human-caused disasters. As such, when a high-impact, low-probability event occurs, the consequences can be devastating. To prepare for such events, planners must observe trends, predict futures, and create scenarios for
FEMA Corps: Bringing in the Next Generation
Richard Serino and Jennifer Grimes
July 26, 2017
When Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast in 2012, its effects were devastating. The storm left a trail of destruction that affected 24 states, killing 159 people, costing $70.2 billion in damage, and leaving millions without power. Yet, in the wake of this terrible disaster, there was a new source
Help Wanted: Next Generation of Emergency Managers
Catherine L. Feinman
July 26, 2017
Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials compose the majority of the modern workforce, but the next generation (Generation Z) is now beginning to emerge from schools and colleges. Before this new generation transforms into a significant portion of the workforce, it is important to determine what makes these young
Next Responder of the Future
Catherine L. Feinman and Kay C. Goss
July 26, 2017
Each year, experienced emergency management and first responder personnel are retiring from their careers, and retiring the vital skills that they spent their lifetimes learning. As the next generation of young adults moves into these fields, it is critical for the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the previous generations to
Todayās Emergency Manager: Versatile Enough for Any Industry
Keith Grossman
July 19, 2017
“If someone were to walk into a high school classroom today and ask the students about their future professions, there may be one or possibly two students who wish to pursue emergency management. However, as much as the field has grown since 2001, emergency management is still not the dream
Mentorship ā A Four-Step Example
Sarah Geydarov
July 12, 2017
They meet in the local diner across the street, in a small coffee shop meters away from headquarters, or in the office behind closed doors. But, these get-togethers between emergency management colleagues are not to discuss upgrades to the latest heat emergency plan, or to flesh out details for an
Next Generation Emergency Management
Terry Hastings
July 11, 2017
The discipline of emergency management is poised to benefit from three converging factors: an increasing number of millennials joining the workforce; the proliferation of emergency management related degree programs; and greater visibility and relevance of the discipline itself due to the increasing frequency, scope, and magnitude of disasters and evolving
FEMA Corps: Youth Engagement in Emergency Management
Sierra Griffieth
July 1, 2017
The FEMA Corps Program is the result of a revolutionized partnership between the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Established in 2012, FEMA Corps falls under the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps umbrella. Its members travel across the country assisting FEMA and its
Fit for Duty: The Resilient Responder
Anthony S. Mangeri
June 28, 2017
The term āfit for dutyā in modern firefighting goes beyond being physically fit to include being resilient to the stress and emotional effects of the job. For individual resilience, this means having the ability to prepare for and recover from stressful events so the responder can return to duty with
Success or Failure of a Response: There Are Options
Catherine L. Feinman
June 28, 2017
The success or failure of an emergency response depends on many factors: planning, capabilities, training, tools, funding, public trust, and the list goes on. This edition of the DomPrep Journal examines potential points of failure as well as formulas for success when responding to a crisis.
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
Wearable Sensors for Chemical & Biological Detection
Richard Ozanich
August 9, 2017
One of the strengths of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is the ability to conduct comprehensive technology foraging and objective assessments of various technology areas. This article highlights leading research by others in the area of chemical and biological (chem/bio) detection that could be further developed into robust, highly
Preparing for High-Impact, Low-Probability (HILP) Events
Jerome H. Kahan
August 2, 2017
The interconnected global environment can increase the number of vulnerabilities as well as the destabilizing effects of both natural and human-caused disasters. As such, when a high-impact, low-probability event occurs, the consequences can be devastating. To prepare for such events, planners must observe trends, predict futures, and create scenarios for
FEMA Corps: Bringing in the Next Generation
Richard Serino and Jennifer Grimes
July 26, 2017
When Hurricane Sandy struck the east coast in 2012, its effects were devastating. The storm left a trail of destruction that affected 24 states, killing 159 people, costing $70.2 billion in damage, and leaving millions without power. Yet, in the wake of this terrible disaster, there was a new source
Help Wanted: Next Generation of Emergency Managers
Catherine L. Feinman
July 26, 2017
Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials compose the majority of the modern workforce, but the next generation (Generation Z) is now beginning to emerge from schools and colleges. Before this new generation transforms into a significant portion of the workforce, it is important to determine what makes these young
Next Responder of the Future
Catherine L. Feinman and Kay C. Goss
July 26, 2017
Each year, experienced emergency management and first responder personnel are retiring from their careers, and retiring the vital skills that they spent their lifetimes learning. As the next generation of young adults moves into these fields, it is critical for the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the previous generations to
Todayās Emergency Manager: Versatile Enough for Any Industry
Keith Grossman
July 19, 2017
“If someone were to walk into a high school classroom today and ask the students about their future professions, there may be one or possibly two students who wish to pursue emergency management. However, as much as the field has grown since 2001, emergency management is still not the dream
Mentorship ā A Four-Step Example
Sarah Geydarov
July 12, 2017
They meet in the local diner across the street, in a small coffee shop meters away from headquarters, or in the office behind closed doors. But, these get-togethers between emergency management colleagues are not to discuss upgrades to the latest heat emergency plan, or to flesh out details for an
Next Generation Emergency Management
Terry Hastings
July 11, 2017
The discipline of emergency management is poised to benefit from three converging factors: an increasing number of millennials joining the workforce; the proliferation of emergency management related degree programs; and greater visibility and relevance of the discipline itself due to the increasing frequency, scope, and magnitude of disasters and evolving
FEMA Corps: Youth Engagement in Emergency Management
Sierra Griffieth
July 1, 2017
The FEMA Corps Program is the result of a revolutionized partnership between the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Established in 2012, FEMA Corps falls under the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps umbrella. Its members travel across the country assisting FEMA and its
Fit for Duty: The Resilient Responder
Anthony S. Mangeri
June 28, 2017
The term āfit for dutyā in modern firefighting goes beyond being physically fit to include being resilient to the stress and emotional effects of the job. For individual resilience, this means having the ability to prepare for and recover from stressful events so the responder can return to duty with
The True Test of a Successful Crisis Response: Public Trust
Craig Fugate
June 27, 2017
No organization, or government, can solve every problem. There will always be a crisis that will require an emergency response. And fundamental to the success of that response will be the publicās reaction. Emergency managers can react and can mobilize, but they will not be successful unless they do so
Ham Radio in Emergency Operations
Steve Aberle
June 21, 2017
Many people grew up hearing about disasters in far-off lands and how amateur (ham) radio operators were initially the only means of contact with the outside world. Disasters, both near and far, still occur today, and ham radio operators continue to volunteer their skills and personal radio equipment to serve
Cuts to U.S. Bioterror Funds Risk Peril in Event of Attack
Daniel M. Gerstein
June 21, 2017
President Donald Trumpās proposed fiscal year 2018 budget would eliminate a Department of Homeland Security laboratory dedicated to countering bioterrorism and providing the science behind response and recovery efforts should an attack occur. The proposal to eliminate this lab without creating replacement capabilities elsewhere could place the U.S. at risk
Using Core Capabilities to Build County Resilience
Allen B. King III
June 14, 2017
The lack of core capability guidance diminishes countiesā levels of preparedness and resilience and is a barrier to increasing these efforts for the nation as a whole. By using community associations as force multipliers, counties can leverage this valuable resource to increase resilience-building efforts beginning at the local level. This
Why NIMS Continuing Education Is Needed
Randall W. Hanifen
June 14, 2017
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Framework are very important and overall well-constructed documents despite some past failures related to their implementation. However, one common denominator in disaster failures or successes is the people involved and the education and training of those personnel. Although federal mandates
Anatomy of a National Special Security Event
Christopher T. Geldart
June 7, 2017
There have been 56 National Special Security Events (NSSEs) since Presidential Directive 62 designated the category in 1998, 32 of which have been hosted in Washington, D.C. The most recent NSSEs have been the 2017 Inauguration, the 2017 Presidentās Address to the Joint Session of Congress, and the 2015 World
More Threats, More Interdependence, More Collaboration
Catherine L. Feinman
June 2, 2017
All disasters may begin locally, but their effects and resource needs can span jurisdictions and can even have national implications. This edition of the DomPrep Journal examines ways to protect critical infrastructure and communities from widespread catastrophe.
Ham Radio Support for Tribal Emergency Preparedness
Steve Aberle
May 31, 2017
In collaboration with many local, state, and federal partners, the Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council hosted the 14th Annual Regional Joint Tribal Emergency Preparedness Conference on 1-3 May 2017, at the Suquamish Indian Tribeās center overlooking dxŹ·sÉqĢŹ·Éb (āplace of the clear salt waterā in the Southern Lushootseed language) at Agate
Protecting Water as a Lifeline in Disaster
Mary Lasky and William R. Harris
May 17, 2017
Water is vital to life. Water and wastewater are taken for granted, with people believing that the faucet will turn on and the toilet will flush ā that is, until a disaster. To ensure access to critical resources such as water when needed the most requires understanding the scale and
Resilient Communities ā More Than Just āGritā
Nicolette Louissaint
May 16, 2017
The hurricane season and reports of disease outbreaks ā domestically and abroad ā serve as reminders that there are several threats that communities face at the same time. Creating resilient communities requires an understanding that communities contend with competing priorities, and must find ways to harness their existing strengths to
Putting Transportation Under the Resilience Umbrella
Laurel J. Radow
May 10, 2017
As interdependencies between and among critical infrastructure sectors and the potential for cascading effects increase, communities must be able to recover and adapt to new normals. One organization incorporates research to help enhance communication between sectors by identifying and addressing research gaps. As threats evolve, communities with a solid framework
A Failure to Over-Communicate
Terry Hastings
May 10, 2017
Emergency managers (and others) often fail to truly engage and educate their various stakeholders. With numerous competing priorities and a vast array of information outlets to contend with, getting a message to resonate requires more effort than ever before. As such, emergency managers must be willing to over-communicate and explore
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