Most recently published
DomPrep Journal: Preparing Communities
Domestic Preparedness
May 4, 2016
The DomPrep Journal features original content written by practitioners in various emergency preparedness and resilience fields. Addressing the needs of professionals dedicated to preparing and protecting their communities, the first four issues of the 2016 volume have been downloaded a total of more than 200,000 times! To view these or
Bending the Cost Curve Through Better Design
David J. Kaufman
April 27, 2016
The financial costs of natural disasters have been steadily climbing in recent decades. For policy makers to reverse this trend, they must understand the nature of the risks they face, the short-term and localized lenses through which financial decisions are viewed, the pricing signals for risk, and the standardized building
Emergency Services/Critical Infrastructure Analysis Methodology
David Flanigan and Steven Taylor
April 27, 2016
The nation’s critical infrastructure – loosely defined as the fundamental facilities, structures, and systems necessary for the basic functioning of daily life – is comprised of diverse components controlled and managed by a mixture of private sector and government organizations with varying levels of responsibility. Understanding the interconnectedness between sectors
Improving the Grade for Critical Infrastructure
Catherine L. Feinman and Joe D. Manous Jr.
April 27, 2016
All infrastructure is not the same. Across disciplinary sectors, agencies and organizations must identify the key elements necessary to ensure “a system” (e.g., community) has a minimum level of resilience, as a system is only as strong as the weakest link. DomPrep hosted a roundtable discussion to address “Critical Infrastructure
Revisiting PROTECT
Ian Schaefer
April 20, 2016
Two decades of federally funded research and development culminate in a real-time chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) system for detection, surveillance, and crisis management for the nation’s critical infrastructure. Argonne National Laboratory continues to tailor this system for various transit and other critical infrastructure environments.
Water Sector Resilience & Redundancy
Steven E. Bieber and Pamela Kenel
April 20, 2016
With a rich history of coordinated water supply planning, the National Capital Region has been conducting regional workshops and creating new study results to enhance its ability to address the region’s water needs during a crisis. The resulting information will spur further discussion and assessment of drinking water system alternatives
Five Myths – The Cost of Resilience
Dana A. Goward
April 20, 2016
Roads crumble, bridges fall. It is not that the United States cannot maintain, improve, and build more infrastructure. It is that so many people believe it is too difficult because of these myths. The myths have to be debunked to allow new ways of thinking.
Lockdown at Washington College
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
April 19, 2016
When the decision was made to cancel es on Monday, 16 November 2015 the week before the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday break, Public Safety Director Gerald (Jerry) Roderick drew upon his many years of experience and planning on how to deal with a possible threat to Washington College campus in Chestertown,
Replacing Aged Infrastructure: The Bundled Bridges Approach
Thomas Clark
April 13, 2016
Pennsylvania serves as a case study for a new project that could help fortify the nation’s aging infrastructure. A new cost-effective approach for rehabilitating bridges is improving safety, mobility, and resiliency for communities across the state as other states learn key lessons in order to implement similar programs within their
U.S. Response to Outbreaks of Avian Influenza
Gary Flory
April 13, 2016
Although avian influenza outbreaks occur periodically in poultry flocks, only recently has avian influenza been considered a significant threat to human health and the global economy. The 1997 emergence of H5N1 first brought attention to avian influenza’s ability to cause disease in humans. However, human infection with influenza from avian
Critical Infrastructure & Strategic Assessment
David Wegner and Sheri Tickner
April 13, 2016
Globally, government agencies are at a nexus in how to plan for and address society’s dependence on infrastructure to sustain economies, support and protect people, and implement strategies to provide for an appropriate level of reinvestment. Partnerships with the private financial world would help develop an effective framework for investments
Rising Sea Level – A Stealth Threat
John Englander
April 13, 2016
Sea-level rise is in the news with increasing frequency. Yet, the longer-term threat is largely underestimated. The risks in terms of economic impact, emergency preparedness, and national security have profound strategic importance. The latest news from Greenland and Antarctica strongly suggests that there is no time to waste when it
Florida – Doing More With Volunteers
Freddy Zelaya Jr. and Romeo Lavarias
May 11, 2016
Today’s disasters are more frequent and more complex than ever before. Although governments at all levels have risen to the occasion by training personnel and securing equipment and resources, there will always be a lack of manpower. This gap has been addressed using volunteers, who – despite having the best
DomPrep Journal: Preparing Communities
Domestic Preparedness
May 4, 2016
The DomPrep Journal features original content written by practitioners in various emergency preparedness and resilience fields. Addressing the needs of professionals dedicated to preparing and protecting their communities, the first four issues of the 2016 volume have been downloaded a total of more than 200,000 times! To view these or
Bending the Cost Curve Through Better Design
David J. Kaufman
April 27, 2016
The financial costs of natural disasters have been steadily climbing in recent decades. For policy makers to reverse this trend, they must understand the nature of the risks they face, the short-term and localized lenses through which financial decisions are viewed, the pricing signals for risk, and the standardized building
Emergency Services/Critical Infrastructure Analysis Methodology
David Flanigan and Steven Taylor
April 27, 2016
The nation’s critical infrastructure – loosely defined as the fundamental facilities, structures, and systems necessary for the basic functioning of daily life – is comprised of diverse components controlled and managed by a mixture of private sector and government organizations with varying levels of responsibility. Understanding the interconnectedness between sectors
Improving the Grade for Critical Infrastructure
Catherine L. Feinman and Joe D. Manous Jr.
April 27, 2016
All infrastructure is not the same. Across disciplinary sectors, agencies and organizations must identify the key elements necessary to ensure “a system” (e.g., community) has a minimum level of resilience, as a system is only as strong as the weakest link. DomPrep hosted a roundtable discussion to address “Critical Infrastructure
Revisiting PROTECT
Ian Schaefer
April 20, 2016
Two decades of federally funded research and development culminate in a real-time chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) system for detection, surveillance, and crisis management for the nation’s critical infrastructure. Argonne National Laboratory continues to tailor this system for various transit and other critical infrastructure environments.
Water Sector Resilience & Redundancy
Steven E. Bieber and Pamela Kenel
April 20, 2016
With a rich history of coordinated water supply planning, the National Capital Region has been conducting regional workshops and creating new study results to enhance its ability to address the region’s water needs during a crisis. The resulting information will spur further discussion and assessment of drinking water system alternatives
Five Myths – The Cost of Resilience
Dana A. Goward
April 20, 2016
Roads crumble, bridges fall. It is not that the United States cannot maintain, improve, and build more infrastructure. It is that so many people believe it is too difficult because of these myths. The myths have to be debunked to allow new ways of thinking.
Lockdown at Washington College
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
April 19, 2016
When the decision was made to cancel es on Monday, 16 November 2015 the week before the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday break, Public Safety Director Gerald (Jerry) Roderick drew upon his many years of experience and planning on how to deal with a possible threat to Washington College campus in Chestertown,
Replacing Aged Infrastructure: The Bundled Bridges Approach
Thomas Clark
April 13, 2016
Pennsylvania serves as a case study for a new project that could help fortify the nation’s aging infrastructure. A new cost-effective approach for rehabilitating bridges is improving safety, mobility, and resiliency for communities across the state as other states learn key lessons in order to implement similar programs within their
U.S. Response to Outbreaks of Avian Influenza
Gary Flory
April 13, 2016
Although avian influenza outbreaks occur periodically in poultry flocks, only recently has avian influenza been considered a significant threat to human health and the global economy. The 1997 emergence of H5N1 first brought attention to avian influenza’s ability to cause disease in humans. However, human infection with influenza from avian
Critical Infrastructure & Strategic Assessment
David Wegner and Sheri Tickner
April 13, 2016
Globally, government agencies are at a nexus in how to plan for and address society’s dependence on infrastructure to sustain economies, support and protect people, and implement strategies to provide for an appropriate level of reinvestment. Partnerships with the private financial world would help develop an effective framework for investments
Active Shooter – When Lock Down Is Not Enough
Rodney Andreasen
April 6, 2016
Law enforcement officers, paramedics, and other responders have received extensive training in dealing with active shooters and the wounds resulting from active shooter incidents. However, the potential force multipliers in all these attacks that are just beginning to receive attention are the potential victims at the scene.
Strategies for Public Information in Times of Crisis
Anthony S. Mangeri
March 30, 2016
Providing information to the public in times of crisis is so critical to disaster operations that it is included as one of the five major components of the National Incident Management System. Mass media is one of many tools available to help public information officers disseminate essential information and convey
Helping Children & Youths Cope With Disaster Media Coverage
Jennifer First and J. Brian Houston
March 23, 2016
In Missouri, researchers are helping adults learn how children and youths perceive disaster media coverage in order to better cope with the abundance of information and images that surround them following a significant incident. Coping strategies and resources addressing media coverage must be tailored to the individual needs and developmental
Big News About Cyberthreats
Dawn Thomas
March 23, 2016
The emergency services sector faces many daily challenges that are exacerbated when data breaches and cyber attacks occur. Addressing public concern for incidents with life and safety consequences is one of the greatest challenges that public information officers must be prepared to manage as the number and frequency of cyberthreats
Active Shooters & Public Access Bleeding Control Kits
Team You Can Act
March 22, 2016
Harvard’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative (NPLI) plays a key role in bringing together thought leaders and professionals to address complex challenges and enhance the nations preparedness efforts. One NPLI meta-leadership project contributed to a new nationwide campaign that empowers bystanders to act and potentially save lives when someone is critically
Saving Lives With Hashtags & Geolocation
Emily Allen
March 16, 2016
Devastating incidents have occurred as long as humans have been on Earth. However, the way in which people respond to them has changed dramatically with the introduction of modern technology. Cries for help may be hidden in hashtags and geolocation, so filtering social media can be critical for response efforts.
Accuracy & Trust in Information Dissemination
Anna Rose
March 9, 2016
Time pressures during emergencies are not an excuse to release inaccurate information to the public. Regular communication and engagement with media sources help facilitate the flow of reliable information. Relationships built on mutual trust and respect between news reporters and public affairs officers ensure timely and accurate public reporting during
Television Talking Heads & Disasters
Cedric Leighton
March 9, 2016
Television coverage of a disaster portrays many people trying to explain what happened. For those who are charged with leading emergency response and disaster relief agencies, the diversity of media outlets and the different kinds of experts the press calls upon to help analyze cataclysmic events can be overwhelming.
Digital Humanitarians
Hannah Zitner
March 8, 2016
When the deadliest and most destructive storm of 2012 came pummeling through the Northeast – decimating homes, cutting power, downing communications, and ultimately killing close to 120 people on U.S. soil – states of emergencies were declared in nine states. The Federal Emergency Management Agency as well as state, tribal,
When a City Is Burning – Or Not
Connor Scott
March 2, 2016
In early 2015, the entire city of Baltimore was overrun with rioters and the city was set ablaze. At least that is what the world saw on news reports. As devastating as the civil unrest was to a relatively small portion of the city, the situation was exacerbated by reports
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 that managing daily business operations is not the same as managing response and recovery operations after a disaster.Business continuity and
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 resilience. Planning, training, and educational efforts provide a way to bring employees, passengers, and other community stakeholders into the preparedness
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