Most recently published
Ebola – Education for the American Healthcare System
Craig DeAtley
February 4, 2015
When the deadly Ebola virus travelled into the United States, many healthcare workers were not adequately prepared to manage the care, treatment, and transport of such patients. As a result, hospitals and other healthcare facilities now are scrambling to educate their personnel on this and other deadly biothreats before the
How to Make a ‘Smart’ Phone ‘Undumb’ in a Disaster
Anjila Lebsock
February 4, 2015
According to a January 2014 Pew Research Center report, 58 percent of adults surveyed in the United States use smartphones. With a growing dependence on these devices, it is important to educate the public on how they can prepare for times when cellular service is not available. During a disaster,
Exploring an Educational Journey
Kevin Kupietz
February 2, 2015
Emergency service fields traditionally have relied on hands-on educational strategies. However, online options are becoming more attractive because of their flexibility, availability, and cost. By matching a person’s learning style with an educational environment that is conducive to that style, professionals can continue their educational journey in new and exciting
Virtual Tabletop Exercise Series (VTTX) Active Shooter
Domestic Preparedness
January 31, 2015
The Emergency Management Institute is conducting a virtual tabletop exercise series on active shooters. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated active shooter scenarios in an informal setting. This exercise series can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures.
CERT Train-the-Trainer (E0428)
Domestic Preparedness
January 29, 2015
The Emergency Management Institute is offering two courses for professionals and volunteers who are interested in being a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Manager.
Long-Term Community Recovery Planning Guidance
Kay C. Goss
January 28, 2015
Preparedness planning is a large part of the foundation of emergency management. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Preparedness Report summarizes the building, sustaining, and delivering of the 31 core capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal across all five mission areas identified in Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8):
Planning: A Continuing Challenge
Sarah Tidman
January 21, 2015
The constantly changing natural and societal environments create an ongoing challenge to design and maintain current and relevant emergency management plans. Exercises, in particular national level exercises, are an effective way to identify capability strengths and areas for improvement as well as to amend existing plans.
Integrating Law Enforcement & Emergency Management
Lewis Eakins
January 21, 2015
Federal, state, and local law enforcement, with a focus on combating criminal activity, is well aligned with homeland security initiatives. The attacks of 9/11 exposed the need for local law enforcement to increase its role in anti-terrorism activities. In the United States, there are 18,000 local police agencies and, according to
Cybersecurity as an Emergency Management Function
Ann Lesperance and Steve Stein
January 21, 2015
Although emergency managers plan for all types of disasters that could potentially occur within or around their jurisdictions, cyberattacks present unique challenges when identifying the nature of, and understanding how to respond to, such threats. A true all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness necessarily includes protecting communities against cyberthreats.
The Supporting Role of Healthcare Coalitions for Local Health Departments in Emergency Preparedness
Nicole Dunifon
January 20, 2015
The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), provides grant funding to states in order to support sustainable community healthcare coalitions (HCCs), improve medical surge capacity, and enhance community and hospital preparedness in the event of a public health emergency.
Residential Coastal Construction Course Offered by FEMA
Domestic Preparedness
January 17, 2015
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to announce a training opportunity on Residential Coastal Construction designed to train participants to effectively use the Coastal Construction Manual (FEMA P-55). Course E0386 provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing, and maintaining homes in the coastal environment.
Emergency Operations Center Activation & the Active Shooter Scenario
Dave Points
January 14, 2015
Law enforcement and emergency management planning actions for active shooter incidents can have large payoffs for communities. For example, emergency managers can assist law enforcement officers in using resources that emergency operations centers can provide, developing training exercises, and securing grant funding for mitigation efforts, training, and equipment.
A Global Student Council & a New Higher Education Database
Matthew P. Ellis
February 11, 2015
The evolution of emergency management has necessitated an expansion of higher educational offerings. However, in this relatively new discipline, there is no comprehensive database of the many academic programs around the world. The International Association of Emergency Manager’s Global Student Council seeks to fill this gap.
Ebola – Education for the American Healthcare System
Craig DeAtley
February 4, 2015
When the deadly Ebola virus travelled into the United States, many healthcare workers were not adequately prepared to manage the care, treatment, and transport of such patients. As a result, hospitals and other healthcare facilities now are scrambling to educate their personnel on this and other deadly biothreats before the
How to Make a ‘Smart’ Phone ‘Undumb’ in a Disaster
Anjila Lebsock
February 4, 2015
According to a January 2014 Pew Research Center report, 58 percent of adults surveyed in the United States use smartphones. With a growing dependence on these devices, it is important to educate the public on how they can prepare for times when cellular service is not available. During a disaster,
Exploring an Educational Journey
Kevin Kupietz
February 2, 2015
Emergency service fields traditionally have relied on hands-on educational strategies. However, online options are becoming more attractive because of their flexibility, availability, and cost. By matching a person’s learning style with an educational environment that is conducive to that style, professionals can continue their educational journey in new and exciting
Virtual Tabletop Exercise Series (VTTX) Active Shooter
Domestic Preparedness
January 31, 2015
The Emergency Management Institute is conducting a virtual tabletop exercise series on active shooters. The VTTX involves key personnel discussing simulated active shooter scenarios in an informal setting. This exercise series can be used to assess plans, policies, training, and procedures.
CERT Train-the-Trainer (E0428)
Domestic Preparedness
January 29, 2015
The Emergency Management Institute is offering two courses for professionals and volunteers who are interested in being a local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program Manager.
Long-Term Community Recovery Planning Guidance
Kay C. Goss
January 28, 2015
Preparedness planning is a large part of the foundation of emergency management. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Preparedness Report summarizes the building, sustaining, and delivering of the 31 core capabilities outlined in the National Preparedness Goal across all five mission areas identified in Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8):
Planning: A Continuing Challenge
Sarah Tidman
January 21, 2015
The constantly changing natural and societal environments create an ongoing challenge to design and maintain current and relevant emergency management plans. Exercises, in particular national level exercises, are an effective way to identify capability strengths and areas for improvement as well as to amend existing plans.
Integrating Law Enforcement & Emergency Management
Lewis Eakins
January 21, 2015
Federal, state, and local law enforcement, with a focus on combating criminal activity, is well aligned with homeland security initiatives. The attacks of 9/11 exposed the need for local law enforcement to increase its role in anti-terrorism activities. In the United States, there are 18,000 local police agencies and, according to
Cybersecurity as an Emergency Management Function
Ann Lesperance and Steve Stein
January 21, 2015
Although emergency managers plan for all types of disasters that could potentially occur within or around their jurisdictions, cyberattacks present unique challenges when identifying the nature of, and understanding how to respond to, such threats. A true all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness necessarily includes protecting communities against cyberthreats.
The Supporting Role of Healthcare Coalitions for Local Health Departments in Emergency Preparedness
Nicole Dunifon
January 20, 2015
The Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), provides grant funding to states in order to support sustainable community healthcare coalitions (HCCs), improve medical surge capacity, and enhance community and hospital preparedness in the event of a public health emergency.
Residential Coastal Construction Course Offered by FEMA
Domestic Preparedness
January 17, 2015
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is pleased to announce a training opportunity on Residential Coastal Construction designed to train participants to effectively use the Coastal Construction Manual (FEMA P-55). Course E0386 provides a comprehensive approach to planning, siting, designing, constructing, and maintaining homes in the coastal environment.
Ebola – Another Opportunity to Plan & Prepare
Robert C. Hutchinson
January 7, 2015
Three previous public health articles in the November 2013, March 2014, and July 2014 issues of the DomPrep Journal broadly examined serious pathogenic threats that are emerging and evolving around the world to assess preparedness levels before their possible arrival in the United States. Not long after the delivery of the July 2014 issue, the discussion
Evolving Role of Healthcare Coalitions
Jessica Wambach Brown
January 7, 2015
Healthcare planning begins with partnerships that can break down walls to allow healthcare providers and their public health and emergency management partners to work together. The National Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Conference brought together many of these stakeholders to promote strategies for regional healthcare readiness through healthcare coalitions.
Brainstorm – 25 Concepts From Subject Matter Experts
Domestic Preparedness
December 31, 2014
When planning for its annual forecast issue, DomPrep reached out to subject matter experts in all preparedness disciplines to share which solutions they believe have significant potential to improve preparedness (readiness and resilience) over the next five years. In 200 words or less, more than 50 readers answered the call.
Changing the Future of Human Relations
Samuel Johnson Jr.
December 24, 2014
The “”us versus them”” mentality that has surfaced in recent news reports – in Ferguson, Missouri, New York City, and other U.S. communities – arises from the human relations divide between citizens and law enforcement officers. A simple solution exists, but it requires both “”us”” and “”them”” to redefine the
Body-Worn Cameras: The Path Forward
Denise Rodriguez King and James R. (Chip) Coldren Jr.
December 17, 2014
As contradictory witness reports of police actions surface in law enforcement incidents across the United States, the White House proposes equipping all police officers with body-worn cameras. However, before implementing such programs, agencies first must examine related benefits and challenges, and evaluate and review the effectiveness of these cameras as
Future Response Capabilities: Five Points to Consider
Craig Crume
December 17, 2014
With a few practical steps, state and local governments, as well as other planning and response agencies, can accomplish a lot with little or no changes in their budgets. These agencies can build capability, confidence, and readiness by developing concepts of operations, reviewing equipment needs, training personnel, maintaining instruments, and
Emerging Infectious Diseases – A Whole-Community Approach
Anthony S. Mangeri
December 16, 2014
As Ebola traveled across borders to countries not previously affected, the need for comprehensive preparedness plans became obvious. However, such cases are not simply public health threats, but whole-community incidents. As such, emergency managers must assess emerging infectious disease threats and prepare to manage a multiagency response to these slow
The Future of Handheld Chemical Detection & Identification
Chris Petty
December 10, 2014
By identifying technology gaps as well as trends in detection needs and capabilities, manufacturers are creating new mass spectrometry tools that are smaller, easier to use, and more accurate for trace-level detection and identification. In 2015, first responders, civil support teams, and military personnel may be able to fill gaps
Texas – Youth Volunteers in the Medical Reserve Corps
Lunetta Sims
December 10, 2014
In Harris County, Texas, the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is leveraging its youth volunteers and establishing Junior MRC teams in its local high schools. By integrating a younger generation and recognizing the benefits that youth members can provide, MRCs can strengthen community preparedness and response for many years to come.
Community Paramedicine – Bringing the Hospital Home
Joseph Cahill
December 10, 2014
As hospitals fill with patients and the cost of medical care rises, the use of community paramedicine also may increase. To fill the gap between routine doctor visits and emergency transport to hospitals, communities have the opportunity to expand the use of highly trained paramedics to better serve their populations’s
Communications Decision Could Impact Emergency Response
Christina Crue
December 3, 2014
The Federal Communications Commission is considering changing the provider of the local number portability administrator. Emergency responders should be aware that this decision could affect responders’ ability to identify 911 callers, to track suspects, and to transition, test, and validate telephone databases following a disaster.
Resilience – Making a List & Checking It Twice
Stephen Grainer
December 3, 2014
When the electric power infrastructure fails, it affects much more than just the electronic equipment that is powered by it. A lesson from Superstorm Sandy demonstrates how managing ground support, supplies, and facilities may differ when electrical power is gone. It may even require hundreds (or thousands) of orange traffic
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