Most recently published
True Resilience in Practice
Marko Bourne
September 17, 2014
Recovery, risk mitigation, and economic growth are the necessary elements that compose the concept of resilience. Building this resilience, however, requires being able to break out of operational and program silos at all levels of government and to work with nontraditional community groups to harness the power of social media.
Leadership Consciousness: A Call to Action
Samuel Johnson Jr.
September 10, 2014
Being a great leader requires much more than just a title. True leaders build a solid foundation on honor and respect, which includes building rapport with others and being aware that all actions have consequences. Emergency management and public safety officials all have the ability to be “leaders” and agents
Military & Civilian Resources: Doing More With Less
Aaron Sean Poynton
September 10, 2014
The civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, has raised questions about the transfer of Department of Defense (DOD) resources to nonmilitary law enforcement agencies. However, the answers to these questions require some background information about the DOD 1033 program and the equipment used on the streets in Saint Louis County.
Solar Storm Near Miss & Threats to Lifeline Infrastructure
Charles (Chuck) L. Manto
September 10, 2014
In July 2012, a disastrous solar storm could have crippled the country – and possibly the planet – for months had its occurrence not missed Earth by less than two weeks. New reports about that storm have reignited the discussion about the effects of an electromagnetic pulse and the impact
Critical Infrastructure – Preparing for the ‘Long Haul’
Joe D. Manous Jr.
September 3, 2014
The terms critical infrastructure, sustainability, and resilience are common in the preparedness fields, but these concepts are not consistent across disciplines. To test novel ideas, develop program consistency, and establish a long-term effort, some issues must be addressed: separate fields vs. crosscutting concepts; entry-level vs. advanced topics; and “bodies of
Planning for High-Impact Threats to Critical Infrastructure
Domestic Preparedness
September 2, 2014
Top experts will update measures to plan for and mitigate high-impact threats such as electromagnetic pulse, extreme space, and cyber on critical infrastructure. This year’s conference also will review recent emergency management tabletop exercises providing insights into practical steps that can be taken to reduce the tragic effects of these
BioWatch – Challenges & Opportunities for Applied Research
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
August 27, 2014
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has continued to use its legacy early warning system for biological threats as it continues to weigh costs against effectiveness in its search for better technological solutions. In the meantime, “big data” and social media analytics offer incremental steps toward better biodetection and response.
The Complexities of Environmental Health Security
Catherine L. Feinman
August 27, 2014
A topic that often bridges various disciplines and jurisdictions – and sometimes is overlooked in the “big picture” – is security related to environmental health. To address questions surrounding this topic, DomPrep asked readers how they define environmental health and where it fits within the national and international security arena.
National Strategy for Biosecurity Threats
Robert C. Hutchinson
August 20, 2014
“Unexpected” threats may not be so unexpected, but rather foreseen threats that were not taken seriously. Anthrax, plague, and smallpox were ongoing concerns even before the recent incidents that occurred on U.S. soil. However, local jurisdictions must plan for and be operationally prepared for such no-notice biological incidents.
New York: Public Health Implications of the ‘Soda Ban’ Ruling
Andrew Geltman
August 20, 2014
The New York City Board of Health has a long tradition of creating innovative ways to promote better public health practices, but the recent “soda ban” ruling may hinder that innovation in the future. Although still a strong authority for “traditional” public health threats, the public health implications for “nontraditional”
Incident Response for Nursing & Assisted Living Homes
Steven Maynard
August 20, 2014
Article Out Loud Residents of nursing and assisted living homes are subject to many risks, including fires. Residents tend to be more physically and cognitively impaired, which puts them at a higher risk for death than the general population. Moreover, nursing and assisted living homes have long been recognized as
Georgia: Technologies & Disasters
Charley English
August 13, 2014
For emergency managers, the planning process never ends. Rather, it continues to evolve over time. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency embraces this concept and recently updated its mobile app to meet the changing needs of its local communities. This newly redesigned app serves as a template for agencies in other
Building Resilience – School Safety & Security Standards
Wayne Bergeron
September 17, 2014
School shootings draw a lot of attention from the media as well as from the public, but the number of school deaths is small compared to those that occur away from school property. Although “statistically safe,” schools still must prepare for a broad range of possible incidents and could benefit
True Resilience in Practice
Marko Bourne
September 17, 2014
Recovery, risk mitigation, and economic growth are the necessary elements that compose the concept of resilience. Building this resilience, however, requires being able to break out of operational and program silos at all levels of government and to work with nontraditional community groups to harness the power of social media.
Leadership Consciousness: A Call to Action
Samuel Johnson Jr.
September 10, 2014
Being a great leader requires much more than just a title. True leaders build a solid foundation on honor and respect, which includes building rapport with others and being aware that all actions have consequences. Emergency management and public safety officials all have the ability to be “leaders” and agents
Military & Civilian Resources: Doing More With Less
Aaron Sean Poynton
September 10, 2014
The civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, has raised questions about the transfer of Department of Defense (DOD) resources to nonmilitary law enforcement agencies. However, the answers to these questions require some background information about the DOD 1033 program and the equipment used on the streets in Saint Louis County.
Solar Storm Near Miss & Threats to Lifeline Infrastructure
Charles (Chuck) L. Manto
September 10, 2014
In July 2012, a disastrous solar storm could have crippled the country – and possibly the planet – for months had its occurrence not missed Earth by less than two weeks. New reports about that storm have reignited the discussion about the effects of an electromagnetic pulse and the impact
Critical Infrastructure – Preparing for the ‘Long Haul’
Joe D. Manous Jr.
September 3, 2014
The terms critical infrastructure, sustainability, and resilience are common in the preparedness fields, but these concepts are not consistent across disciplines. To test novel ideas, develop program consistency, and establish a long-term effort, some issues must be addressed: separate fields vs. crosscutting concepts; entry-level vs. advanced topics; and “bodies of
Planning for High-Impact Threats to Critical Infrastructure
Domestic Preparedness
September 2, 2014
Top experts will update measures to plan for and mitigate high-impact threats such as electromagnetic pulse, extreme space, and cyber on critical infrastructure. This year’s conference also will review recent emergency management tabletop exercises providing insights into practical steps that can be taken to reduce the tragic effects of these
BioWatch – Challenges & Opportunities for Applied Research
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
August 27, 2014
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has continued to use its legacy early warning system for biological threats as it continues to weigh costs against effectiveness in its search for better technological solutions. In the meantime, “big data” and social media analytics offer incremental steps toward better biodetection and response.
The Complexities of Environmental Health Security
Catherine L. Feinman
August 27, 2014
A topic that often bridges various disciplines and jurisdictions – and sometimes is overlooked in the “big picture” – is security related to environmental health. To address questions surrounding this topic, DomPrep asked readers how they define environmental health and where it fits within the national and international security arena.
National Strategy for Biosecurity Threats
Robert C. Hutchinson
August 20, 2014
“Unexpected” threats may not be so unexpected, but rather foreseen threats that were not taken seriously. Anthrax, plague, and smallpox were ongoing concerns even before the recent incidents that occurred on U.S. soil. However, local jurisdictions must plan for and be operationally prepared for such no-notice biological incidents.
New York: Public Health Implications of the ‘Soda Ban’ Ruling
Andrew Geltman
August 20, 2014
The New York City Board of Health has a long tradition of creating innovative ways to promote better public health practices, but the recent “soda ban” ruling may hinder that innovation in the future. Although still a strong authority for “traditional” public health threats, the public health implications for “nontraditional”
Incident Response for Nursing & Assisted Living Homes
Steven Maynard
August 20, 2014
Article Out Loud Residents of nursing and assisted living homes are subject to many risks, including fires. Residents tend to be more physically and cognitively impaired, which puts them at a higher risk for death than the general population. Moreover, nursing and assisted living homes have long been recognized as
Mass Fatalities – Processing Human Remains
Joseph Cahill
August 13, 2014
The unfortunate truth is – no matter how well prepared a jurisdiction is, no matter how well equipped and staffed, and no matter how good emergency plans are – bad things happen. Unlike most planning efforts, the goal of mass fatality planning is not to save lives, but rather to
Bioterror – The Threat, The Defense & The Future
Richard Schoeberl
July 23, 2014
Adequate defense for a bioterrorism attack requires fortification of the public health infrastructure as well as the establishment and continuance of a good healthcare system. With the potential to spread rapidly with and between communities, bioagents as weapons pose a significant threat to U.S. communities that require greater attention on
Building & Maintaining a Strong Disaster Volunteer Force
Harlan Dolgin
July 23, 2014
To meet the challenges of preparing for potential medical disasters and biothreats, health departments across the nation must work with many dedicated volunteers to provide emergency shelters, vaccinations, and other medical care. When organizations like the Medical Reserve Corps recruit, train, and maintain these volunteers, the benefits in lives saved
Revisiting the Staging Area Manager
Robert Mueck
July 23, 2014
Modern communication methods and social media enable rapid transfer of information. As a result, there is often an influx of responders and onlookers when an incident occurs. To manage those who were not dispatched to the scene, a staging area manager can help establish a check-in post, organize and track
Special Facilities – More Than Just Shelters
Joseph Cahill
July 16, 2014
Many emergency plans call for the establishment of special facilities – each serving a primary function(s) to protect the population – in order to fulfill the public’s needs during or after a disaster. Following a terrorist attack involving a bioweapon such as smallpox, for example, mass inoculations would require establishing
International Public Health Concerns – Not So Foreign
Robert C. Hutchinson
July 16, 2014
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Lassa fever, and other pathogenic infections are just a few of the biothreats that recently have grabbed national attention in the United States. What were once considered foreign diseases are not so foreign in a globalized economy. As such, a national strategy for biosurveillance must
Importance of the Global Health Security Agenda
Raphael M. Barishansky and Audrey Mazurek
July 16, 2014
Increased intercontinental travel and increased biological, pandemic, and other disease threats mean that countries must effectively cooperate and communicate to prevent the spread of disease within and between interconnected communities. The Global Health Security helps bring together global partners and address key issues related to preventing, detecting, and responding to
Division of Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Course
Domestic Preparedness
July 8, 2014
The Strategic National Stockpile Preparedness Course is a 3-day course designed to give federal, state, and local officials information on how to best plan and prepare for a public health emergency and how to use and manage the Strategic National Stockpile in response to a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or
Hospital Emergency Response Training (HERT) for Mass-Casualty Incidents
Domestic Preparedness
July 4, 2014
Hospital Emergency Response Training (HERT) for Mass Casualty Incidents is a three-day course designed to provide medical operation guidance to hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), healthcare facility personnel, and others who may become involved in a mass-casualty incident (MCI).
Protecting Special Events Amid Civil Unrest
Catherine L. Feinman
June 25, 2014
An article, a flash poll, and a podcast each addressed the same question: Can a country that faces daily civil disturbances adequately secure a major special event? Many factors involved in training public and private security personnel make this question difficult to answer – temporary staff, types of training, and
Training for Special Events – Keeping Them Safe & Secure
Richard Schoeberl
June 25, 2014
To address the gaps and concerns revealed in a recent article and flash poll, subject matter experts discussed training efforts necessary to ensure adequate security at large-scale special events. The challenge of securing special events can be compounded by daily responsibilities, especially where civil violence exists.
Identifying Pre-Attack Indicators for Special Events
Jessica A. Gladfelter and Dallas R. Mosier
June 18, 2014
Elliot Rodger left many clues about his deadly intentions before killing six university students, injuring 13 others, and ultimately killing himself. Numerous threatening videos, a 140-page manifesto, and vague verbal threats were all pre-attack indicators. Although only hindsight is 20/20, such indicators should provide clearer vision when searching for potential
Follow Us
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.
