Most recently published
Five Key Domains of Incident Management
Aaron Clark-Ginsberg
July 10, 2024
Effective incident management is a set of activities, not policy box-ticking of doctrine that may or may not be followed. A new free toolkit based on five key domains can help incident management teams assess and improve their effectiveness regardless of the incident, incident management team, and policy doctrine members
The Maui Wildfires, Relief Funds, and Incident Recovery
Douglas (Doug) Stockham
July 10, 2024
Financial preplanning goes beyond savings accounts and life insurance policies. When a disaster strikes, some people do not have these protections nor the financial means to fully recover. However, companies can launch relief funds on behalf of their team members to provide financial aid for employees struggling through a disaster
It Takes a Community to Stop Drug and Human Trafficking
Catherine L. Feinman
June 26, 2024
The authors in this June edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share valuable information about the threats and hazards related to drug and human trafficking. Better situational awareness throughout the community can help combat potentially nefarious activities before they have dire consequences.
Jane Doe – Responding to Vulnerable Patients
Catherine L. Feinman
June 26, 2024
Despite the prevalence of first responders encountering human trafficking victims, they are not always aware of the signs or proper handling of the situation to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of victims. One paramedic shares his experience with an encounter that provided him lessons to share.
From Shadows to Light: Addressing the Aftermath of Human Trafficking
Michael Breslin
June 19, 2024
The deadly opioid epidemic in the United States does not stop at overdoses. It also poses life-threatening exposure to first responders who arrive on scene. Learn about the new ways scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are expanding detection strategies and technologies to keep these responders safe.
Invisible Chains: Human Trafficking, Drug Abuse, and Support
Sandra Dennis-Essig
June 19, 2024
Despite the physical force that is often portrayed in movies, human traffickers more often lure their victims using psychological tactics. As a result, the victims can become dependent on the traffickers and the substances they supply. Trauma-informed care and advocacy are actions first responders, legislators, and others can take to
Fentanyl Hazards and Detection
Ashley Bradley and Kristin Omberg
June 12, 2024
The deadly opioid epidemic in the United States does not stop at overdoses. It also poses life-threatening exposure to first responders who arrive on scene. Learn about the new ways scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are expanding detection strategies and technologies to keep these responders safe.
A Modern Take on an Age-Old Biological Weapon
Raphael M. Barishansky
June 12, 2024
Reports about North Korea launching balloons filled with fecal matter and propaganda into South Korean territory were intriguing. However, this incident raises public health concerns and the question of whether fecal matter could be utilized in modern times as an effective biological weapon.
The Nexus Between Drug and Human Trafficking
Richard Schoeberl, Jeff Bollettieri and William (Bill) Loucks Jr.
June 5, 2024
Transnational criminal organizations are using their experience in drug trafficking to utilize routes and operating procedures to take advantage of other criminal opportunities, such as human trafficking.
A Plan to Protect the Youngest Children
Marie O’Connell
June 5, 2024
Most educational and training programs for protecting schools against targeted violence, drugs, and human trafficking do not include the youngest students – preschoolers. However, one program in Florida that is free to the schools is an example of how other states can close this preparedness gap.
Mitigate the Impacts When Communities and Nature Collide
Catherine L. Feinman
May 29, 2024
Emergency preparedness professionals plan for and try to mitigate natural hazard events, but nature is unpredictable. In this May edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal, experts discuss past hazards and steps communities can take to mitigate their effects.
A Critical Imperative for Natural Hazards
Sandra Dennis-Essig
May 29, 2024
As the number and size of natural hazards increase across the globe, communities can take a comprehensive preparedness approach to mitigate their potentially devastating effects. By integrating the intricate interrelations of physical, social, economic, and environmental factors, communities can better withstand, adapt to, and recover from the shocks and stresses
The Key Bridge Collapse – Through the Lens of Community Lifelines
Michael Prasad
July 17, 2024
The eight major elements of Community Lifelines use traffic-light-type color-coding to categorize the adverse impact status of a disaster. The article’s author has applied this same system to the recovery efforts following the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland. Learn how he applied this information-gathering tool to an ongoing recovery
Five Key Domains of Incident Management
Aaron Clark-Ginsberg
July 10, 2024
Effective incident management is a set of activities, not policy box-ticking of doctrine that may or may not be followed. A new free toolkit based on five key domains can help incident management teams assess and improve their effectiveness regardless of the incident, incident management team, and policy doctrine members
The Maui Wildfires, Relief Funds, and Incident Recovery
Douglas (Doug) Stockham
July 10, 2024
Financial preplanning goes beyond savings accounts and life insurance policies. When a disaster strikes, some people do not have these protections nor the financial means to fully recover. However, companies can launch relief funds on behalf of their team members to provide financial aid for employees struggling through a disaster
It Takes a Community to Stop Drug and Human Trafficking
Catherine L. Feinman
June 26, 2024
The authors in this June edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share valuable information about the threats and hazards related to drug and human trafficking. Better situational awareness throughout the community can help combat potentially nefarious activities before they have dire consequences.
Jane Doe – Responding to Vulnerable Patients
Catherine L. Feinman
June 26, 2024
Despite the prevalence of first responders encountering human trafficking victims, they are not always aware of the signs or proper handling of the situation to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of victims. One paramedic shares his experience with an encounter that provided him lessons to share.
From Shadows to Light: Addressing the Aftermath of Human Trafficking
Michael Breslin
June 19, 2024
The deadly opioid epidemic in the United States does not stop at overdoses. It also poses life-threatening exposure to first responders who arrive on scene. Learn about the new ways scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are expanding detection strategies and technologies to keep these responders safe.
Invisible Chains: Human Trafficking, Drug Abuse, and Support
Sandra Dennis-Essig
June 19, 2024
Despite the physical force that is often portrayed in movies, human traffickers more often lure their victims using psychological tactics. As a result, the victims can become dependent on the traffickers and the substances they supply. Trauma-informed care and advocacy are actions first responders, legislators, and others can take to
Fentanyl Hazards and Detection
Ashley Bradley and Kristin Omberg
June 12, 2024
The deadly opioid epidemic in the United States does not stop at overdoses. It also poses life-threatening exposure to first responders who arrive on scene. Learn about the new ways scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are expanding detection strategies and technologies to keep these responders safe.
A Modern Take on an Age-Old Biological Weapon
Raphael M. Barishansky
June 12, 2024
Reports about North Korea launching balloons filled with fecal matter and propaganda into South Korean territory were intriguing. However, this incident raises public health concerns and the question of whether fecal matter could be utilized in modern times as an effective biological weapon.
The Nexus Between Drug and Human Trafficking
Richard Schoeberl, Jeff Bollettieri and William (Bill) Loucks Jr.
June 5, 2024
Transnational criminal organizations are using their experience in drug trafficking to utilize routes and operating procedures to take advantage of other criminal opportunities, such as human trafficking.
A Plan to Protect the Youngest Children
Marie O’Connell
June 5, 2024
Most educational and training programs for protecting schools against targeted violence, drugs, and human trafficking do not include the youngest students – preschoolers. However, one program in Florida that is free to the schools is an example of how other states can close this preparedness gap.
Mitigate the Impacts When Communities and Nature Collide
Catherine L. Feinman
May 29, 2024
Emergency preparedness professionals plan for and try to mitigate natural hazard events, but nature is unpredictable. In this May edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal, experts discuss past hazards and steps communities can take to mitigate their effects.
The Psychology of Crisis
Mary Schoenfeldt
May 22, 2024
The psychological side of a disaster or other impactful event is a critical component of crisis management. However, many people still do not fully understand the predictable phases and patterns that could help them take the appropriate steps or actions to move through the crisis and mitigate its impact. Understanding
Resilience-Based CI and Domestic Preparedness: A Long-Overdue Imperative
Jeff Gaynor
May 15, 2024
For decades, preparedness leaders have known and publicly warned about the rapidly growing and metastasizing threats to and exploitable vulnerabilities of U.S. critical infrastructure (CI). Ongoing iterations of the 1990s-era CI status quo (i.e., cybersecurity- and protection-focused efforts) have proven no match for the existing, much less looming, threats to
Shielding Communities: Public Health Strategies for Natural Hazards
Raphael M. Barishansky and Andrew D. Pickett
May 15, 2024
Public health risks are common concerns when natural hazards occur. However, history shows that the increasing frequency of events and growing population sizes have been increasing the scale of events and the needs of affected populations. To mitigate complex public health challenges, personnel across disciplines must plan, coordinate, and develop
Elegant Community Preparation
Aaron Titus
May 8, 2024
Elegant community preparation means having a process that makes disaster planning efforts simpler for community members. By collaboratively focusing on novel factors in an easily understood way, individuals and families can better prepare for any disaster or disruption.
Navigating the Seismic Dance: Preparedness in the Ring of Fire
Alicia Johnson
May 8, 2024
The Pacific Ring of Fire, a moniker that evokes images of volatility and destruction, is not merely a geographic term but a constant reminder of humans’ vulnerability to the earth’s whims. Learn about the multifaceted nature of earthquake risks and delineate the indispensable role organizations play in mitigating the impacts
National Security: A Range of Threats
Anthony (Tony) Mottola and Richard Schoeberl
May 1, 2024
From organized foreign terrorist groups to homegrown terrorists inspired by them, members of the intelligence community have indicated that the threat of attack inside the U.S. has increased to its highest point since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Communities must explore solutions to meet the ongoing challenges and
Preparing for the Next Public Health Emergency
Catherine L. Feinman
April 24, 2024
Public health is not just about pandemics but also about a wide range of threats that can affect the health and well-being of communities. In this April edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal, practitioners share ways to prepare for the next public health emergency.
Sustaining Those Working in Disasters
Jolie Wills
April 24, 2024
Those working in emergency response roles can face periods of prolonged stress, which takes a toll on their health and well-being. It is important to know how to support them before, during, and after emergencies and disasters. By taking a hazards approach, leaders and their teams will be better equipped
The Missing Plague Vials
Robert C. Hutchinson
April 17, 2024
A true story of missing bubonic plague vials, an airport bomb threat, and other suspicious activities again demonstrate continued national and homeland security vulnerabilities and threats. Perspectives may differ, but the concerns are real and provide an opportunity to learn and prepare.
Primary Care Investments to Increase Community Resilience
Angie Im
April 17, 2024
Community health centers are medical lifelines for millions of Americans. However, financial constraints and healthcare workforce challenges strain these critical resources. New initiatives and additional investments can help communities be more resilient and continue to meet community needs during a crisis.
Mental Awareness to Enhance Preparedness
Andrew (Andy) Altizer
April 17, 2024
Emergency managers, public health officials, and first responders often stress the importance of physical fitness, but what about mental fitness? Without focused mental agility in even one of the emergency management phases, mistakes or subpar performance are likely. Learn about this author’s new acronym that can help prioritize mental health
The “R” Word
George Schwartz
April 10, 2024
Resilience has multiple meanings for public health, emergency, and homeland security management professionals. However, the objective of building resilience should go beyond hazard mitigation. With 2024 being FEMA’s “Year of Resilience,” it is a good time for professionals to start rethinking this concept.
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