By ROB SCHNEPP, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, June 29, 2005.
In the late 1960s, far too many firefighters were dying in the line of duty when fighting fires involving hazardous materials (hazmat). One man, Ludwig Benner, realized that changes were needed, both in the way firefighters were being trained and in the decision-making process. This 2005 article provides some history behind how modern hazmat thinking evolved.
by ROBERT LEVERONE, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal.
Law enforcement agencies are tasked with protecting life and safety as well as the civil liberties of those within their jurisdictions. Crowds present even more complex and dynamic scenarios. However, this research on crowd psychology can help law enforcement officers navigate these complexities on an operational level. Being able to gauge crowd behavior would help officers make more informed planning and response decisions and reduce the risk of civil unrest.
by ANDY ALTIZER, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal.
When an injury causes a life-threatening bleed, minutes matter. There may not be enough time for first responders to arrive on the scene, so immediate responders are needed. Knowing how to respond to this type of injury and being able to stop the bleeding are skills that everyone should learn. This article explains why and how to do that.
By JOHN SAUNDERS, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, July 18, 2012.
Blizzards, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, icebergs, and volcanic eruptions are just some of the natural hazards found across the unique Canadian terrain. Although knowing who is charge during an incident can be a challenge under the existing political structure, emergency managers continue to communicate, collaborate, and learn from other nations to better improve capabilities within their own borders. This 2012 article from Canada is an example of how every country must identify and manage the various hazards and challenges that exist across their diverse jurisdictions.
By LYNDA ZAMBRANO, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, May 03, 2017.
As in any community, a solid network of partnerships is needed to address the specific needs of its community members. Native American and Alaska Native populations span the nation, but face similar preparedness challenges. The National Tribal Emergency Management Council has been addressing resilience gaps since before this article was written in 2017. In June 2022, they will take another leap forward as they coordinate their first National Level Exercise (called "Thunderbird and Whale 2022") with public and private partners throughout the Pacific Northwest.
by RANDALL W. HANIFEN, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal.
From small fire companies covering large areas of rural land to large fire departments covering highly populated urban cities, suburban fire departments are tasked with a mixture of both. One firefighter who has spent his career in a suburban fire department shares the five key lessons he has learned throughout his career.
By W. CRAIG CONKLIN, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, August 04, 2010.
In 2010, the Department of Homeland Security released two new publications to help federal officials throughout the country tighten the physical security of the office buildings, warehouses, and hundreds of thousands of other taxpayer-funded federal facilities entrusted to their care. This 2010 article describes those standards, one of which was incorporated into and one that was superseded by the 2021 edition of The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard (RMP).
By CAMERON W. SLOCUM & JAMES LEE WITT, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, November 10, 2010.
This 2010 article describes how the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) used the lessons learned from Hurricanes Rita in 2005 and Ike in 2008 to develop an effective response and rebuilding plan that not only has been used by UTMB itself to cope with future disasters but also provides a Gold Standard recovery blueprint for other organizations and institutions of all types.
By JOSEPH CAHILL, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, March 08, 2006.
The laws are in place but are often unenforceable. Transportation assets are available but are almost always overcommitted. Clear mandates from local, state, and federal decision-makers are obviously needed to restore order from the current chaos. This 2006 article describes the challenges associated with contractual agreements between ambulance providers and facilities. During disasters, these contracts may be difficult to fulfill.
By GARY SIMPSON, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, August 22, 2007.
Since this article was written in 2007, major developments have been made to bridge the communication gap for emergency response agencies. However, in times of crisis, the communications between neighboring jurisdictions can still be problematic. Advanced technology has solved the problems and confusion for some jurisdictions, while creating new costly problems for others. This article highlights the interoperability struggle that agencies have faced and some are still trying to overcome today.
