VOLUNTEERISM ARCHIVES
Elevating Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Exercises with Realistic Patient Simulation
Kathryn Romanchuk and Ben Kobliner
February 19, 2025
Overlooked until disaster strikes, many emergency management departments struggle with personnel and budgetary constraints, yet the demand placed on these departments continues to increase. Nevertheless, hospitals and health systems need to be prepared, and full-scale exercises are a comprehensive method for achieving this preparedness.
Advice for Surviving a Disaster: Be Selfish and Small-Minded
David C. Williams II
November 13, 2024
In the base camp of his fifth federally declared disaster this year, a disaster finance coordinator reflects on a friend’s recent question: “How can I best help in a disaster?” His answer might be surprising: be selfish and small-minded.
National Laboratory Partnerships: Linking Operations and Research
Ryan Eddy and Ann Lesperance
September 25, 2024
The September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 spurred a pivotal change in the way the U.S. approaches preparedness for threats to the homeland. In recognition of National Preparedness Month, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory showcases how national laboratories address homeland security threats by developing the technology and other resources first
National Preparedness Month 2024: Talk About It
Ian Pleet
September 4, 2024
Each September, communities across the United States reexamine their preparedness goals and resources during National Preparedness Month. By educating and empowering individuals and families to prepare for emergencies, communities can be better positioned to face any disaster. In 2024, the Federal Emergency Management Agency urges people to “Start a Conversation”
Vulnerability and Exploitation: Human Trafficking After Natural Disasters
Benjamin Thomas Greer and Nathan DiPillo
August 28, 2024
Disasters inherently come with known and unknown threats. One looming emerging threat is human trafficking because traffickers capitalize on the vulnerability these events create to exploit victims. However, when properly trained, emergency management and disaster responders are uniquely positioned to identify, prevent, and mitigate exploitation before and after an emergency.
Realizing the Power of Community in Disaster Recovery
Aaron Clark-Ginsberg
August 21, 2024
No two communities are the same. Each community has unique vulnerabilities, capacities, and needs, and each has its own leaders, areas of cooperation, and areas of disagreement. Understanding these factors and building on the community’s strengths are critical steps in disaster recovery.
Volunteers: Incident Management Assets or Liabilities?
David Wells
July 31, 2024
Responses are often only effective if volunteers and their teams are properly trained, prepared, motivated, and deployed. One faith-based organization has refined these criteria over its 57 years of responding to major disasters in the U.S. and abroad. Learn about their best practices for driving the mission, boosting the response
Mitigating Disasters Through Collective Resilience
Andrew (Andy) Altizer and Barrett Cappetto
July 24, 2024
Existing social bonds can help communities better adapt to, respond to, and collectively cope with crises. Although the collective resilience concept is not a typical emergency preparedness strategy or organizational structure, it could help lessen the effects after an emergency. With creative thinking and research, executive leadership can develop realistic
Amateurs of Action – The Women of Radio
Desiree Baccus
March 6, 2024
Volunteers are transforming emergency preparedness with an inclusive, diverse movement of impactful community engagement. Explore the inspiring stories of some remarkable women breaking barriers and building resilient communication networks in the heart of amateur radio.
Unleashing Community Resilience Through Collaborative Leadership
Michael Valiente
January 31, 2024
Elected officials and emergency response personnel form the nucleus of community leadership, a driving force for collaborative relationships with local stakeholders. Find out how community leaders who adopt the tenets of transformational leaders can promote resilience and security in their jurisdictions.
Weathering the Unknown: Inside Grant County Emergency Management
Tara Leigh Goode
January 24, 2024
When threatening weather approaches, communities must make tough decisions. Grant County, Minnesota, is building on its lessons learned to better prepare for future severe storms.
National Preparedness Efforts Among Tribal Communities
Lynda Zambrano and Catherine L. Feinman
October 9, 2023
Participants at the National Tribal Emergency Management Council’s annual conference in August shared some key takeaways for tribal and nontribal communities to improve their disaster preparedness efforts. Understanding the concerns and challenges is essential.
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