Emergency Management Archives

Building Resilience Early & Geographically

Stephen McElroy September 11, 2013

Earthquakes have changed the course of rivers, tornadoes have uprooted and moved trees and homes, and other types of disasters have caused terrain and geographical changes that made it difficult for residents to recognize their own neighborhoods. Geographic information systems offer emergency managers and responders a valuable tool to help

A Network of Interoperability

Charles L. Werner September 11, 2013

The Charlottesville Fire Department has been able to turn a difficult and labor-intensive task into a relatively simple daily routine. Having the right tools to communicate with other organizations, and to receive timely and accurate information, makes incident command operations easier to manage.

Saving Lives & Protecting Property: A Flood of Helpful Information

Terri Turner and George Deussen September 11, 2013

The old cliché “I told you so” may apply when examining the effects of ongoing flood events. Statistics are available and warnings have been made, but not enough preventive measures are yet in place to save lives and protect property values in many U.S. communities.

9/11 Never Forget

Martin D. Masiuk September 11, 2013

September is designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as National Preparedness Month – a time when U.S. agencies and organizations, at all levels, recognize the need for and take steps to improve their own preparedness efforts.

Worst-Case Scenarios: Sudden & Total Isolation

Joseph Cahill September 4, 2013

The setting of national standards for the personal protective equipment worn and training received by first responders working in a hazardous-materials environment is a positive step forward.

NDMS Builds Capabilities With Fundamentals Course

Domestic Preparedness September 3, 2013

The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is charged with augmenting the nation’s medical response in support of state and local authorities. To accomplish its mission, the NDMS has employed Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) – consisting of professional medical personnel, supported by logistics and administrative teams – across the country.

Insider Threats: A Call for Greater Vigilance

Joseph W. Trindal August 28, 2013

When the defense for acts of insider espionage is personal conscience, at least some people show sympathy for the accused. The publicity given to such lone-actor miscreants – coupled with the growing development of and dependence on cyber capabilities – is reason enough for considerable concern in both the public

Radioactive Sources – An Invisible Hazard

Stephen Jolly August 21, 2013

Medical and industrial facilities, universities and colleges, cargo containers, and floodwaters have something in common with nuclear power plants – all of them can be a source of nuclear radiation. Knowing where radiation might be “hiding” within a community is the first step that emergency managers should take to protect

Radiological Emergencies – Public Health Responsibilities/Challenges

Audrey Mazurek and Raphael M. Barishansky August 14, 2013

Over the past decade, U.S. public health agencies (local, state, and federal) have seen an increase of responsibility in preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating emergencies. In addition to planning for responses to naturally occurring disease outbreaks, these agencies are often key partners in responding to weather

Nuclear Meltdown – The Need for Timely & Honest Information

Janette D. Sherman and Joseph J. Mangano August 14, 2013

Similarities can be drawn between two nuclear disasters that occurred 27 years apart, in different countries. Dealing with a nuclear disaster in the United States or elsewhere still requires having accurate information – which must be delivered in time to help emergency responders deal with potentially major consequences. As long

Special Decontamination Considerations: Bridging the Gap

Ryan Hay August 12, 2013

Following exposure to radiological or other hazardous materials, decontamination efforts often focus on the people directly involved, but other concerns also must be considered – the use of weapons and/or possible harm to animals, for example. Pennsylvania’s Lehigh County has developed a best practices approach to ensuring that response teams

Hospital Decontamination – High Costs & Limited Benefits

Craig DeAtley August 7, 2013

Article Out Loud The primary reason why the Emergency Department of almost any U.S. hospital or other healthcare facility should be ready and able to respond to a hazardous material release is to protect patients, staff, and the hospitals’ own facilities from avoidable contamination. However, unlike many other patient-care procedures

TWITTER

Get Instant Access

Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.

Sign up for Updates!