FIRE ARCHIVES
Corporate Support for a Healthcare Facility in Crisis
Craig DeAtley
August 17, 2011
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities are marvelous at handling emergencies, healing the sick, and performing a host of minor and major daily miracles. But who heals the healer? In other words, what happens when the hospital itself is suffering from an explosion, an out-of-control fire, or any other type of
Training, Exercises, and the ICS: A Natural Fit
Stephen Grainer
August 10, 2011
The NFL’s energetic but belated start on pre-season training is a timely reminder that even the best-conditioned and most highly skilled players cannot rest on last year’s laurels. The same is true, but much more so, of emergency responders, whose goal is not to win the Super Bowl but to
All-Hazards Response Training Updated & Expanded
Shannon Arledge
August 3, 2011
The massive increase in workload at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness has led to not only a parallel increase in the center’s own specialized capabilities but also a Noble upgrading of facilities, equipment, and the training curriculum. The other good news, for state and local budget managers, is that all
Reducing the Community’s Risk – One Grant at a Time
Anthony S. Mangeri
July 27, 2011
The guiding principle in emergency preparedness is virtually identical to one of the Golden Rules of good health: Prevention is much better, and almost always lower in cost, than recovery and rehabilitation. Which is why intelligent “grantsmanship” not only focuses first on the reduction of risks and vulnerabilities but also
Funding the Responders: What Happens Next
Glen Rudner
July 20, 2011
In today’s stressed economy almost all U.S. cities and states are seeking new ways to obtain funds and, at the same time, reduce expenditures. This does not necessarily mean there will be an immediate, and massive, reduction in preparedness grants. But those grants must be written more carefully, more persuasively,
Needed From DHS: An Institutional Commitment to Change
Matt Mayer
July 20, 2011
The cities and states seeking grant funds from DHS will be facing an uphill climb for the foreseeable future. DHS itself could help considerably, though, by clarifying the rules, eliminating inconsistencies, dropping all pork-barrel considerations, and – most important of all – inviting U.S. states and cities to become full
Responder Funding: FEMA & Other Federal Preparedness Grants
Cortney Streets
July 13, 2011
Total preparedness is perhaps impossible in the Age of Terrorism – and, it seems, of a major increase in the number and scope of natural disasters. But at least partial preparedness is not only feasible but politically and operationally mandatory as well. As always, preparedness starts with planning – and
Man-Caused Incidents – New Challenges & Systems
Stephen Grainer
June 22, 2011
“Man-caused incidents” – the politically correct term used to describe terrorist attacks – have increased in frequency and severity in recent years and are likely to continue to do so far into the future. Which is one of many good reasons why U.S. emergency managers are focusing more attention on
Manmade Disasters: The Need for Interoperable Communications
Omar Alkhalaf
June 22, 2011
The mounting of a successful response to a major disaster requires the combined skills of firefighters, emergency managers, policemen, and other experienced professionals. It helps considerably, though, if they can talk to one another – ask anyone who lived through the London subway bombings, the Rhode Island nightclub fire, or
45 Seconds of Danger, a Lifetime of Lessons
Craig DeAtley
June 8, 2011
The EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, during the evening of 22 May 2011 was among the deadliest in U.S. history. More than 140 persons died, over 1,000 were injured, and thousands of others were left homeless. In addition, it has been estimated that the cost to “rebuild” Joplin could
The Public Health Role During Mass-Fatality Incidents
Raphael M. Barishansky and Audrey Mazurek
June 8, 2011
Many major disasters start without warning, continue for periods ranging from mere seconds to weeks or months, and leave behind a chaotic mass of useless rubble and ruined lives. The work of public health agencies necessarily starts well before the first tremor, continues through the entire response/recovery/resilience process, and ends
Mass Evacuation of Medical and Functional Needs Populations
Bruce Clements
May 25, 2011
It is reasonable to expect that, when the population of a community – or nation – grows, the need for a mass evacuation of some type will grow at the same pace. That need increases exponentially, though: (a) when catastrophic weather events occur with greater frequency; and/or (b) in the
Follow Us
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.