SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
From Today to Tomorrow: The Emergency Operations Center of the Future
- Nick Betzsold and Grant Tietje
The next-generation EOC, which implements cutting-edge technology and AI, does not promise perfect disaster management, but it does mean responders at all levels will have better situational awareness, plan more efficiently, and act faster.
Most Recent
The Optimism Bias Trap: Rethinking Threat Preparedness
Joshua Sullivan
August 6, 2025
Mass violence increasingly targets ordinary people performing routine duties in uniform, behind the wheel of marked vehicles, or responding to emergency calls. This evolution in tactics calls for a fundamental reassessment of preparedness strategies. Yet, a troubling obstacle remains within many public safety agencies: optimism bias.
Not Optional: The Public Health Consequences of Dismantling Emergency Infrastructure
Andrew D. Pickett and Raphael M. Barishansky
July 30, 2025
During the COVID-19 crisis, decades of investment in healthcare emergency infrastructure—funded through two key federal programs—allowed emergency operations centers to mobilize rapidly, hospital coalitions to coordinate care, and surveillance systems to monitor community spread. However, 2025 federal proposals threaten to dismantle this funding, significantly undermining the nation’s ability to respond
Wildfires: The Growing Public Health Threat
Robert LaMacchia
July 23, 2025
Protecting people from wildfire smoke is a necessary extension of environmental resilience and public health strategy. Public health systems must adapt to effects from respiratory issues and other vulnerable populations as a measure of preparedness.
A Seven-Phase Framework for Organizational Resilience
Michelle Colosimo
July 16, 2025
Organizations cannot always dictate the course of a crisis—whether an incident, active threat, or natural disaster—but they can shape their own readiness and response. This seven-phase framework equips leaders to protect their teams, stay mission-focused, and rebound with resilience.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Archives
Bridging Communication Gaps: Lessons from Hurricane Helene
Greg Hauser
April 30, 2025
Hurricanes in 2024 caused widespread damage to infrastructure, leading to a critical but often overlooked issue: isolation. Physical and technological disruptions left public safety personnel
Connectivity: The Foundation of Disaster Response and Preparedness
Cory Davis
April 30, 2025
In an era of increasingly frequent and severe weather events, the demands on first responders have never been greater. To navigate high-stakes, rapidly evolving situations,
Emergency Alerts: The Missing Link
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
April 23, 2025
As satellite-to-cell technology grows more common, cell phone makers must move quickly to adopt it. This link can bridge emergency services and the public, no
A Regional Approach to Public Safety Communications Planning
Charles (Charley) Bryson
April 16, 2025
Despite significant investments in public safety, critical training gaps for first responders persist. Regional planning committees, established by the FCC in the 1980s to manage
A Systems Thinking Approach to Improving Emergency Communications
William Chapman
April 16, 2025
“PACE” planning helps organizations fail gracefully, but systems thinking reduces the likelihood of failure altogether. Combining both approaches helps organizations build resilience, regardless of threat
AI Software in 911 Dispatch Centers: An Innovative Solution
Tanya M. Scherr
April 2, 2025
Coupled with continued staffing challenges, mental health and work-life balance difficulties in emergency call centers are cause for concern. By allowing artificial intelligence (AI) to
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Most Recent
Communication and Decision-Making During COVID: Lessons From Virginia
Erin Sutton
July 16, 2025
Traditional hierarchical structures present challenges when crises span jurisdictions, agencies, and organizations. Lessons learned from Virginia’s COVID-19 response revealed a
Integrating Research Labs Into Emergency Response
Joshua Dise and Anthony Falzarano
July 9, 2025
In today’s complex threat environment, the ability to move from pathogen detection to action depends on infrastructure and intentional integration
Mitigating Emerging and Re-Emerging Public Health Threats
Raphael M. Barishansky
July 9, 2025
Preparedness is not a luxury—it is essential for global health security. Emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and re-emerging threats like measles
A Holistic Strategy for Responders’ Well-Being
Camilo Olivieri
May 7, 2025
First responders and emergency managers face constant, high-pressure stress from trauma, long hours, and critical decisions. This often leads to
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Archives
Beyond the Showcase: Strengthening Biosecurity at Livestock Exhibitions
Joshua Dise
March 5, 2025
Hazards and risks associated with state and local fairs mirror those of other high-attendance events—medical emergencies, mass casualty incidents, and other public safety risks. However,
The Human Factor in Cybersecurity Events: Critical Education Components
Dan Scherr and Tanya M. Scherr
March 5, 2025
When considering cyberattack risk, understanding the primacy of the human factor is central in developing plans for continuity of operations and incident response. With the
The Forefront of Innovation in Training & Exercises: Disaster Gaming
Arthur J. Simental
February 12, 2025
Disaster wargaming may significantly change the future of tabletop exercises in emergency management and homeland security. Long used effectively to win and prevent wars throughout
Keeping Humans in the Loop: The Future of Emergency Management
Justin Kates and Emily Martuscello
February 5, 2025
The emergence of powerful artificial intelligence tools generates excitement and apprehension, raising profound questions about the future of emergency response. By adopting the joint cognitive
Overcoming Communications Challenges: A Hurricane Helene Success
Jarod Rosson
January 29, 2025
As part of the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s Hurricane Helene Incident Support Task Force, Emergency Management Coordinator Jarod Rosson experienced firsthand what it is
The Current State of the Opioid Crisis & Other Emerging Threats
John Johnson
January 22, 2025
Opioid deaths have surged dramatically since the pandemic. Manufacturers exploit legal loopholes and use precursor chemicals that often evade detection and regulation. These new and
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