Domestic Preparedness

This is an article by Esmeralda Valague, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, November 4, 2026. Houston’s experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup offers five operational lessons for emergency managers preparing for large-scale, multiagency events. Years of regional collaboration and preparedness helped establish a strong foundation. Learn how success ultimately depended on agencies ad...

This is an article by Tonya Thornton, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, November 4, 2026. When communications networks fail, consequences can cascade through critical infrastructure and turn a localized disruption into a regional crisis. Preparing for that possibility means having backup capabilities ready before disaster strikes. Learn how coordination between government and private...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Chief Pete Jensen, chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Hazmat Committee and member of the NFPA 470 Committee, to discuss the evolving challenges facing hazardous materials response. Drawing on decades of experience, Jensen explores the importance of u...

This is an article by Joseph Hendry, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 28, 2026. Reviews of active assailant incidents reveal persistent operational shortcomings that can undermine response efforts and recovery. Learn about NFPA 3000, which provides a community-wide framework to turn lessons from past tragedies into more effective preparedness and response. Now to the feature...

This is an article by Ines Bebea and Ashleigh Holmes, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 28, 2026. Over three decades, New York City Emergency Management has transformed emergency response through mobile technology and resilient digital networks. These advances have strengthened public warnings and field operations but also introduce cybersecurity risks and challenges to publi...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcas t, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with David Brossette and Herschel Sova of Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions to discuss the critical role connectivity plays in emergency response. Drawing on their experience supporting public safety agencies, FirstNet deployments, and disaster recovery operations, they e...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips sits down with veteran hazardous materials responder and instructor Alan Finkelstein to discuss the realities of hazmat response, training, and leadership. Drawing on more than four decades in fire service and hazardous materials operations, Finkelstein shares lessons on risk assessment, chemistry, responder readiness,...

This is an article by Aaron Clark-Ginsberg, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 21, 2026. Operational technology disruptions challenge emergency managers to adapt their practices to unfamiliar technical and organizational environments. Learn how understanding these systems can help them develop more effective risk management strategies. Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Carter C. Price, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 21, 2026. Artificial intelligence will transform work in public and private sectors, but predictions about which jobs will disappear often outpace the evidence. For critical sectors, policymakers should preserve human capabilities and essential knowledge so that vital services remain even if forecasts ab...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with preparedness technology entrepreneur Justin Snair to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping emergency management, public health preparedness, and exercise design. Drawing on more than two decades of experience spanning military service, public health, research,...

This is an article by Ari Meisel, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 14, 2026. EMS agencies face growing call volumes and rising costs while traditional funding models struggle to keep pace. Learn how diversified funding streams can reduce financial risk and help agencies sustain reliable service without tying response levels to a resident’s ability to pay. Now to the featured...

This is an article by Curtis Walters, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 14, 2026. As drone threats increase, maintaining airspace awareness gives critical infrastructure organizations the ability to assess threats and make informed decisions. Learn how building that awareness has become a continuity of operations imperative for facilities essential to society. Now to the feat...

This is an article by Scott Johnson, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 7, 2026. When emergency communications fail during severe weather, the consequences can quickly put lives and public trust at risk. Redundancy helps public safety systems stay operational when power or communication links are disrupted. Learn about three strategies that can strengthen emergency communicati...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Benjamin White, a communications technology specialist with extensive experience supporting public safety and critical infrastructure connectivity. White discusses the realities of disaster communications, from cellular network congestion and infrastructure failures to th...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Corpus Christi Emergency Management Coordinator Jace Johnson and Oceans and Wildlife Institute Emergency Management Manager Mike Griffin to discuss the partnerships, planning, and communication strategies that strengthen disaster preparedness. Drawing on decades of experie...

This is an article by Lauren K. Hagy and Jamie Biglow, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 30, 2026. Disinformation can undermine disaster response by creating confusion and threatening public safety. Learn how emergency management agencies can build resilience before disasters by using media literacy and inoculation strategies and by countering high-threat false narratives w...

This is an article by Judy Kruger and Daryl Schaffer, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 23, 2026. Typhoons Halong and Merbok that hit coastal Alaskan communities exposed response and recovery gaps for Alaska Native communities. From shelter options for remote Alaska evacuees to provision of familiar foods that support Alaska Native culture, learn about the practical tools t...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman speak with Joanne Culin, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas. Culin discusses how weather warnings are developed, the role of IPAWS and other alerting systems, and the importance of strong partnerships between emergency managers and the...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips and editor-in-chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Mark Sloan, director and emergency management coordinator for Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management, to discuss the evolving role of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Drawing on more than two decades of experience and the training of over 70,...

This is an article by Alyssa Owen, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 16, 2026. Emergency preparedness messages can become easy to ignore when the public hears the same guidance again and again. Learn how a more creative approach, such as using a zombie theme, can engage youth and turn preparedness into broader family engagement that sparks action. Now to the featured articl...

This is an article by Joanne Culin, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 16, 2026. The forecasted 2026–2027 El Niño is expected to strengthen, potentially becoming a major driver of weather variability across North America. Learn how its slow development provides valuable lead time to strengthen readiness and prepare for potential impacts before they begin. Now to the featured...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips and editor-in-chief Catherine Feinman speak with Elizabeth Van Nostrand, an expert in public health emergency law and grant funding. The discussion explores the rapidly changing landscape of disaster funding, including declining federal opportunities, increased competition, and new regulatory requirements shaping how g...

This is an article by Anthony Horton, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 9, 2026. A school shooting at Tanglewood Middle School in South Carolina put a well-practiced reunification plan into action and demonstrated the value of preparation during a crisis., Learn how advance planning can help schools reunite students with their families and reduce additional trauma, while re...

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips speaks with Dr. Garett Slater, assistant professor and state apiculture extension specialist at Texas A&M University, about the often-overlooked role of honey bees in emergency response and public safety. Drawing on more than 25 years of beekeeping experience, Dr. Slater discusses Africanized honey bees, feral colo...

This is an article by John T. “Tim” Briery, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 9, 2026. In disaster-vulnerable regions, sole reliance on cellular and digital warning networks leaves populations in danger. Catastrophic flood events as in Kerr County in 2025 demonstrate how topographically isolated populations can be left without life-saving warnings despite advanced weather p...