Domestic Preparedness

By DANIEL RECTOR, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, November 09, 2022. After-action reviews highlight the successes and expose the failures of disaster preparedness and response efforts. Four significant events demonstrate how communities managed when power outages, communication failures, and healthcare concerns emerged in their aftermath. Unfortunately, these same issue...

By MICHAEL PRASAD, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, November 09, 2022. Many faith-based organizations have disaster response and recovery components as major elements of their own missions. By partnering with governmental and nongovernmental organizations, faith-based groups can coordinate locally to support response and restoration efforts, as well as provide mental hea...

By LEWIS EAKINS, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, January 21, 2015. When a tornado touches down, a school is under fire, or another disaster strikes, patrol officers often are the first response personnel at the scene. In addition to their traditional crime-fighting roles, patrol officers must be able to manage an incident until more support arrives, which requ...

By JUDSON M. FREED, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, May 31, 2017. A top-down approach provides guidance and support from federal agencies to local jurisdictions. A bottom-up approach ensures that local needs are being heard at the top. However, when local agencies are tasked with national security efforts, more guidance and support may be needed from above. It...

By STEVE STEIN, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, November 02, 2022. Despite small local governments being overrun with malware, ransomware, and myriad other threats, it is difficult to find experienced cybersecurity professionals. Meanwhile, students search for nonexistent entry-level jobs. One Washington State-based nonprofit is seeking to close this cybersecurity gap....

By TANYA M. SCHERR, DANIEL SCHERR & RICHARD SCHOEBERL, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, November 02, 2022.  How the war in Ukraine will end is unclear. However, research shows that there is the potential for devastating effects on a global scale. As such, it is important for emergency planners to reassess their all-hazards plans to ensure their communities identify t...

By MARKO BOURNE, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, December 10, 2013. Many cities across the United States are not adequately prepared to accommodate people with disabilities during and in the wake of major disasters. However, some of the current gaps in whole-community preparedness are beginning to close. If more-inclusive planning efforts continue to expand, c...

By CRAIG DEATLEYI, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, September 25, 2012. If a nuclear device were to be detonated within any of the nations major metropolitan areas, the healthcare system both inside and outside the blast-damage zones would be seriously affected. Predicting the "what ifs" and planning for such scenarios can help hospitals and responder...

By THOMAS RUSSO, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, October 26, 2022. Given 20 years of pandemic planning, is it not surprising when people ask, “Why were we not ready?” This question should be explored whether the time has come to put the country on a warlike footing for pandemic response with a coherent, institutionalized, and tested pandemic policy. Narrated by MacGrego...

By MICHAEL MONTFORT, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, October 26, 2022.  A June 2022 exercise challenged amateur radio operators with establishing a Communications Unit with no power or pre-positioned equipment. The exercise was successful, but the key takeaways are already helping to improve collaboration and communications throughout the region. Narrated by MacGregor S...

By ZSOFIA PASZTOR & SZABOLCS PASZTOR, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, October 19, 2022. Even though food is necessary for survival, it is not common to see agricultural workers at a disaster training exercise. However, one organization demonstrates why training these volunteers with emergency preparedness and response skills is essential for future large-scale disas...

By MABEL DE LEO & DEBORAH SATELER, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, October 19, 2022. The current monkeypox outbreak is different from historical outbreaks that remained endemic and rarely became international events. Now the situation is changing daily. This article explains what precautions are needed to prevent the spread and how new approaches should be implement...

By KAY C. GOSS, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, September 09, 2015. This 2015 article will help preparedness professionals better understand the presidential disaster declaration process and how to access supplemental disaster relief funds following a hurricane or other disaster. Narrated by Randy Vivian. 

By MITCH SARUWATARI, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal,  December 21, 2011. Preparedness efforts are continually improving. However, as expressed in this 2011 article, the challenge of establishing verifiable standards, quantifying improvements, and identifying readiness gaps is ongoing. Narrated by Randy Vivian. 

by  JAMES ORIGLIOSSO & SKY TERRY, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, October 12, 2022.  Volunteer general aviation pilots have assisted their communities during emergencies and disasters for many years. This is the second of a two-part article on their disaster preparedness efforts in the Pacific Northwest. In this part, they participate in two separate yet coordinated...

By BENJAMIN LIEB & JASON BASHURA, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal. History reveals patterns that preparedness professionals can use to better protect communities from agroterrorism and supply chain threats. One historical study has been updated to reflect cases of intentional food contamination events around the world. Learn more about this research and how to protec...

By CRAIG DEATLEY, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, August 07, 2013. Monkeypox is the latest virus that raises contamination and decontamination questions. This 2013 article explains how each decision made will affect a hospital's total cost and benefits. Narrated by Randy Vivian. 

By JENNIFER PEARSALL, An Article Out Loud by the Domestic Preparedness Journal, October 05, 2022. Over the past two and a half years, most emergency preparedness professionals experienced some level of virtual work, even at emergency operations centers (EOC). And it appears that some aspects of working virtually is here to stay – including during a response. This article describes some lessons lea...

By PATRICK COYLE, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, October 05, 2022. The Chemical Sector is one of 16 sectors identified as critical infrastructure under the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. Domestic Preparedness invited one subject matter expert to answer important questions about this sector and how the sector and its interdependencies can affect any...

By RAPHAEL M. BARISHANSKY, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, May 02, 2012. Hospitals in Florida continued to care for their patients as Hurricane Ian battered their state. This 2012 article describes the type of interagency cooperation and standard of care needed during this crisis. Narrated by Randy Vivian.

By JOSEPH CAHILL, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, March 25, 2009. This 2009 article discusses the lessons learned after Hurricane Katrina. Following the evacuation of many Floridians prior to Hurricane Ian, many new lessons will likely be learned. Narrated by Randy Vivian.

By BRUCE FITZGERALD, An Article Out Loud by the Domestic Preparedness Journal, September 21, 2022.  A 9.0-magnitude earthquake is a predictable scenario along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This article describes how the tribal nations in the Pacific Northwest are preparing their region for this catastrophic event. This exercise allowed tribal and non-tribal participants to evaluate their resources...

By LISA NENNO & TIMOTHY MILLER, An Article Out Loud by the Domestic Preparedness Journal, September 28, 2022.  During their service, military personnel acquire a broad range of lifesaving skills that are critical when on the frontline during wartime. Effective medical triage is one of the skills needed during combat and any major disaster or catastrophic event. Partnering with tribal and other...

By SKY TERRY, An Article Out Loud by the Domestic Preparedness Journal, September 28, 2022. General aviation pilots have been finding ways to assist their communities during emergencies and disasters for many years. However, over the past two years, significant advances in disaster preparedness have been made as emergency response plans were created and exercised to integrate volunteer aviation re...

By ANDREW ALTIZER & TIMOTHY MURPHY, An Article Out Loud by the Domestic Preparedness Journal.  Building resource capacity involves research, planning, and execution that should begin now. Identifying potential dangers, considering “what if” scenarios, capitalizing on other events and incidents, and overcoming barriers are key components for building resilient communities. This article explains...