Domestic Preparedness

“Old-school” communication systems continue to save lives when conventional networks fail. In this episode of  Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , host Nicolette Phillips sits down with public health and emergency management leader Eduardo “Eddie”   Olivarez to explore the enduring role of amateur radio in modern disaster response. From 9/11 to Hurricane Maria and beyond, learn how resilient, com...

This is an article by Eric K. Stern, Unal Tatar, Brandon Behlendorf, and Thenkurussi Kesavadas, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 29, 2026. AI is accelerating digital interdependence and automating advanced cyberthreats, increasing the likelihood of cyber crises across industries. As threats evolve, resilience efforts must prioritize innovation and agility. Learn how the Cyber...

This is an article by Vincent B. Holman Sr., an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 22, 2026. In today’s competitive work environment, employees and supervisors can collaboratively manage career growth by building key knowledge and skills. One effective tool is the individual development plan, created with management and supported by organizational culture to clarify goals, assess s...

Like preparing for other emergencies, cyber preparedness requires planning and practice so teams can respond effectively under stress. In this episode of  Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast , Nicolette Phillips and John Robertson sit down with Dr. Katherine Davis and Steve Ash to focus on the growing importance of cybersecurity in critical infrastructure, particularly water, wastewater, and power...

This is an article by Jeffrey Williams, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 15, 2026. Emergency response and public reaction to the COVID pandemic differ from responses to radiological incidents, but lessons learned during COVID can still apply to them. The pandemic exposed unique challenges while coordinating and communicating during an unfamiliar emergency. Learn how those gain...

This is an article by Richard Schoeberl, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 15, 2026. Moving beyond traditional silos, multidisciplinary training builds a faster, more efficient response system that protects both first responders and the communities they serve. Learn how uniting law enforcement, EMS, fire, and mental health clinicians into a cohesive team replaces peer pressure...

This is an article by Lee Hudson, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 8, 2026. The 2024 hurricane season tested Pasco County Fire Rescue's preparedness, but they were more than ready. Author Lee Hudson was the special operations chief who oversaw the acquisition of training and response equipment prior to that remarkable season. Learn how these investments and more paid off w...

This is an article by Meghan E. Hutchinson, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 8, 2026. Radiological emergency preparedness (REP) and training is an underutilized asset when confined to fixed-facility planning. Emergency managers and REP stakeholders should advocate for integrating these capabilities into the broader all-hazards framework. Learn how jurisdictions can apply speci...

In this episode, Nicolette Phillips of Domestic Preparedness talks with New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell about her decades of public service and the evolution of emergency management. Commissioner Farrell shares the leadership lessons she has learned through periods of transition and crisis and offers advice to other preparedness professionals navigating an increas...

This is an article by Trellis Gaarder, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 1, 2026. Emergency response teams often integrate a steady flow of new or out-of-practice personnel during active operations. Disasters bring unfamiliar staff and spontaneous volunteers eager to help, but many struggle to find their place while emergency operations centers race to get them up to speed. Lea...

This is an article by Elizabeth Cronin and Vanessa Flores, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 1, 2026. After a mass violence incident and the scene is secured, the response shifts to helping families locate loved ones, access accurate information, and connect with trauma-informed services. Learn how victim services and behavioral health support must be integrated into planning a...

This is an article by Drew Weston, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 25, 2026. Public safety agencies operate under growing pressure to improve response times, officer safety, and use-of-force decisions. In this environment, critical choices are often made with incomplete information. Yet, in high-risk incidents, the first moments can shape the final outcome. To close that gap,...

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Price, Chief Information Security Officer for Texas A&M Engineering, to discuss the changing landscape of cybersecurity and what it means for organizations working to stay prepared in a fast‑moving digital environment. With experience spanning global consulting, incident response, military and law enforcement service, and his current role supporting one o...

This is an article by Vincent Holman Sr., an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 18, 2026. Six active volcanoes shape Hawai‘i’s disaster risk, and each poses at least a moderate threat. Hazard assessments by many scientists provide the data for timely response. Learn how recovery that takes community traditions into account, alongside response efforts, can boost resilience. Now to t...

This is an article by the National Tribal Emergency Management Council and the United States Volunteers – Joint Services Command, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 18, 2026. The December 2025 flooding in western Washington state marked the first full-scale activation of National Tribal Emergency Management Council authorities. The response in the Snohomish Valley demonstrated t...

This is an article by Robert Mueck, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 11, 2026. College faculty are ready force multipliers during emergencies. As subject-matter authorities, they offer technical knowledge and practical skills that first responder organizations may not otherwise possess. Learn how many higher education institutions actively integrate faculty and staff into camp...

This is an article by Mark Ryckman and John Contestabile, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 11, 2026. Flood response is complex. Preparedness must reflect how water moves through a community in its various forms, not just how risk appears on a map or in projected recurrence intervals. Learn how to reduce risk and seamlessly align people, processes, and technology to create resi...

This is an article by Alfred Titus, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 4, 2025. In 2022, 10 people were killed and 3 others were injured at a New York grocery store. That attack left lasting community trauma and exposed gaps in post-incident mental health support. To address these shortcomings, state agencies created disaster mental health response exercises. Learn how other jur...

This is an article by Jon Bodie, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 4, 2026. Human judgment errors can have serious consequences on preparedness, response, and recovery. Learn how confronting cognitive bias and complacency head-on sharpens readiness and drives smarter decisions when lives are on the line. Now to the featured article.

In this episode, Nicolette Phillips of Domestic Preparedness sits down with Certified Emergency Manager Michael Prasad to explore the evolving landscape of training, education, and real‑world experience in emergency management. Michael shares insights from decades of work across state government, the American Red Cross, and national leadership roles. They talk about the gaps he sees in today’s wor...

This is an article by Ingo Simonis and Sina Taghavikish, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, February 25, 2026. Disasters generate an abundance of information, but decision-makers often find usable insight constrained by disconnected platforms. Learn how a new AI-enabled Discrete Global Grid System could organize satellite imagery, demographic data, infrastructure maps, and real-time s...

This is an article by Joel Landis, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, February 18, 2026. Severe weather across southern Somerset County on May 13, 2025, left behind more than washed-out roads and damaged homes. It exposed a growing reality: Disasters do not have to be historic to be devastating, and federal help is not guaranteed. Learn how one community is driving meaningful change....

This is an article by Judy Kruger and Martha King, an ArticleOut Loud from Domestic Preparedness, February 18, 2026. When natural disasters hit farms, the damage ripples far beyond the field, shrinking supply and driving up costs. The solution starts before the storm. Redundant logistics planning, trusted data sharing, and clear data governance can help agriculture move equipment, protect assets,...

This is an article by Bob Campbell, an Article Out Loud fromDomestic Preparedness, February 11, 2026. States and Tribal Nations are increasingly expected to shoulder greater disaster responsibility, often with less federal support. This shift heightens budget pressures and demands stronger emergency management capacity. Learn how building robust local, state, and Tribal capabilities can reduce rel...

In this episode, host Nicolette Casey Phillips from Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast speaks with Joshua Barnes, manager of NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System. Their conversation looks at how NASA’s science and satellite capabilities support the people working on the ground during emergencies, and how research can be translated into practical tools for preparedness and response.