Domestic Preparedness

By VINCENT B. DAVIS, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, February 24, 2016.  This 2016 article describes a continuity gap that still exists today in many corporations. Corporate confusion could spell disastrous response in a crisis. To dispel such confusion, companies should have an emergency manager on staff, ensure that employees are well prepared, and recognize...

By AKSHAY BIRLA, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, July 27, 2022. Life is beginning to return to normal following the past two years of the pandemic, but the world is still as unpredictable as ever. When it seems as though one catastrophic situation is coming to an end, another tends to emerge as the newest public safety issue. This article addresses the wildfire threat a...

By TIMOTHY SCARROTT & NATHAN DIPILLO, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, July 27, 2022.  An examination of past violence shows how terminology can affect the incident-reporting process and subsequent statistics for various incident rates. However, statistics clearly show that the COVID-19 pandemic did increase societal violence, which can significantly impact critical...

By MICHAEL MELTON, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, July 20, 2022.  Telemedicine capabilities have become valuable medical tools to provide life-saving treatment to patients where and when needed. Similarly, off-site skills and knowledge can be transferred to on-site law enforcement personnel through teleforensics to identify and thwart threats, while increasing crime cl...

By ROBERT F. KELLY & DEAN C. ALEXANDER, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, July 20, 2022. The Nashville Christmas bombing provides valuable lessons about targeted violence incidents. This research on pre-attack indicators shares four key takeaways for law enforcement and other preparedness professionals to understand regarding lone wolf and leaderless resistance attack...

By KAY C. GOSS, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, March 19, 2014.  This 2014 article stated, described the wide variety of natural disasters that various parts of the world had recently experienced. The author's prediction that the frequency and cost of such events would continue to increase is demonstrated in the $1-billion events since 1980 rising from 151...

By TASHAWN BROWN, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, August 15, 2018. In 2017, the National Weather Service reported 107 fatalities across the United States related to heat – more than the deaths related to tornados, hurricanes, and cold weather combined. In 2021, that number was 190. Revisit this 2018 article to learn how New York has been helping local emergenc...

By RAPHAEL M. BARISHANSKY, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, July 13, 2022.  Public health preparedness has emerged and matured as a distinct discipline since the events of 9/11 and the subsequent Ameri-thrax attacks. Although, in the past, public health agencies were pushed to the forefront of various emergencies, the planning and infrastructure for public health emergen...

By CHARLES GUDDEMI, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal. Community lifelines ensure that businesses and the government can continue functioning and society can thrive. However, a breakdown in daily operations is inevitable when one or more lifeline is lost. In communications, this means a disruption in technology that has become interwoven into societal norms – talking, text...

By THOMAS J. LOCKWOOD & PETER LAPORTE, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal,  October 26, 2016.  Various drills and exercises highlight efforts to protect communities against various types of attacks involving transportation, buildings, historic sites, sporting events, and so on. Attacks and hostage-taking incidents around the world expose vulnerabilities that n...

By RICHARD SCHOEBERL & DANIEL SCHERR, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, October 18, 2017. “Lone wolf” attacks like the Highland Park shooting at a July 4th parade continue to represent significant threats to communities as well as national security. Whether ideologically or non-ideologically inspired, mass shootings resulting in 10 or more fatalities have oc...

By David Covington Emergency Management Academy Director at the Texas Division of Emergency Management In most fields, basic training is part of the learning process. Fire, law enforcement, the military, and other disciplines have training academies for building competencies and testing new recruits. An exception to these types of requirements is the field of emergency management. This new trainin...

By STEPHEN M. THAL & WILLIAM H. AUSTIN, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal,  May 22, 2013. July marks the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This 2013 article describes the challenges that people with disabilities faced after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm left many people without basic resources, but less publicized was the f...

By KENDALL A. LESER, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, April 01, 2015. The 2013 Boston Marathon bombing case was memorable for many people - especially for the 16 people who lost limbs on that tragic day. This 2015 article reminds local and state agencies that, by law, every jurisdiction must have plans and partnerships in place to ensure that those with existin...

By CHRISTOPHER TANTLINGER, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, June 22, 2022.  A tool designed with zero tolerance would not be able to function efficiently or effectively. Likewise, taking a zero-tolerance approach to emergency preparedness and response has led to some problematic policies and procedures. This article explains why building in some level of acceptability wo...

By KURT BRADLEY, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, June 15, 2022.  Public safety agencies require funding to support their operations. Government grants provide opportunities to build preparedness and response programs and strengthen community resilience. However, the grant process has changed over the years. This article helps agencies navigate the current competitive gr...

By JOSEPH J. LEONARD JR., An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, May 08, 2019. The world is currently facing many threats. In 2018, Domestic Preparedness hosted the Emerging Homeland Security Issues Panel in conjunction with the Clean Gulf Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. This article summarizes the active discussion among panel members and more than 50 attendee...

By CHARLES PERINO, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, August 12, 2015. Key stakeholders across the northwestern U.S. continue to participate in a National Level Exercise to prepare for a massive earthquake and tsunami in the Cascadia Subduction Zone. Past catastrophic disasters can help identify the economic, geopolitical, and social factors of each community&#39...

By TONY MUSSORFITI, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, June 08, 2022. Low-frequency, high-consequence events are rare, emergency responders still need to be able to evaluate these complex problems and determine initial actions. To avoid being overwhelmed and increasing the risks to both responders and civilians, emergency responders need to be able to quickly identify all...

By ARTHUR GLYNN, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal,  June 15, 2016. Tomorrow, a simulated 9.0-magnitude earthquake will rupture along the 700-mile Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ). Such an event could create 90-foot wave surges in some areas, according to geological factors and historical accounts. Using research and lessons learned from previous events and exercis...

By JEFFREY D. WILLIAMS, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, July 08, 2015. Hazardous material personnel are faced with a broad range of chemical, biological, and radiological hazards. However, not all hazards are equal, nor are similar quantities. As hazardous material experts convene in Baltimore this week for an annual convention, this 2015 article offers a glim...

By JUDY KRUGER & SCOTT HARRIS, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, June 01, 2022.  Japan is more prepared for future disasters due to communications and annual investments in exercises and drills with local and international partners. Tokyo Disney Resort leveraged private-public partnerships to increase preparedness in employees, guests, business services, critical infr...

By SCOTT MCCALLUM, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, June 19, 2013. As baby formula shortages continue across the country, many agencies and organizations are working together to get supplies to those in need. Providing food to the hungry entails gathering donations, distributing food, and tracking every step of the process to keep the supply chain safe and secu...

By  ROB SCHNEPP, An Article Out Loud Flashback from the Domestic Preparedness Journal, June 29, 2005. In the late 1960s, far too many firefighters were dying in the line of duty when fighting fires involving hazardous materials (hazmat). One man, Ludwig Benner, realized that changes were needed, both in the way firefighters were being trained and in the decision-making process. This 2005 article p...

by ROBERT LEVERONE, An Article Out Loud from the Domestic Preparedness Journal. Law enforcement agencies are tasked with protecting life and safety as well as the civil liberties of those within their jurisdictions. Crowds present even more complex and dynamic scenarios. However, this research on crowd psychology can help law enforcement officers navigate these complexities on an operational level...