Devastating events can open windows of opportunity. In emergency management, focusing events like
9/11 create opportunities for change. Tragedies like 9/11 or devastating hurricanes create a flurry of
activity in the short period that follows. This activity typically involves conversations about how to
make things better or make change. However, windows for these conversations always close.
Lest We Forget! The nation continues to confront questions presented by the 9/11 Commission Report. The report’s preface states, “September 11, 2001, was a day of unprecedented shock and suffering in […]
Disaster support often conjures the image of boots-on-the-ground responders providing aid to
survivors on scene. However, disaster support involves so much more that is accomplished at each phase
of the disaster management cycle. These efforts include creating codes and standards, building a
workforce, providing financial aid, and offering psychological support.
Since 1998, DomPrep authors and readers have touted the need to prepare for disasters. There is a consensus among preparedness, response, and resilience professionals that forethought is the key to community resilience following a disaster. The desire to prepare is demonstrated through action: innumerable studies and best practices have been written, trainings and exercises have been conducted, and equipment purchases have been made. However, planning documents, practice scenarios, and more resources are not enough. Preparedness needs to be a mindset that stakeholders embrace daily.
To take a multidisciplinary, multijurisdictional approach to disaster preparedness and response,
agencies and organizations must connect both in person and virtually. Mutual aid agreements enable
agencies to share resources and develop a collaborative strategy for addressing emerging threats.
Although predicted by experts, the threats that presented over the past year – namely, a global pandemic
and large-scale cyberattacks on critical infrastructure – still caught many communities by surprise.
With all the thought, planning, and training that go into disaster preparedness efforts,
communities theoretically should be ready for any threat and hazard that they face regularly – severe
storms, wildfires, hurricanes, power outages, earthquakes, droughts, mudslides, etc. However, that is
not always true. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has already recorded 37 declared
disasters in various states so far in 2021. Governors often request federal assistance when their
states’ resources are insufficient to adequately respond to disasters.
Information flow is the process of efficiently moving information within and between jurisdictions
and systems for the purpose of communicating, making decisions, and establishing policies and
procedures. Whether preparing for, responding to, or recovering from a disaster, information flow is a
determining factor in the success of any of these efforts.
For more than 20 years, DomPrep has promoted the lessons learned and best practices of agencies and organizations that have managed various disasters. There is so much valuable advice that […]
One of the most critical yet least understood core emergency management capabilities is planning,
which reduces the chaos present during a disaster. However, the emergency management community is awash
in various planning systems, various types of plans, and confusing terminology that complicates the
work. This often causes problems when emergency managers are tasked to lead new planning efforts, to
update existing plans, and to adapt them to real-life emergencies. Eleven tips and tricks can help solve
these problems.
In 2020-2021, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that a public health emergency is not solely a
public health problem. A multi-discipline, multi-jurisdictional effort is needed to overcome the
numerous challenges that communities face. It is not good enough to create lessons learned and best
practices if no subsequent actions are taken. DomPrep needs your input on COVID-19 preparedness and
response efforts by taking the Pandemic Planning 2021 survey. There is also a comment field for you to
add any additional comments/suggestions, lessons learned, best practices, etc.
Devastating events can open windows of opportunity. In emergency management, focusing events like
9/11 create opportunities for change. Tragedies like 9/11 or devastating hurricanes create a flurry of
activity in the short period that follows. This activity typically involves conversations about how to
make things better or make change. However, windows for these conversations always close. 
Lest We Forget! The nation continues to confront questions presented by the 9/11 Commission Report. The report’s preface states, “September 11, 2001, was a day of unprecedented shock and suffering in […] 