Emergency Management Archives

The Ongoing Quest to Assess & Measure Preparedness

Terry Hastings, Chris Hennen, Gerald Manley, John Pendio, Joe Sastre, Kevin Sligh and Arthur (Art) Samaras February 1, 2017

Since 9/11, billions of dollars and an enormous amount of effort have been directed at enhancing national preparedness efforts as they relate to human-caused and natural disasters, yet many jurisdictions and organizations still struggle to determine how prepared they are and how prepared they need to be.

Sustainable Emergency Preparedness & Response for Hospitals

Rachel Clark and Oscar Enriquez January 25, 2017

A cohesive, well-developed disaster response team is essential to prevent adverse incidents and lives lost. Meeting current safety guidelines must be enculturated for a successful program, thus saving lives and providing optimal quality of life after a major disaster. Completing the minimal requirements for tasks to meet current safety guidelines

The Changing Face of Disasters Demands New Thinking

Vincent B. Davis January 24, 2017

New problems call for new solutions. The definitions and parameters, in which emergency management, law enforcement, nongovernmental organizations, and others now work under, are inadequate to meet the new challenges of today. Furthermore, the old rules as to how and why to prepare simply do not apply anymore.

Time Value of Capability: Expenditures vs. Savings

Charles Eaneff January 18, 2017

The business of domestic preparedness seems to be a likely priority in 2017, and the relationship between the time value of state and local capabilities and federal disaster relief policies are sure to evolve. For public safety professionals – including police, fire, emergency medical, and emergency management services – the

Local Role in Preparedness & Resilience to Natural Disasters

Roland Temah January 17, 2017

Natural disasters begin locally and may affect one or more communities simultaneously. However, a community approach to preparedness and resilience – with local government officials identifying the different natural disasters that make their communities vulnerable – can greatly influence response and sustainability efforts to counteract potential challenges. To achieve effective

Enhancing Incident Management for Local Responders

Jeffrey Driskill Sr. January 16, 2017

Since 2003, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) has required local officials to report NIMS compliance actions to their respective emergency management agencies, which in turn reported these results to the state. The National Incident Management System is entering its 14th year with varied degrees of accomplishment.

Sailing Toward Port Resilience

Yuri Graves January 11, 2017

A sturdy boat and a knowledgeable crew increase the odds for a safe voyage. To build a sailboat with a strong, sturdy foundation, the keel is laid and the hull is made to balance and support the entire boat while at sea. Similarly, community preparedness also needs a strong foundation

Ghosts of Old Vulnerability

Douglas McDaniel January 11, 2017

There are few conversations today capable of surfacing guttural emotional responses quite like a discussion related to bias and inequalities. The challenge is clear. From the most elementary perspective, if the existence of bias and/or inequalities is acknowledged, it is illogical to then ignore the possibility that adverse impacts are

Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Emergency Management

Darren E. Price December 21, 2016

Responding to disasters is a critical function for first responders and the emergency management community. Rotary and fixed-winged aircraft have traditionally performed disaster response missions, such as overhead damage assessments, reconnaissance, and missing person searches. However, with the advancement of unmanned aircraft systems, there is an opportunity to perform conventional

Tomorrow’s Emergency Management Capabilities

Jeffrey Kaliner December 14, 2016

If someone were to walk into a high school classroom today and ask the students about their future professions, there may be one or possibly two students who wish to pursue emergency management. However, as much as the field has grown since 2001, emergency management is still not the dream

Preparing for a New Pandemic With an Old Plan

Robert C. Hutchinson December 7, 2016

The measurable level of national planning and preparedness for a serious pandemic threat or biological attack continues to be a subject of great discussion, debate, and concern in the United States and around the world. This level of readiness continues to be a challenge as identified in regular studies, reports,

Importance of Presidential Leadership in Emergency Management

Kay C. Goss November 23, 2016

With over 30 years working in emergency management – 12 years in a state governor’s office, almost 8 years at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as associate director in charge of national preparedness, training, and exercises, and 11 years in the private sector at Electronic Data Systems and Systems

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