Military Combat Skills for Civilian Disaster Response | Domestic Preparedness Photo: Source: Domestic Preparedness, June 2022
Healthcare

Military Combat Skills for Civilian Disaster Response

by Lisa Nenno & Timothy Miller -

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 civilian stakeholders, military veterans provided a unique perspective and training experience during a national-level exercise.

 
Preparedness

Taking Flight – Creating a Robust Aviation Response, Part 1

by Sky Terry -

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 response into other community response efforts.

Commentary

Resources Not to Be Overlooked

by Catherine L. Feinman -

The term “whole community” is frequently used in preparedness materials and discussions. In practice, though, how often is the whole community represented and all community resources considered? Here are some key resources that should not be overlooked.

Resilience

Tribal Nations Test Their Communications Capabilities

by Bruce Fitzgerald -

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 and test their communications capabilities.

Resilience

Building Resource Capacity – Start Now

by Andrew Altizer & Timothy Murphy -

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 how to get started.

Preparedness

Uvalde Shooting – A Predictable Surprise

by William H. Austin -

When intentional acts of violence occur, people often wonder if the incident was preventable. For example, after a mass shooting killed 19 students and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, many were questioning the predictability of the gunman’s actions and the decision-making process of the responders. This article examines these questions.

Resilience

Respecting Tribal Emergency Management

by John Pennington -

Emergency management professionals are tasked with making their communities more resilient to future threats and disasters. However, emergency management leaders and their organizations must adjust and adapt to more than just response scenarios. For tribal emergency managers, this means following the principles that define an evolving emergency management fields while also navigating additional bureaucratic obstacles and adhering to their distinct cultural traditions and protocols.

Preparedness

Strategic Depth & the Fight Against Violent Extremism

by Richard Schoeberl & W. Cochran Pruett -

Despite the deaths of Islamic State and al-Qaida leadership, violent extremism is not gone. This article describes why, despite recent successful strikes against terrorist groups, intelligence agencies and others tasked with protecting their communities must stay vigilant. More strategic depth is needed to help reduce the possibility of the extremist groups’ resurgence.

Resilience

Credentialing a Nation’s Volunteer Responder Network

by Patty Ridings -

Catastrophic earthquakes and a desire for residents to help their neighbors inspired the creation of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Since its creation in 1986, CERT has become a nationwide program that continues to evolve. This article describes how a new digital solution is closing the credentialing gap between citizen responders and emergency services agencies to enhance whole-community resilience.

Commentary

Preparedness – A Constant Juggle

by Catherine L. Feinman -

Leaders face many challenges when charged with preparing for the next emergency or disaster. However, the key word is team, so it is critical to manage, prepare, and take care of the team members. Whatever tasks leaders must juggle, do not lose sight of the team that makes all the preparedness, response, and recovery efforts possible.

Updates

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $1 Billion in Funding for First-Ever State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity grant program specifically for state, local, and territorial (SLT) governments across the country. This State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, made possible thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides $1 billion in funding to SLT partners over four years, with $185 million available for Fiscal Year 22, to support SLT efforts to address cyber risk to their information systems.

S&T Launches New Training Guideline for Detection Canine Teams

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced a new interactive training tool for handlers and trainers of explosive detection canines to upgrade their capabilities to Person-Borne Explosives Detection.

DHS Releases Recommendations to Protect National Public Warning System from EMPs

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a report on operational approaches to protect the National Public Warning System from an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). The report is a collaborative effort between the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Program, and the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

FEMA Releases First-Ever National Tribal Strategy

FEMA released a national tribal strategy -- the agency’s first-ever -- to better address its responsibilities to federally recognized tribal nations when responding to and preparing for disasters affecting tribal lands.

HHS Invests Nearly $60 Million to Strengthen Health Care Workforce and Improve Access to Care in Rural Communities

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration, announced investments of nearly $60 million to grow the health workforce and increase access to quality health care in rural communities, including nearly $46 million in funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.