Winter Storm – Reimagining Recovery Using Support Functions | Domestic Preparedness Photo: (Source: HCOHSEM).
Resilience

Winter Storm – Reimagining Recovery Using Support Functions

by Jamie Hannan & Stephanie Wright -

Out of first-time events come many important lessons learned. For example, information must be disseminated using familiar terminology when an unfamiliar event occurs. In addition, recovery is a team effort that begins before the event has ended. Learn how the third most populated county in the United States handled recovery after Winter Storm Uri in 2021.

 
Preparedness

Threat Assessment and Management: Practices Across the World

by Carl Amritt, Eliot Bradshaw & Alyssa Schulenberg -

In 2021, the number of terrorist attacks increased 17% from the previous year. As actors adapt and change their tactics and techniques, cities must develop new capabilities to counter these threats. This article explores notable global practices to help cities develop or enhance their threat assessment and management programs.

Healthcare

Crisis Standards of Care – A Mental Health Perspective

by James L. Greenstone -

During a disaster, responders face many challenges and must make difficult decisions. For health care professionals, accepting a sufficient standard of care during a crisis may be the most difficult. This mental health perspective provides some key points to consider before the next crisis occurs.

Resilience

Applications for a Newly Developed Risk and Resilience Tool

by Christina Nunez, Kyle Pfeiffer & Rao Kotamarthi -

A new, publicly available tool provides a window into how future climate realities could affect U.S. cities and towns. Learn how planners and decision-makers can get map-based analyses driven by peer-reviewed climate data using this free portal.

Preparedness

Virtual Reality Training Revolution Is Here

by Peter Johnson -

Training is often a check-the-box task. However, it can be difficult to know how much training was learned. Virtual reality and its related analytics provide a way to heighten participation and monitor learning levels for numerous threat scenarios.

Healthcare

The Pony Express Rides Again

by Monty Dozier -

When supply chains were diminished during the coronavirus pandemic, leaders had to find innovative ways to protect their communities. In Texas, they used the Pony Express model to ensure the delivery of personal protective equipment, critical supplies, and vaccines to those in need.

Preparedness

Benefits of Industrial Liaisons – A Harris County Example

by Jamie Hannan -

Planners in the Harris County, Texas, area are successful specifically because of the relationships they have built over many years. For example, the county’s Industrial Liaisons Program provides many positive takeaways and best practices practitioners can implement throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Resilience

Building Design for Safety and Resilience – First Steps

by Paul Marshall -

An all-hazards design process considers the function of the building during normal operations as well as the safety of the occupants and the surrounding community against possible risks and threats. Like layers of an onion, effective security should take a multi-layered approach. Safety and security do not need to be compromised for a facility’s functionality and beauty.

Commentary

Beachie Creek Fire – A Practitioner’s Firsthand Account

by Charles (Chuck) Perino -

When disaster strikes, sometimes those trained to respond find themselves and their families fleeing from the fire. Once their families are safe, they jump back in to assist wherever needed. This scenario happened to one emergency manager when the Beachie Creek wildfire engulfed surrounding Oregon communities with little warning.

Resilience

How One Town Stood Up to a Category 4 Storm

by Jennifer Languell -

When Category 4 Hurricane Ian crossed Florida in September 2022, more than 4 million Florida homes and businesses lost power. However, one town kept the lights on and was spared the devastation the cities surrounding it faced. With resilience and sustainability in mind, this author shares the planning involved in creating this resilient community.

Updates

DHS Announces Results of 2022 Invent2Prevent Final Competition

The Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, in collaboration with EdVenture Partners and the McCain Institute for International Leadership, hosted the finalists of Invent2Prevent, a program that empowers university and high school students to develop innovative projects that help prevent targeted violence and terrorism in their local communities.

FEMA Seeks Public Feedback on Cost-Effective Hazard Mitigation Measures

FEMA is seeking public feedback from state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) stakeholders and the general public on how communities use Mitigation funding through the Public Assistance Program.

News Release: DHS S&T Develops Portable Outdoor Gunshot Detection Technology for Law Enforcement

A new portable Gunshot Detection System can provide critical information about outdoor shooting incidents almost instantaneously to first responders. The system, called SDS Outdoor, was developed in collaboration between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Shooter Detection Systems (SDS) of Rowley, MA.

TSA breaks record for number of firearms at security checkpoints, announces new measures to mitigate threat

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have intercepted a record number of firearms brought by passengers to airport security checkpoints in 2022.TSA anticipates it will prevent about 6,600 firearms in carry-on bags from entering the secure area of airports by the end of 2022, a nearly 10% increase over 2021’s record level.

Understanding What Responders Need

Join Science and Technology in Harbison State Forest, South Carolina, as they test a newly designed respirator tailored to help wildland firefighters breathe easier. Hear insights from test director Hasan Shahid from the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory as he walks through the test and evaluation exercise of this tech that will make a difference on the fire line.