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Service dog laying on hospital bed with handler

Understanding Service Dogs: What First Responders Need to Know

Service dogs do far more than guide or retrieve—they are medical equipment, trained to monitor, alert, and even intervene during a health crisis. For first responders, understanding these working dogs can mean the difference between life and death.
Women of different ethnicities participate in a group therapy session, sharing experiences and offering support.

Caring for the Affected at Family Assistance Centers

In moments of crisis, a well-executed family assistance center can offer clarity, connection, and compassion that victims’ families and survivors need to begin making sense of loss and change. Family assistance centers provide resources for support services, updates on victim identification, assistance with repatriation of remains, and reunification efforts. Discover
Oil leak from Ship , Oil spill pollution polluted water surface

Psychosocial Hazards: Preventing Human-Caused Disasters

Some of the greatest human-caused disasters in modern history can be attributed to unaddressed psychosocial hazards. Flawed safety cultures contribute to tragic outcomes in which concerns are not taken seriously and dissent is stifled. Learn how to take precautions against a preventable disaster.
Sad, little boy near destroyed house.

Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Child Survivors

Without adequate support and resources, disasters can leave lasting psychological effects on children. In the United States, an estimated 14% of children experience a natural disaster during childhood. Providing psychosocial support is essential in helping them cope with these challenges, thereby building resilient communities.
Plant sprouting amid forest fire embers

How I Became an Accidental Disaster Mental Health Specialist

Dr. Adrienne Heinz and her young family have lived through multiple historic wildfires in Northern California. She decided to turn pain into purpose and mobilize community health leaders to build a mental health safety net for healing and recovery. The lessons from those experiences now serve as a guide and

Podcast – Seasonal Forecasts & Their Limitations With Dr. Philip Klotzbach

This is an interview with Philip Klotzbach, a podcast by Domestic Preparedness, May 22, 2025. Philip Klotzbach, Ph.D., is a research scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University. Dr. Klotzbach developed the two-week forecasts currently being issued during peak months of the hurricane season between August
Firefighter appearing distressed sitting on side of fire truck.

Physical and Mental Injuries in First Responders: Why Wait?

First responders undergo intense physical training to ensure they are physically prepared for emergencies. Yet despite the high-stress nature of their work, mental fitness is not given the same priority. To truly support first responders, mental wellness must be fully integrated into recruit training programs and proactively addressed throughout their
A group of language interpreters, including a sign language interpreter

Not Lost in Translation: A Multilingual Corps Approach

Disaster survivors and responders often face psychological hazards like acute stress disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress. These issues are worsened in multilingual communities, where language barriers hinder communication and delay aid. Effectively addressing these challenges goes beyond basic translation or ad hoc interpreting to address the whole community.

Understanding Service Dogs: What First Responders Need to Know

Service dogs do far more than guide or retrieve—they are medical equipment, trained to monitor, alert, and even intervene during a health crisis. For first responders, understanding these working dogs can mean the difference between life and death.

Caring for the Affected at Family Assistance Centers

In moments of crisis, a well-executed family assistance center can offer clarity, connection, and compassion that victims’ families and survivors need to begin making sense of loss and change. Family assistance centers provide resources for support services, updates on victim identification, assistance with repatriation of remains, and reunification efforts. Discover

Psychosocial Hazards: Preventing Human-Caused Disasters

Some of the greatest human-caused disasters in modern history can be attributed to unaddressed psychosocial hazards. Flawed safety cultures contribute to tragic outcomes in which concerns are not taken seriously and dissent is stifled. Learn how to take precautions against a preventable disaster.

Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Child Survivors

Without adequate support and resources, disasters can leave lasting psychological effects on children. In the United States, an estimated 14% of children experience a natural disaster during childhood. Providing psychosocial support is essential in helping them cope with these challenges, thereby building resilient communities.

How I Became an Accidental Disaster Mental Health Specialist

Dr. Adrienne Heinz and her young family have lived through multiple historic wildfires in Northern California. She decided to turn pain into purpose and mobilize community health leaders to build a mental health safety net for healing and recovery. The lessons from those experiences now serve as a guide and

Podcast – Seasonal Forecasts & Their Limitations With Dr. Philip Klotzbach

This is an interview with Philip Klotzbach, a podcast by Domestic Preparedness, May 22, 2025. Philip Klotzbach, Ph.D., is a research scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University. Dr. Klotzbach developed the two-week forecasts currently being issued during peak months of the hurricane season between August

Physical and Mental Injuries in First Responders: Why Wait?

First responders undergo intense physical training to ensure they are physically prepared for emergencies. Yet despite the high-stress nature of their work, mental fitness is not given the same priority. To truly support first responders, mental wellness must be fully integrated into recruit training programs and proactively addressed throughout their

Not Lost in Translation: A Multilingual Corps Approach

Disaster survivors and responders often face psychological hazards like acute stress disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress. These issues are worsened in multilingual communities, where language barriers hinder communication and delay aid. Effectively addressing these challenges goes beyond basic translation or ad hoc interpreting to address the whole community.

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Article Out Loud – Caring for the Affected at Family Assistance Centers

This is an article by Jennifer Stansberry Miller, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 28, 2025. In moments of crisis, a well-executed family assistance center can offer clarity, connection, and compassion that victims’ families and survivors need to begin making sense of loss and change. Family assistance centers

Article Out Loud – Psychosocial Hazards: Preventing Human-Caused Disasters

This is an article by I. David Daniels, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 28, 2025. Some of the greatest human-caused disasters in modern history can be attributed to unaddressed psychosocial hazards. Flawed safety cultures contribute to tragic outcomes in which concerns are not taken seriously and dissent

Article Out Loud – Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Child Survivors

This is an article by Emily Heard, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 21, 2025. Without adequate support and resources, disasters can leave lasting psychological effects on children. In the United States, an estimated 14% of children experience a natural disaster during childhood. Learn how to help children

Article Out Loud – Not Lost in Translation: A Multilingual Corps Approach

Disaster survivors and responders often face psychological hazards like acute stress disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress. These issues are worsened in multilingual communities, where language barriers hinder communication and delay aid. Effectively addressing these challenges goes beyond basic translation or ad hoc interpreting to address the whole community.

Article Out Loud – Physical and Mental Injuries in First Responders: Why Wait?

First responders undergo intense physical training to ensure they are physically prepared for emergencies. Yet despite the high-stress nature of their work, mental fitness is not given the same priority. Learn how to support first responders by fully integrating mental wellness into recruit training programs and seeing that it is

Article Out Loud – A Holistic Strategy for Responders’ Well-Being

This is an article by Camilo Olivieri, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 7, 2025. First responders and emergency managers face constant, high-pressure stress from trauma, long hours, and critical decisions. This often leads to chronic stress, increasing risks of heart disease, mental health issues, and substance abuse.

Article Out Loud – Bridging Communication Gaps: Lessons from Hurricane Helene

This is an article by Greg Hauser, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 30, 2025. Hurricanes in 2024 caused widespread damage to infrastructure, leading to a critical but often overlooked issue: isolation. Physical and technological disruptions left public safety personnel and government officials unable to perform essential tasks.

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