The Missing Plague Vials

Unattended suitcase in the middle of a populated airport terminalA true story of missing bubonic plague vials, an airport bomb threat, and other suspicious activities again demonstrates continued national and homeland security vulnerabilities and threats. Perspectives may differ, but the concerns are real and provide an opportunity to learn and prepare.

Primary Care Investments to Increase Community Resilience

Surgical mask, stethoscope, syringe and four specimen vialsCommunity health centers are medical lifelines for millions of Americans. However, financial constraints and healthcare workforce challenges strain these critical resources. New initiatives and additional investments can help communities be more resilient and continue to meet community needs during a crisis.

Mental Awareness to Enhance Preparedness

Red lightbulb with a brain on top and a cord laying underneathEmergency managers, public health officials, and first responders often stress the importance of physical fitness, but what about mental fitness? Without focused mental agility in even one of the emergency management phases, mistakes or subpar performance are likely. Learn about this author’s new acronym that can help prioritize mental health in the planning process.

The “R” Word

A dark tunnel of question marks with a bright city skyline in the centerResilience has multiple meanings for public health, emergency, and homeland security management professionals. However, the objective of building resilience should go beyond hazard mitigation. With 2024 being FEMA’s “Year of Resilience,” it is a good time for professionals to start rethinking this concept.

Dungeons and Disasters: Gamification of Public Health Responses

Person sitting at a desk with headphones on facing a gaming computerNew technologies offer new ways to train personnel and exercise public health responses like COVID-19 and prepare response agencies for many other threats and hazards. Gamification integrates realistic scenarios in a controlled environment that can enhance community capabilities and build interagency collaboration and coordination. Learn more about this training and exercise tool.

Interoperability During Mass Casualty Incidents

Man with headset sitting at a desk in front of computersDuring a mass casualty incident, response agencies must be able to communicate in real-time. This means that interoperability plans need to include everyone involved in the response. One lesson learned from past incidents is that hospitals are an often overlooked “responder.” Learn what one agency is doing to close this gap in the Washington, DC, region.

Week 2 – Restoring Infrastructure and Instilling Resilience

highway with automobiles under a sign that directs traffic to the Key BridgeThe Key Bridge collapse was not the first of its kind, and it will not be the last. However, there are measures community leaders can take to strengthen infrastructure and instill resilience. Understanding the short-term and long-term goals after such an incident would help Baltimore and other communities restore the transportation lifelines that have been severely impacted.

An Editor’s Personal Journey to Emergency Preparedness

silhouette of three women on mountain cliff with sun setting in backgroundIn honor of Women’s History Month, the March edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal features articles by inspirational women who, through their service and writing, are instrumental in building more prepared and resilient communities. The editor also shares her personal journey into emergency preparedness.

Emergency Management Goes to the Hill

A piggy bank sitting on top of quarters that spilled from a glass jar next to small wooden housesEmergency managers work behind the scenes to ensure the safety, security, and resilience of communities before, during, and after a disaster. As the requests for assistance increase, funding is not meeting these demands. Leaders from three nationwide organizations went to Washington, D.C., to advocate for emergency management professionals and urge Congress to increase funding for critical programs that will prepare communities for future natural and human-caused threats.

The Evolution of Homeland Security Higher Education

Two soldiers in fatigues walking toward the Washington MonumentAfter the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, homeland security education expanded to ensure that local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal agencies had the tools they needed to combat these threats. This academic leader shares how homeland security programs change to meet new challenges and evolving threats.
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