COMMUNICATION & INTEROPERABILITY ARCHIVES
The Evolution of Devolution
Joseph Cahill
November 14, 2007
Who, when, how, and under what circumstances – those are only a few of the questions that are asked, and must be answered, in political, legal, and sometimes even combat situations calling for a transfer of decision-making command authority.
Glenn Cannon, Assistant Administrator for Disaster Operations, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Glenn Cannon
October 24, 2007
His views on the post-Katrina reorganization mandated by Congress, his directorate’s working relationships with other FEMA branches, and the challenge of coping with both “notice” and “no-notice” disasters and emergencies.
The 2006 All-Hazards Report: Yesterday’s Warnings to Meet Today’s Disasters
John F. Morton
October 24, 2007
The states of the Mid-Atlantic region provide a helpful all-hazards primer that their sister states throughout the rest of the country should read and heed. Eight new “pillars of wisdom” are discussed in meaningful detail, and numerous lessons learned.
The Sorting – Life-or-Death Decisions on the Scene
Joseph Cahill
October 17, 2007
When requests for aid overwhelm the resources available, whether the medical situation occurs in a small town or a big city, life-or-death decisions must be made – immediately, in many cases – about which patient receives immediate help and who waits. During day-to-day operations triage is largely a function assigned
The Commonwealth’s Approach – Implementing a Common-Language Protocol
Chris Essid
October 10, 2007
Coded language systems have existed for decades and have been extremely useful, particularly for public-safety agencies, because they incorporate a degree of brevity and security in radio communications. However, in current times, coded language is no longer providing the security it once did, nor is it allowing first responders to
Partnerships in Interoperability: A Best Practices Model
Kay C. Goss
September 26, 2007
It is axiomatic in the EM (emergency management) community both that regional collaboration is the foundation of emergency management and that interoperability of equipment – one of the keys to a successful collaboration – is 10 percent technology and 90 percent governance. But collaboration cannot be mandated; it has to
Washington State’s Radiological Outreach and Training Program
Allen Conklin
September 19, 2007
The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 forever changed everyone’s view of readiness, especially in the field of radiation. The possibility of a terrorist cell using radioactive or nuclear material as a weapon has raised the consciousness of the Washington State Department of Health, the leaders of which wanted to
Systems and Solutions – The Gateways to Interoperability
Gary Simpson
August 22, 2007
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, brought to light, in stark reality, one of the greatest problems facing public safety entities around the world – communications interoperability. Since 9/11 many jurisdictions have spent millions of dollars to upgrade communications systems with features that are designed to improve their ability
National Guard Takes Center Stage in HD/DO Op Orders
Jonathan Dodson
August 22, 2007
Colonel Jonathan Dodson, USA (Ret.), stopped by the DomesticPreparedness offices again to provide an updated briefing on the structure and workings of the National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters – State (JFHQ – State). Following are excerpts from his remarks in response to questions from Managing Editor John F. Morton.DomPrep: Colonel,
The Doctors Plot – Its Implications for America
David P. Wright
August 15, 2007
Security experts dismiss the attempt by Islamic doctors to blow up a London nightclub as an “amateurish” operation. But that misses the real point, which is that physicians – people who know how to make biological weapons – are now on the terrorist team.
Changing the Rules: First-Responder Data Communications Tools Make an Impact
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
August 1, 2007
Since the deployment of the first mobile computers in police cruisers more than 20 years ago, the ability to access and exchange information between first responders in the field and their dispatch centers has grown steadily. Of course, early mobile technology involved customized hardware and software that was limited in
Hospital Evacuations: Planning, Exercises, and Common Sense
Joseph Cahill
August 1, 2007
“Full-scale” exercises sound like, and are, the ideal – but only in certain almost-perfect circumstances, and not without a firm foundation of individual and team training exercises to build on.
Follow Us
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.
