Most recently published
How I Became an Accidental Disaster Mental Health Specialist
Adrienne J. Heinz
May 21, 2025
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
Philip Klotzbach
May 21, 2025
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?
Pascal Rodier
May 14, 2025
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
Diana Sanchez-Vega
May 14, 2025
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.
Disaster Stress Management in an Emergency Operations Center
Mary Schoenfeldt
May 7, 2025
Disasters affect responders and community members, but they also bring trauma to those working inside emergency operations centers. Distance from the scene does not create a shield from stress. Secondary traumatic stress can impair leadership, so managing this stress is vital for effective emergency response.
A Holistic Strategy for Responders’ Well-Being
Camilo Olivieri
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. Their ability to help others depends on prioritizing their own well-being through proactive self-care.
Bridging Communication Gaps: Lessons from Hurricane Helene
Greg Hauser
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. While physical destruction was visible, the invisible breakdown of communication systems intensified the sense of isolation and
Connectivity: The Foundation of Disaster Response and Preparedness
Cory Davis
April 30, 2025
In an era of increasingly frequent and severe weather events, the demands on first responders have never been greater. To navigate high-stakes, rapidly evolving situations, reliable connectivity and cutting-edge technology are essential. A fast, secure, and resilient communications network is the backbone of any effective disaster response.
Editor’s Note – Emergency Communications: Tough Lessons From the Maui Wildfires
Catherine L. Feinman
April 30, 2025
The after-action report of the Maui wildfires and the authors in the April edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share valuable lessons for strengthening emergency communications in an ever-expanding complex communications ecosystem.
Emergency Alerts: The Missing Link
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
April 23, 2025
As satellite-to-cell technology grows more common, cell phone makers must move quickly to adopt it. This link can bridge emergency services and the public, no matter the disaster or condition of ground networks. Learn how real-time satellite communication saves lives by offering vital access for users and first responders.
Hidden Barriers to Public Safety Interoperability
Gabe Elias
April 23, 2025
Decades of work have improved public safety’s ability to share information. However, the journey toward better interoperable communication requires uncovering additional hidden barriers.
A Regional Approach to Public Safety Communications Planning
Charles (Charley) Bryson
April 16, 2025
Despite significant investments in public safety, critical training gaps for first responders persist. Regional planning committees, established by the FCC in the 1980s to manage public safety radio frequencies, remain key to improving interoperability. Learn about ongoing efforts—both regional and national—to close communication gaps and improve coordinated emergency response.
Meeting the Psychosocial Needs of Child Survivors
Emily Heard
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. 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
Adrienne J. Heinz
May 21, 2025
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
Philip Klotzbach
May 21, 2025
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?
Pascal Rodier
May 14, 2025
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
Diana Sanchez-Vega
May 14, 2025
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.
Disaster Stress Management in an Emergency Operations Center
Mary Schoenfeldt
May 7, 2025
Disasters affect responders and community members, but they also bring trauma to those working inside emergency operations centers. Distance from the scene does not create a shield from stress. Secondary traumatic stress can impair leadership, so managing this stress is vital for effective emergency response.
A Holistic Strategy for Responders’ Well-Being
Camilo Olivieri
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. Their ability to help others depends on prioritizing their own well-being through proactive self-care.
Bridging Communication Gaps: Lessons from Hurricane Helene
Greg Hauser
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. While physical destruction was visible, the invisible breakdown of communication systems intensified the sense of isolation and
Connectivity: The Foundation of Disaster Response and Preparedness
Cory Davis
April 30, 2025
In an era of increasingly frequent and severe weather events, the demands on first responders have never been greater. To navigate high-stakes, rapidly evolving situations, reliable connectivity and cutting-edge technology are essential. A fast, secure, and resilient communications network is the backbone of any effective disaster response.
Editor’s Note – Emergency Communications: Tough Lessons From the Maui Wildfires
Catherine L. Feinman
April 30, 2025
The after-action report of the Maui wildfires and the authors in the April edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share valuable lessons for strengthening emergency communications in an ever-expanding complex communications ecosystem.
Emergency Alerts: The Missing Link
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
April 23, 2025
As satellite-to-cell technology grows more common, cell phone makers must move quickly to adopt it. This link can bridge emergency services and the public, no matter the disaster or condition of ground networks. Learn how real-time satellite communication saves lives by offering vital access for users and first responders.
Hidden Barriers to Public Safety Interoperability
Gabe Elias
April 23, 2025
Decades of work have improved public safety’s ability to share information. However, the journey toward better interoperable communication requires uncovering additional hidden barriers.
Know the Audience: Five Keys to Effective Communication
Marc Hill
April 9, 2025
Effective communication starts with understanding your audience—who they are, what they know, why they’re listening, and what they need to hear. Learn how this awareness can help you deliver a message your audience will understand, connect with, and remember.
AI Software in 911 Dispatch Centers: An Innovative Solution
Tanya M. Scherr
April 2, 2025
Coupled with continued staffing challenges, mental health and work-life balance difficulties in emergency call centers are cause for concern. By allowing artificial intelligence (AI) to take some of the burden off from existing staff and leadership, focus can be returned to where it is most needed within each center.
Agriculture Security: Systems-Based Preparedness
Joshua Dise and Adrian Self
March 26, 2025
As economies and populations grow, the food and agricultural security is of increasing concern. This demands proactive investment in risk management and security measures to ensure the sustainability of the global food supply.
Editor’s Note – Protecting Food and Agriculture: Bigger Than Rising Egg Prices
Catherine L. Feinman
March 26, 2025
The authors in the March 2024 edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share their expert insights on topics that may be overlooked by nonrural communities and why common agricultural and critical infrastructure operations should be on the minds of any emergency preparedness professional.
Farm to Power: New Hazards in Rural Communities
Russ Kane
March 26, 2025
In the interest of reducing methane pollution and establishing a revenue stream for a renewable resource, dairy and livestock operators are creating mechanisms to produce compressed natural gas. This new technology reduces greenhouse gases but also introduces new hazards to rural communities.
Podcast – Advisory Board Spotlight: Interview With Anthony Mangeri
Anthony S. Mangeri
March 19, 2025
Anthony Mangeri is an educator and seasoned leader in emergency management. He is the chief operating officer of the Mangeri Group and the immediate past president of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) Region 2. Learn about Anthony’s passion for his field and for the Domestic Preparedness Journal.
Agricultural Supply Chain Vulnerability: A Freight Rail Disruption Case Study
Michael Sharon and Randy Treadwell
March 19, 2025
The agricultural supply chain’s global interdependency introduces considerable vulnerability. The failure or weakening of even one of the supply chain links has cascading effects. Awareness of potential catastrophe across sectors is crucial to emergency preparedness.
Agroterrorism: A Persistent but Overlooked Threat
Dan Scherr and Tanya M. Scherr
March 19, 2025
Agroterrorism is not new. Considered a subset of bioterrorism, it has become an increasing concern to the U.S. With so much of the agriculture sector in private hands, preparedness leaders must take extra steps to engage stakeholders and incorporate them into planning efforts.
The Societal and Economic Dangers of Agroterrorism
Michael (Mike) Nicholls
March 12, 2025
While Ireland’s potato blight was destructive to the Irish population, modern agroterror attacks could be designed to hurt a nation’s economy rather than to kill its people. However, positively identifying agroterrorists would be a formidable task.
Cost Analysis: Protecting the Grid and Electronics from an EMP
The Foundation for Infrastructure Resilience
March 12, 2025
Because modern societies are increasingly reliant on electronics, they are more vulnerable to the effects of an electromagnetic pulse event. As nations move to electrify their critical infrastructure and essential services, the cascading effects of a power grid disruption increase their vulnerability.
Beyond the Showcase: Strengthening Biosecurity at Livestock Exhibitions
Joshua Dise
March 5, 2025
Hazards and risks associated with state and local fairs mirror those of other high-attendance events—medical emergencies, mass casualty incidents, and other public safety risks. However, within the food and agriculture sector lies an additional risk: the spread of animal diseases, which can have catastrophic consequences.
The Human Factor in Cybersecurity Events: Critical Education Components
Dan Scherr and Tanya M. Scherr
March 5, 2025
When considering cyberattack risk, understanding the primacy of the human factor is central in developing plans for continuity of operations and incident response. With the increasing cost of data breaches, it is increasingly important to educate users on best practices and to employ robust security programs.
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