Today's Top Picks
Autonomous Vehicle Training Challenges for Law Enforcement
In the early morning hours of Saturday, 1 December 2018, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) unit
observed a Gray Tesla Model S traveling southbound on US-101 at about 70 mph. The CHP unit, a
two-officer patrol, pulled alongside of the Tesla and noticed that the single driver/occupant appeared
to be asleep. Activating the CHP unit emergency lights and siren failed to wake the driver. Apparently,
the Tesla Autopilot, a semi-autonomous driving feature was “assisting” the vehicle from running off the
roadway. According to the CHP report, the officers proceeded to pull the CHP unit in front of the Tesla
and, using the autonomous crash avoidance safety system, the vehicle was slowed without colliding with
the CHP unit. The Tesla driver was awakened by the officers at his door, whereupon the driver,
displaying intoxicated behavior, was placed in custody and charged with driving under the influence
(DUI). Autonomous vehicles pose this and other challenges for law enforcement agencies.
Force Multipliers for Public Safety
As a hurricane approaches, a leader must decide whether to issue an order to evacuate or to shelter
in place. When creating active shooter plans, school officials must determine what information can and
should be shared to mitigate the threat. To mitigate disaster, each community must consider the unique
risks and threats that it faces. As emergency preparedness professionals age, they must engage youths to
ensure future resilience. This edition of the DomPrep Journal highlights four key force multipliers for
promoting public safety: information sharing, crisis leadership, situational awareness, and youth
engagement.
Balancing Privacy & School Safety Within FERPA
On 2 January 2019, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission (MSDHSPSC) released its initial report. The commission report addressed many critical issues and lessons learned within its 15 chapters. The chapter on information sharing discussed the actual or perceived restrictions from privacy laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The discussion addressed several areas where there is significant confusion and dispute that continues until today, and directly impacts safety and security planning, preparedness, and collaboration.
Situational Awareness & How to Obtain It
Emergency management is a dynamic field filled with numerous personalities managing ever-changing environments. Some emergency managers handle disastrous events on a yearly basis compared with others who go their entire careers without facing a single disaster. They maneuver unique political landscapes, manage robust emergency management offices, or work in offices of one. In any setting, one of the critical tools found within the emergency manager’s toolbox is maintaining situational awareness.
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Elevating Healthcare Emergency Preparedness… Overlooked until disaster strikes, many emergency management departments struggle with personnel and budgetary constraints, yet the demand placed on these…The Forefront of Innovation in Training &… Disaster wargaming may significantly change the future of tabletop exercises in emergency management and homeland security. Long used effectively to…Emergency Management has Evolved: Why the… While initially useful, the term “all hazards” no longer accurately describes the functions or mission of the emergency management discipline.…Imagining the U.S. Without Power: A Dual-World EMP Exercise A dual-world tabletop exercise simulating an electromagnetic pulse event in Chicopee, Massachusetts, revealed startling discrepancies in outcomes between the city’s…Domestic Preparedness Journal
Featured in this issue: Editor’s Note: Emergency Communications—Tough Lessons From the Maui Wildfires, by Catherine L. Feinman; Emergency Alerts: The Missing Link, by Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso; Hidden Barriers to Public Safety Interoperability, by Gabe Elias; AI Software in 911 Dispatch Centers: An Innovative Solution, by Tanya M. Scherr; A Systems Thinking Approach to Improving Emergency Communications, by William Chapman; Connectivity: The Foundation of Disaster Response and Preparedness, by Cory Davis; Know the Audience: Five Keys to Effective Communication, by Marc Hill; Bridging Communication Gaps: Lessons From Hurricane Helene, by Greg Hauser; A Regional Approach to Public Safety Communications Planning, by Charles (Charley) Bryson
Articles Out Loud
Article Out Loud – Disaster Stress Management in an Emergency Operations Center
May 7, 2025
Disasters affect responders and community members, but they also bring trauma to those working inside emergency operations centers. Distance from
Article Out Loud – A Holistic Strategy for Responders’ Well-Being
May 7, 2025
This is an article by Camilo Olivieri, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 7, 2025. First responders and
High School Interns – A Valuable Community Resource