Caring for the Affected at Family Assistance Centers

Jennifer Stansberry Miller
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 provide resources for support services, updates on victim identification, assistance with repatriation of remains, and reunification efforts. Discover how tone, timing, setting, and cultural sensitivity significantly impact the psychological well-being of those affected.

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A group of language interpreters, including a sign language interpreter

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.

a large room with computers and monitors and computers on the wa

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.

Full length of fireman drinking coffee while sitting in truck at fire station

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

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARCHIVES

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

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,

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

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

A Systems Thinking Approach to Improving Emergency Communications

William Chapman April 16, 2025

“PACE” planning helps organizations fail gracefully, but systems thinking reduces the likelihood of failure altogether. Combining both approaches helps organizations build resilience, regardless of threat