VOLUNTEERISM
State Defense Forces: The Untapped Backbone of Emergency Response
- Robert Hastings
As disasters become more frequent, states face pressure to expand response capacity without raising costs. With stretched National Guard resources, limited federal support, and finite mutual aid, states have an overlooked resource: Title 32 State Defense Forces.
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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.
Elevating Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Exercises with Realistic Patient Simulation
Kathryn Romanchuk and Ben Kobliner
February 19, 2025
Overlooked until disaster strikes, many emergency management departments struggle with personnel and budgetary constraints, yet the demand placed on these departments continues to increase. Nevertheless, hospitals and health systems need to be prepared, and full-scale exercises are a comprehensive method for achieving this preparedness.
Advice for Surviving a Disaster: Be Selfish and Small-Minded
David C. Williams II
November 13, 2024
In the base camp of his fifth federally declared disaster this year, a disaster finance coordinator reflects on a friend’s recent question: “How can I best help in a disaster?” His answer might be surprising: be selfish and small-minded.
National Laboratory Partnerships: Linking Operations and Research
Ryan Eddy and Ann Lesperance
September 25, 2024
The September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001 spurred a pivotal change in the way the U.S. approaches preparedness for threats to the homeland. In recognition of National Preparedness Month, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory showcases how national laboratories address homeland security threats by developing the technology and other resources first
VOLUNTEERISM Archives
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 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
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.
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Volunteerism
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National Preparedness Month 2024: Talk About It
Ian Pleet
September 4, 2024
Each September, communities across the United States reexamine their preparedness goals and resources during National Preparedness Month. By educating and
Vulnerability and Exploitation: Human Trafficking After Natural Disasters
Benjamin Thomas Greer and Nathan DiPillo
August 28, 2024
Disasters inherently come with known and unknown threats. One looming emerging threat is human trafficking because traffickers capitalize on the
Realizing the Power of Community in Disaster Recovery
Aaron Clark-Ginsberg
August 21, 2024
No two communities are the same. Each community has unique vulnerabilities, capacities, and needs, and each has its own leaders,
Volunteers: Incident Management Assets or Liabilities?
David Wells
July 31, 2024
Responses are often only effective if volunteers and their teams are properly trained, prepared, motivated, and deployed. One faith-based organization
Volunteerism Archives
National Preparedness Efforts Among Tribal Communities
Lynda Zambrano and Catherine L. Feinman
October 9, 2023
Participants at the National Tribal Emergency Management Council’s annual conference in August shared some key takeaways for tribal and nontribal communities to improve their disaster
Planning for A Cross-Country Special Event
Mark Howell and Laurel J. Radow
September 27, 2023
A solar eclipse is a unique form of special event that does not always fall under emergency planning protocols, but it should. This article urges
Cybersecurity in Hospitals and the Public Health Sector
Dan Scherr and Tanya M. Scherr
September 20, 2023
Cyberattacks on healthcare systems affect millions of patients each year. It is critical for agencies and organizations to build a culture of compliance and awareness
Three Puzzle Pieces That Increase Community Preparedness
Paul Gunnels
September 13, 2023
This author reflects on his team’s direct mission to New York in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, commonly referred to as 9/11,
Citizen Soldiers and American State Defense Forces
James P. Howard Ⅱ
September 6, 2023
State defense forces can be activated in times of emergency to assist with disaster response, homeland security, and other missions. However, more awareness within communities
Deploying With Adult Non-Prescription Medication Kits
Richard (Kirk) Higgins
August 16, 2023
The availability of non-prescription medications may mean the difference between a successful deployment and needing to return home ahead of schedule. As such, first responders
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