Full article by Aaron Clark-Ginsberg, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 21, 2024.

In this feature article, a behavioral and social scientist understands that no two communities are the same. Each community has unique vulnerabilities, capacities, and needs, and each has its own leaders, areas of cooperation, and areas of disagreement.

Listen to expert insights on leveraging a community’s unique factors and strengths as critical steps in the disaster recovery process.

Full article by June Isaacson Kailes, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 14, 2024.

In this feature article, a disability policy consultant reminds community leaders that public engagement and participation involve community members in problem-solving, decision-making, and policy development. Result-centered engagement can help protect people with disabilities and other community partners from many adverse impacts of emergencies.

Listen to expert insights on some new practices for creating actionable opportunities for key stakeholders to participate in decisions that affect their communities.

Full article by Angie Im, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 14, 2024.

In this feature article, a healthcare research and policy expert points out that new human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed in the United States. Although most cases like this do not escalate to pandemic status, communities must be better prepared than they were for COVID-19.

Listen to expert insights on one study’s findings about gaps that may hinder preparedness efforts and what states can do to bolster their capabilities.

Full article by Patricia Frost and Michael Prasad, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 7, 2024.

In this feature article, the vice chair of the National Pediatric Disaster Coalition and a certified emergency manager work together to prepare children and community leaders for disasters. Leveraging social media to create crisis communication campaigns can be an effective way to boost community outreach efforts and raise awareness of children’s unique needs in disaster planning and response.

Listen to expert insights on how governmental and non-governmental organizations can change disaster preparedness attitudes and behaviors for the benefit of the entire community.

Full article by Robert C. Hutchinson, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 7, 2024.

In this feature article, a former police chief and deputy special agent in charge with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, Florida, revisits the U visa process. The U visa was created to help immigrants who are victims of certain violent crimes, but loopholes or weaknesses in the process could provide a safe haven for undeserving applicants.

Listen to expert insights about the process, its flaws, and how to close the gaps to guard against foreign threats while protecting a program that so many victims depend upon.

Full article by Joseph J. Leonard Jr., an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 31, 2024.

In this feature article, a retired U.S. Coast Guard commander reflects on the July 2024 attempted assassination of Former President Donald Trump. That incident raises questions about event security, the roles that agencies play, and the planning and execution of those roles.

Listen to expert insights on lessons learned and best practices that emergency preparedness and public safety professionals should consider before, during, and after upcoming political and other special events.

Full article by David Wells, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 31, 2024.

In this feature article, the director of disaster relief for a faith-based nonprofit describes how his organization has refined its volunteer program over the past 57 years of disaster response in the U.S. and abroad. His experience shows that responses are often only effective if volunteers and their teams are properly trained, prepared, motivated, and deployed.

Listen to expert insights and best practices for driving the mission, boosting the response effort, and ensuring a positive outcome for each incident recovery effort.

Full article by Andy Altizer and Barrett Cappetto, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 24, 2024.

In this feature article, an emergency preparedness coordinator and a pipeline controller emphasize the importance of leveraging existing social bonds to help communities better adapt to, respond to, and collectively cope with crises. Although the collective resilience concept is not a typical emergency preparedness strategy or organizational structure, it could help lessen the effects after an emergency.

Listen to expert insights on using creative thinking and research to develop realistic disaster mitigation programs and support an active process at all organizational levels.

Full article by Kevin Jones, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 24, 2024. 

In this feature article, a school protection specialist and security manager pulls from his personal experience with law enforcement to highlight drone uses that save lives and time during incidents. As drone technology continues to evolve, it is important for law enforcement and other first responder agencies to understand the range of possible applications and physical and legal limitations of these tools. 

Listen to expert insights about small, unmanned aircraft systems and how they can be integrated into response efforts for any type of incident. 

Full article by Michael Prasad, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 17, 2024.

In this feature article, a Certified Emergency Manager lists eight major elements of Community Lifelines using traffic-light-type color-coding to categorize a disaster’s adverse impact status. He applied this same system to the Key Bridge collapse recovery efforts in Baltimore, Maryland.

Listen to expert insights and learn how he applied this information-gathering tool to an ongoing recovery effort.