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Mitigate the Impacts When Communities and Nature Collide

wildfire in woods with smokeEmergency preparedness professionals plan for and try to mitigate natural hazard events, but nature is unpredictable. In this May edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal, experts discuss past hazards and steps communities can take to mitigate their effects.

A Critical Imperative for Natural Hazards

truck on road with wildfire behind smokeAs the number and size of natural hazards increase across the globe, communities can take a comprehensive preparedness approach to mitigate their potentially devastating effects. By integrating the intricate interrelations of physical, social, economic, and environmental factors, communities can better withstand, adapt to, and recover from the shocks and stresses imposed by such events.

Key Bridge Collapse: Unity of Effort

Man in U.S. Coast Guard jacket looks over the water at a cargo ship and bridge that collapsed into the water next to itAs the response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse continues in Baltimore, Maryland, the unity of effort among the many agencies and organizations involved has facilitated the progress. Together, they have been addressing the priorities of life safety, incident stabilization, property and asset protection, environmental and economic restoration, and recovery.

The Psychology of Crisis

Green typewriter with white paper with only the word "Crisis" on itThe psychological side of a disaster or other impactful event is a critical component of crisis management. However, many people still do not fully understand the predictable phases and patterns that could help them take the appropriate steps or actions to move through the crisis and mitigate its impact. Understanding the psychology involved makes a crisis much more manageable.

Resilience-Based CI and Domestic Preparedness: A Long-Overdue Imperative

Honeycomb graphic with images of the critical infrastructure sectorsFor decades, preparedness leaders have known and publicly warned about the rapidly growing and metastasizing threats to and exploitable vulnerabilities of U.S. critical infrastructure (CI). Ongoing iterations of the 1990s-era CI status quo (i.e., cybersecurity- and protection-focused efforts) have proven no match for the existing, much less looming, threats to and often self-inflicted vulnerabilities of the country’s cyber-reliant CI and domestic preparedness.

Shielding Communities: Public Health Strategies for Natural Hazards

Person wearing glasses, white protective suit, blue gloves, and respirator, holding up thumb in a room with mold on the walls.Public health risks are common concerns when natural hazards occur. However, history shows that the increasing frequency of events and growing population sizes have been increasing the scale of events and the needs of affected populations. To mitigate complex public health challenges, personnel across disciplines must plan, coordinate, and develop response strategies that build a mutual understanding of the risks and hazards communities face during these events.

Elegant Community Preparation

Drawing of a toolbox. Inside the box are five people, a hammer, wrench, book, heart, and water flaskElegant community preparation means having a process that makes disaster planning efforts simpler for community members. By collaboratively focusing on novel factors in an easily understood way, individuals and families can better prepare for any disaster or disruption.

Navigating the Seismic Dance: Preparedness in the Ring of Fire

top view of live volcano in blue with smoke coming upThe Pacific Ring of Fire, a moniker that evokes images of volatility and destruction, is not merely a geographic term but a constant reminder of humans’ vulnerability to the earth’s whims. Learn about the multifaceted nature of earthquake risks and delineate the indispensable role organizations play in mitigating the impacts of such calamities through informative, equitable, and persuasive techniques.

National Security: A Range of Threats

NYPD police car and other emergency vehicles behind police tape and surrounded with smokeFrom organized foreign terrorist groups to homegrown terrorists inspired by them, members of the intelligence community have indicated that the threat of attack inside the U.S. has increased to its highest point since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Communities must explore solutions to meet the ongoing challenges and “range of threats.”

Preparing for the Next Public Health Emergency

Public health is not just about pandemics but also about a wide range of threats that can affect the health and well-being of communities. In this April edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal, practitioners share ways to prepare for the next public health emergency.
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