Hazmat Archives

Wanted: Mental Health Support for Disaster Trauma

Mary McNaughton-Cassill, Mary Schoenfeldt and Ruth Baugher Palmer August 3, 2022

Disaster response organizations have become increasingly adept at meeting the basic needs of survivors, including shelter, food, water, and medical treatment. However, traumatic disaster-related experiences – including threats to life, exposure to death and injury, and the destruction of homes and communities – also take a psychological toll on survivors. Common responses to

Responding Respectfully to People With Disabilities

James Martin August 3, 2022

Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, doctors, nurses, and others in emergency response roles are regularly tasked with responding to emergencies and disaster sites and communicating with various people who have been involved in or witnessed an incident. However, some research has shown that there is “a gap in first responders’

Creating a Common Operating Picture for Wildfire Season

Akshay Birla July 27, 2022

Life is beginning to return to normal following the past two years of the pandemic, but the world is still as unpredictable as ever. When it seems as though one catastrophic situation is coming to an end, another tends to emerge as the newest public safety issue. One set of

Societal Violence & Its Impact on Critical Infrastructure

Nathan DiPillo and Tim Scarrott July 27, 2022

The “new normal” following the COVID-19 outbreak is still evolving. Although some people have welcomed the relief from many years of commuting and focused on personal growth and time with family, others have become disenfranchised, isolated, depressed, or lack purpose and empathy. As the United States reels from the recent

Teleforensic Tools – From Telemedicine to Law Enforcement

Michael Melton July 20, 2022

Telemedicine capabilities have become valuable medical tools to provide life-saving treatment to patients where and when needed. Similarly, off-site skills and knowledge can be transferred to on-site law enforcement personnel through teleforensics to identify and thwart threats, while increasing crime clearances. This article describes how expanding capabilities, identifying needs, delivering

Public Health Preparedness– Finding Its Path Forward

Raphael M. Barishansky July 13, 2022

Public health preparedness has emerged and matured as a distinct discipline since the events of 9/11 and the subsequent Ameri-thrax attacks. Although, in the past, public health agencies were pushed to the forefront of various emergencies, the planning and infrastructure for public health emergency response were not funded and not

What Preparedness & Response Leaders Need in the New Normal

Catherine L. Feinman July 6, 2022

To address the challenges that emergency preparedness professionals face in an ever-changing threat environment, the Domestic Preparedness Journal hosted a panel discussion at the Texas Emergency Management Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on June 2, 2022. The multidiscipline panel was moderated by James (Jim) Featherstone, a principal consultant at a

Editor’s Message: 6-Month Review – June 2022

Catherine L. Feinman June 29, 2022

The first half of 2022 certainly has been busy! As businesses fully reopen and people around the world begin to explore life in the new normal, the Domestic Preparedness Journal has been exploring its new normal as well. The journal was launched in 1998 to bridge the communication and collaboration

Building Capability: Zero Tolerance vs. Acceptability

Christopher Tantlinger June 22, 2022

A tool designed with zero tolerance would not be able to function efficiently or effectively. Likewise, taking a zero-tolerance approach to emergency preparedness and response has led to some problematic policies and procedures. This article explains why building in some level of acceptability would make policies and procedures more effective

Working Together: Partnership, Training, Funding & Tolerance

Catherine L. Feinman June 22, 2022

When community stakeholders work together to prepare for emergencies and disasters, they will be better prepared and have more resources to face whatever threats, risks, and hazards are in their future. Four key aspects to consider when building community resilience are addressed in this June edition of the Domestic Preparedness

Public Safety Grant Programs Changes – A 10-Year Review

Kurt Bradley June 15, 2022

Article Out Loud Change is inevitable. As society continues to progress in the “digital age,” so has applying for various federal grant programs. It is becoming almost impossible to apply to these programs via a paper application, as in the past. To remain competitive when applying for these grants, it

The Risk-Based Approach to Hazardous Material/WMD Incidents

Tony Mussorfiti June 8, 2022

Low-frequency, high-consequence events are rare, emergency responders still need to be able to evaluate these complex problems and determine initial actions. To avoid being overwhelmed and increasing the risks to both responders and civilians, emergency responders need to be able to quickly identify all potential hazards, then predict the outcome

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