Criminal activities are not limited to jurisdictional boundaries, nor should the ability to share information collaboratively. Cooperative data sharing within and between jurisdictions is essential for today’s law enforcement demands. As such, law enforcement and other public safety agencies must work together to create a safer and more just society.
When preparing for emergencies, the terms resilience and innovation are more than just buzzwords – sometimes, they are a matter of life and death. Since no two events are identical, managing a crisis requires ever-changing solutions to increasingly complex problems. One research project sought to measure these qualities.
Opportunities can be found in the wake of great devastation. However, it can be challenging to plan for the future while restoring critical services and repairing the damage left in the crisis’s wake. Recovery plans should look beyond what existed before the disaster and include laying a foundation for regrowth and new business.
Most organizations have a daily operational plan for their communications that works most of the time and a backup plan for a short-term problem. However, many do not have a primary, alternate, contingency, emergency (PACE) plan for critical operational tasks. Learn more about the benefits of creating and maintaining a PACE plan.
Out of first-time events come many important lessons learned. For example, information must be disseminated using familiar terminology when an unfamiliar event occurs. In addition, recovery is a team effort that begins before the event has ended. Learn how the third most populated county in the United States handled recovery after Winter Storm Uri in 2021.
by Christina Nunez, Kyle Pfeiffer & Rao Kotamarthi -
A new, publicly available tool provides a window into how future climate realities could affect U.S. cities and towns. Learn how planners and decision-makers can get map-based analyses driven by peer-reviewed climate data using this free portal.
An all-hazards design process considers the function of the building during normal operations as well as the safety of the occupants and the surrounding community against possible risks and threats. Like layers of an onion, effective security should take a multi-layered approach. Safety and security do not need to be compromised for a facility’s functionality and beauty.
When Category 4 Hurricane Ian crossed Florida in September 2022, more than 4 million Florida homes and businesses lost power. However, one town kept the lights on and was spared the devastation the cities surrounding it faced. With resilience and sustainability in mind, this author shares the planning involved in creating this resilient community.
Operational technology systems that run many critical infrastructure functions are becoming more dependent on information technology. As these worlds converge, emergency preparedness professionals must address the related security challenges. This article shares some lessons learned and uses a foundational knowledge of the topic to inspire possible solutions.
by Will Brewer, Peggy Bergeron, and Wayne Bergeron -
How have recent school shootings impacted future K-12 educators and what new skills will help better prepare them for potential threats? One study at the University of North Alabama combined training and research to answer this question.