Government officials in Maine are taking steps to protect the electric grid from severe geomagnetic disturbances and manmade electromagnetic pulse weapons. However, ensuring that state agencies and electric utilities work together toward a common goal can be a challenge. The final task force report on emergency legislation passed on 11 June 2013 is expected later this month.
In the nation's capital, emergency managers identify hazards, consider location-specific elements, and implement lessons learned from past incidents in order to create a robust preparedness plan for critical infrastructures, including power and water. Efforts in neighboring jurisdictions and private sector cooperation also contribute to the regional resilience of the power grid.
School shootings draw a lot of attention from the media as well as from the public, but the number of school deaths is small compared to those that occur away from school property. Although "statistically safe," schools still must prepare for a broad range of possible incidents and could benefit from standardized safety and security efforts.
Recovery, risk mitigation, and economic growth are the necessary elements that compose the concept of resilience. Building this resilience, however, requires being able to break out of operational and program silos at all levels of government and to work with nontraditional community groups to harness the power of social media.
In July 2012, a disastrous solar storm could have crippled the country - and possibly the planet - for months had its occurrence not missed Earth by less than two weeks. New reports about that storm have reignited the discussion about the effects of an electromagnetic pulse and the impact on society.
Being a great leader requires much more than just a title. True leaders build a solid foundation on honor and respect, which includes building rapport with others and being aware that all actions have consequences. Emergency management and public safety officials all have the ability to be "leaders" and agents for change.
"Unexpected" threats may not be so unexpected, but rather foreseen threats that were not taken seriously. Anthrax, plague, and smallpox were ongoing concerns even before the recent incidents that occurred on U.S. soil. However, local jurisdictions must plan for and be operationally prepared for such no-notice biological incidents.
The New York City Board of Health has a long tradition of creating innovative ways to promote better public health practices, but the recent "soda ban" ruling may hinder that innovation in the future. Although still a strong authority for "traditional" public health threats, the public health implications for "nontraditional" public health threats are yet to be seen.
For emergency managers, the planning process never ends. Rather, it continues to evolve over time. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency embraces this concept and recently updated its mobile app to meet the changing needs of its local communities. This newly redesigned app serves as a template for agencies in other jurisdictions.
Elliot Rodger left many clues about his deadly intentions before killing six university students, injuring 13 others, and ultimately killing himself. Numerous threatening videos, a 140-page manifesto, and vague verbal threats were all pre-attack indicators. Although only hindsight is 20/20, such indicators should provide clearer vision when searching for potential future threats.
