Do Some People Think Status Quo is Good Enough?
I recently saw an article talking about Responding to Mass Shootings. It read like an old worn out sneaker, comfortable but stinky and ugly. Why are we still talking about [...]
Wake-Up to the Earthquake Risk: Will The 5.8 event that rattled DC really result in preparedness?
Having worked at the federal level and state level on planning efforts for a New Madrid earthquake, and following on the heels of NLE-11, I was fascinated to read the [...]
Almost ten years have passed since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Are we better prepared?
In light of the tenth year anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, I thought it fitting to take a look at contributing factors leading up to that [...]
Social Media in ICS
The attached schematic illustrates how an Incident Commander could establish a Social Media Section to collect early unfolding data from an incident for use in their response operations. Overtime this [...]
Leadership starts at the top. I say, write the Admiral in for President
Now why can't we find leadership like this everywhere? This is a must read.
Why Do We Struggle to Put Federal Response Assets on Scene When it Counts?
I think one needs to also appreciate the impact of our economy on trying to keep any federalized response package truly ready to respond as an emergency entity. It is [...]
96 Hours For Federal Support – Is That Acceptable?
In 2010 I worked for FEMA Region V to develop, among other appendices, the ESF-8 appendix to their Catastrophic Earthquake Plan. With my years of field experience, response and planning [...]
Open Source Jihad
Quite a fascinating read and probably as effective as coffee in waking one up is reading the new Al-Qaeda "Inspire" publication. Glossy pictures, guest authors and a wide range of [...]
National Level Exercise- New Madrid Earthquake Scenario- An Opportunity Lost
Exercising our nations' preparedness for an event similar to the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami as occurred in Japan seems a prudent opportune moment to shine a light on what [...]
Preparedness Anyone?
The United Nations, International Strategy for Disaster Reductions is sponsoring a campaign called Making Cities Resilient: "My city is getting ready" Campaign kits are available in multiple languages and this [...]