Domestic Preparedness

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and editor-in-chief Catherine Feinman speak with Haley Elkins, a public health professional specializing in biosecurity, disaster planning, and behavioral health. The conversation explores how partnerships between public health and critical infrastructure are evolving to support more coordinated and effective emergency response efforts. From workforce resilience to disaster behavioral health, listeners will gain insight into how communities can strengthen their preparedness by fostering stronger partnerships.

This is an article by Jeff Semancik, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 1, 2026. Advanced reactors promise safer nuclear power with smaller emergency planning zones and fewer expected off-site impacts. But emergency planners and responders must still be prepared to handle new hazards introduced by advanced reactor designs. Learn how planners who engage communities early and plan thoroughly will be best positioned to maintain public trust when an incident occurs. Now to the featured article.

This is an article by William “Bill” Loucks, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 1, 2026. Fentanyl deaths have been declining, but far more potent substances, including nitazenes and novel psychoactive substances, are expanding in the illicit drug supply, raising overdose and accidental-exposure risks. Since these emerging drugs are harder to identify and more difficult to reverse, learn how first responders should understand what they are dealing with and why they should always take precautions. Now to the featured article.

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and editor-in-chief Catherine Feinman speak with Dr. Lisa Koonin, a leading public health preparedness expert with decades of experience at the CDC. From pandemic preparedness to future “Disease X” scenarios, the conversation explores the growing importance of collaboration between public health agencies, emergency management, and the private sector in an evolving public health landscape. 

This is an article by Joshua Dise, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, June 24, 2026. A single screwworm case is a real-world test of whether the animal health response architecture can recognize a threat early enough to stop it from spreading. Learn how rapid reporting and coordinated response can be the difference between a localized incident and a broader agricultural security crisis. Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Bruce Clements, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, June 24, 2026. The 2014 Dallas Ebola case was a single infection that triggered a community-wide emergency, exposing weaknesses not in medicine, but in communication, healthcare readiness, and public trust. Many of those same challenges resurfaced during COVID-19 and other recent outbreaks. Learn how successful infectious disease response depends on strong partnerships and plans that are tested before a crisis begins. Now to the featured article.

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips sits down with National Weather Service Director Kenneth Graham to explore how the nation’s premier weather agency is transforming the way it supports emergency management and public safety. Drawing on decades of frontline forecasting experience, Graham shares how the Weather Service is shifting from simply issuing forecasts to delivering real-time, decision-focused support directly to those on the front lines. From hurricanes and floods to wildfires and emerging AI-driven forecasting tools, discover how stronger partnerships, innovative technology, and a renewed focus on actionable intelligence are helping communities better prepare for and respond to extreme weather. 

This is an article by Svetlana Smorodinsky, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, June 17, 2026Embedding public health and disaster epidemiology professionals into planning, response, and recovery can strengthen decision-making and improve responder safety. It can break down silos between disciplines and expand capacity without adding staff, turning data into action. Learn how embedding disaster epidemiology saves lives and builds more resilient agencies and communities.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Raphael M. Barishansky, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, June 17, 2026.Federal programs like the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement and the Hospital Preparedness Program sustain the public health and healthcare systems that communities depend on during crises. Learn how shifts in responsibility from federal to state agencies could impact capabilities and critical preparedness activities.Now to the featured article.

State and local public health workers, emergency managers, and partners in faith-based organizations are rooted in wanting to help people during disasters. In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and editor-in-chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Jack Herrmann, the senior director of Clinical Services for the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross, to hear about his experience in working with communities and leading volunteers through high-stress disaster responses.

This is an article by Cory Davis, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, June 10, 2026.As extreme weather risks intensify, public safety agencies, infrastructure, and communications systems are under growing strain. But rising complexity is being met with smarter solutions. Learn about a new era of emergency response that is taking shape, driven by artificial intelligence and resilient, high-performance connectivity.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Justin Snair, Emma Erwin, and Sarah K. Miller, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, June 10, 2026.COVID-19 exposed major preparedness gaps, and AI has evolved as a resource. Yet procurement remains risky: organizations must navigate data security, compliance, workflow, and ethical concerns without a clear way to evaluate vendors. Learn how existing frameworks assess governance and technical risk, but rarely address domain expertise and operational fit, which are factors that often determine whether a tool succeeds or fails.Now to the featured article.

In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, Lieutenant General Russell Honoré reflects on how U.S. emergency preparedness has evolved since Hurricane Katrina. While he notes significant progress in emergency response practices, he also describes the complexity of disaster response and recovery. The growing challenge of misinformation highlights how technology enables real-time communication but also can fuel confusion during crises. Disaster response planning must consider the factors that impact some communities more than others. His advice to emerging leaders is to remain adaptable and committed to addressing the increasingly complex risks they will face. 

This is an article by Judy Kruger, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, June 3, 2026.The airline industry has become an active part of the defense system against disease threats, actively investing in readiness to monitor emerging pathogens among passengers and linking them to new technology. Learn how additional real-world prevention strategies could reduce the chance that a new disease is introduced into the U.S. through air travel.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Justin Templeton, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, June 3, 2026.Emotional injury may not take responders off the job, but it changes how they connect with family, friends, and each other. Left unaddressed, those effects shape organizational culture long before leaders recognize the damage. Even though trauma is unavoidable in an emergency, learn how readiness depends on how well organizations sustain dutiful responders.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Julia Beems, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 27, 2026.Despite life-or-death stakes during a power outage, too many people who rely on powered medical equipment still lack backup power, disaster plans, or the financial means to secure them, leaving communities more vulnerable during large-scale emergencies. Learn how expanding access to backup power protects individuals, reduces evacuations, and strengthens whole-community resilience.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Daisy Cadet, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 20, 2026.Author Daisy Cadet uses her experience as a Deaf person with disabilities to demonstrate disparities in disaster communications and response. Emergency management systems must close persistent accessibility gaps for people with disabilities. Learn how intentional planning and design affects these populations who face disproportionate challenges before, during, and after emergencies.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Judy Kruger, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 19, 2026.Accreditation signals that an organization meets recognized benchmarks and operates at a recognized level of quality and capability. Learn how it strengthens emergency management programs by setting clear standards that improve accountability and build resilience, while supporting grant eligibility, mutual aid agreements, and professional credibility.Now to the featured article.

Stronger public-private partnerships and regional collaboration are important to community readiness. In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, Nicolette Phillips of Domestic Preparedness talks with Tony Robinson from National Emergency Management and Response about how rising disasters and cyberthreats are reshaping national preparedness and how mentoring the next generation will build a more resilient nation. 

This is an article by John T. Briery, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 13, 2026.Effective emergency management increasingly relies on a “whole community” approach that integrates individuals with access and functional needs (AFN). Learn how implementing the C-MIST (Communication, Maintaining Health, Independence, Support and Safety, Transportation) framework, a function-based model, helps prioritize continuity and reduce disaster impacts on AFN populations

This is an article by Shawna Sisler, Shannon Goodhue, and Jack Herrmann, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 13, 2026.Disasters disproportionately affect people with disabilities, older adults, individuals managing chronic conditions, and others with access and functional needs (AFN). Despite federal recognition of AFN through frameworks such as C-MIST, gaps persist in shelter design, medical continuity, and behavioral health response. Learn how recent innovations by humanitarian organizations and local public health agencies illustrate how this integrated model can reduce preventable harm and protect dignity during emergencies.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Ron Cain, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 6, 2026.Nerve agent attacks and pesticide poisonings are rare, but when they occur, emergency medical services (EMS) and hospitals may quickly exhaust their limited supplies of specialized antidotes. Learn how many communities can address this vulnerability with CHEMPACKs, pre-positioned containers of medications available to EMS and hospitals.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Terrence Walker, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 6, 2026.Disaster response operations focus on logistics, personnel deployment, and infrastructure restoration. However, one persistent challenge continues to impact recovery outcomes: effective documentation. Learn how recovery operations can be delayed and how reimbursement processes slow for agencies and contractors without structured documentation practices in place before an incident.Now to the featured article.

“Old-school” communication systems continue to save lives when conventional networks fail. In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips sits down with public health and emergency management leader Eduardo “Eddie” Olivarez to explore the enduring role of amateur radio in modern disaster response. From 9/11 to Hurricane Maria and beyond, learn how resilient, community-driven communications remain a critical pillar of preparedness. 

This is an article by Eric K. Stern, Unal Tatar, Brandon Behlendorf, and Thenkurussi Kesavadas, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 29, 2026.AI is accelerating digital interdependence and automating advanced cyberthreats, increasing the likelihood of cyber crises across industries. As threats evolve, resilience efforts must prioritize innovation and agility. Learn how the Cyber Incident Response Studio brings together academic, practitioner, and technology expertise in a hands-on “sandbox” where public and private professionals collaborate to test ideas, explore emerging technologies to develop solutions, and refine strategies for coping with complex cyber incidents.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Vincent B. Holman Sr., an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 22, 2026.In today’s competitive work environment, employees and supervisors can collaboratively manage career growth by building key knowledge and skills. One effective tool is the individual development plan, created with management and supported by organizational culture to clarify goals, assess skills, and map actionable development steps.Now to the featured article.

Like preparing for other emergencies, cyber preparedness requires planning and practice so teams can respond effectively under stress. In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, Nicolette Phillips and John Robertson sit down with Dr. Katherine Davis and Steve Ash to focus on the growing importance of cybersecurity in critical infrastructure, particularly water, wastewater, and power systems. This conversation highlights the need for professionals to get involved to help protect their communities’ essential services. 

This is an article by Jeffrey Williams, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 15, 2026.Emergency response and public reaction to the COVID pandemic differ from responses to radiological incidents, but lessons learned during COVID can still apply to them. The pandemic exposed unique challenges while coordinating and communicating during an unfamiliar emergency. Learn how those gains can directly inform planning and procedures for future radiological events.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Richard Schoeberl, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 15, 2026.Moving beyond traditional silos, multidisciplinary training builds a faster, more efficient response system that protects both first responders and the communities they serve. Learn how uniting law enforcement, EMS, fire, and mental health clinicians into a cohesive team replaces peer pressure with coordinated action for improved public safety and greater organizational efficiency.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Lee Hudson, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 8, 2026.The 2024 hurricane season tested Pasco County Fire Rescue's preparedness, but they were more than ready. Author Lee Hudson was the special operations chief who oversaw the acquisition of training and response equipment prior to that remarkable season. Learn how these investments and more paid off when it counted.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Meghan E. Hutchinson, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 8, 2026.Radiological emergency preparedness (REP) and training is an underutilized asset when confined to fixed-facility planning. Emergency managers and REP stakeholders should advocate for integrating these capabilities into the broader all-hazards framework.Learn how jurisdictions can apply specialized nuclear emergency skills to protect the public from any radiological threat by prioritizing education and collaboration.Now to the featured article.

In this episode, Nicolette Phillips of Domestic Preparedness talks with New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Christina Farrell about her decades of public service and the evolution of emergency management. Commissioner Farrell shares the leadership lessons she has learned through periods of transition and crisis and offers advice to other preparedness professionals navigating an increasingly complex threat and risk landscape. 

This is an article by Trellis Gaarder, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 1, 2026.Emergency response teams often integrate a steady flow of new or out-of-practice personnel during active operations. Disasters bring unfamiliar staff and spontaneous volunteers eager to help, but many struggle to find their place while emergency operations centers race to get them up to speed. Learn how accelerated learning offers a faster on-ramp—helping responders absorb critical information quickly, retain it, and act when it matters most.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Elizabeth Cronin and Vanessa Flores, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, April 1, 2026.After a mass violence incident and the scene is secured, the response shifts to helping families locate loved ones, access accurate information, and connect with trauma-informed services. Learn how victim services and behavioral health support must be integrated into planning and training to ensure a survivor-centered response and support long-term community recovery.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Drew Weston, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 25, 2026.Public safety agencies operate under growing pressure to improve response times, officer safety, and use-of-force decisions. In this environment, critical choices are often made with incomplete information. Yet, in high-risk incidents, the first moments can shape the final outcome. To close that gap, learn how some agencies are deploying Drone as First Responder programs to deliver real-time intelligence to scenes before human responders arrive.Now to the featured article.

In this episode, we sit down with Paul Price, Chief Information Security Officer for Texas A&M Engineering, to discuss the changing landscape of cybersecurity and what it means for organizations working to stay prepared in a fast‑moving digital environment. With experience spanning global consulting, incident response, military and law enforcement service, and his current role supporting one of the nation’s largest engineering ecosystems, Paul offers a grounded look at the challenges teams are facing today. We talk about the rise of more sophisticated cyber threats, the growing importance of supply‑chain security, the realities of alert fatigue, and the foundational practices that still matter most for protecting systems and people.

This is an article by Vincent Holman Sr., an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 18, 2026.Six active volcanoes shape Hawai‘i’s disaster risk, and each poses at least a moderate threat. Hazard assessments by many scientists provide the data for timely response. Learn how recovery that takes community traditions into account, alongside response efforts, can boost resilience.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by the National Tribal Emergency Management Council and the United States Volunteers – Joint Services Command, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 18, 2026.The December 2025 flooding in western Washington state marked the first full-scale activation of National Tribal Emergency Management Council authorities. The response in the Snohomish Valley demonstrated the strength of a Tribal-led, Incident Command System–aligned emergency management framework. Learn about the 2025 flood response which now stands as a model to other parts of the country for coordinated, Tribal-led disaster response.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Robert Mueck, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 11, 2026.College faculty are ready force multipliers during emergencies. As subject-matter authorities, they offer technical knowledge and practical skills that first responder organizations may not otherwise possess. Learn how many higher education institutions actively integrate faculty and staff into campus response efforts, creating partnership models other organizations can replicate.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Mark Ryckman and John Contestabile, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 11, 2026.Flood response is complex. Preparedness must reflect how water moves through a community in its various forms, not just how risk appears on a map or in projected recurrence intervals. Learn how to reduce risk and seamlessly align people, processes, and technology to create resilience to floods.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Alfred Titus, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 4, 2025.In 2022, 10 people were killed and 3 others were injured at a New York grocery store. That attack left lasting community trauma and exposed gaps in post-incident mental health support. To address these shortcomings, state agencies created disaster mental health response exercises. Learn how other jurisdictions could use these exercises to strengthen their mental health responses for communities, families, first responders, and survivors.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Jon Bodie, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, March 4, 2026.Human judgment errors can have serious consequences on preparedness, response, and recovery. Learn how confronting cognitive bias and complacency head-on sharpens readiness and drives smarter decisions when lives are on the line.Now to the featured article.

In this episode, Nicolette Phillips of Domestic Preparedness sits down with Certified Emergency Manager Michael Prasad to explore the evolving landscape of training, education, and real‑world experience in emergency management. Michael shares insights from decades of work across state government, the American Red Cross, and national leadership roles. They talk about the gaps he sees in today’s workforce, the growing focus on children and disaster readiness, the complexities of hospital operations during mass‑casualty events, and his ongoing work to improve pediatric feeding during emergencies. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at what it takes to prepare communities before, during, and after crisis. 

This is an article by Ingo Simonis and Sina Taghavikish, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, February 25, 2026.Disasters generate an abundance of information, but decision-makers often find usable insight constrained by disconnected platforms. Learn how a new AI-enabled Discrete Global Grid System could organize satellite imagery, demographic data, infrastructure maps, and real-time sensor information on a common grid, enabling rapid analysis and automated decision-making.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Judy Kruger and Martha King, an ArticleOut Loud from Domestic Preparedness, February 18, 2026.When natural disasters hit farms, the damage ripples far beyond the field, shrinking supply and driving up costs. The solution starts before the storm. Redundant logistics planning, trusted data sharing, and clear data governance can help agriculture move equipment, protect assets, and recover faster. Learn how setting shared rules and digital architecture now can help the fresh produce industry coordinate its response at scale when the next crisis hits.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Joel Landis, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, February 18, 2026.Severe weather across southern Somerset County on May 13, 2025, left behind more than washed-out roads and damaged homes. It exposed a growing reality: Disasters do not have to be historic to be devastating, and federal help is not guaranteed. Learn how one community is driving meaningful change.Now to the featured article.

In this episode, host Nicolette Casey Phillips from Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast speaks with Joshua Barnes, manager of NASA’s Disasters Response Coordination System. Their conversation looks at how NASA’s science and satellite capabilities support the people working on the ground during emergencies, and how research can be translated into practical tools for preparedness and response.

This is an article by Bob Campbell, an Article Out Loud fromDomestic Preparedness, February 11, 2026.States and Tribal Nations are increasingly expected to shoulder greater disaster responsibility, often with less federal support. This shift heightens budget pressures and demands stronger emergency management capacity. Learn how building robust local, state, and Tribal capabilities can reduce reliance on federal aid, driven by crisis-ready leadership and sustained preparedness to strengthen communities.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Judy Kruger and Vince Davis, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, February 4, 2026.In light of growing disasters, community resilience hubs give neighborhoods a single, trusted place to access help, coordinate resources, and recover faster. Learn how these hubs strengthen response capacity and build lasting community resilience, by reducing strain on emergency managers and delivering support before, during, and after crises.Now to the featured article.

This is an article by Caitlyn Wan Smith, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, February 4, 2026.All levels of government play a role in post-disaster support, but federal leaders are now weighing major shifts in how those responsibilities are divided. Some argue that more responsibility would spur greater investment in resilience, even as states face stagnant revenues and competing budget pressures. Learn whether states’ disaster-budgeting strategies can meet today’s emergency-response demands.Now to the featured article.