Domestic Preparedness
by Domestic Preparedness
Established in 1998, the Domestic Preparedness journal was created to provide developments on emergency preparedness, disaster response, and resiliency to first responders, health professionals, emergency managers, government officials, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in a succinct and easy-to-access format.
Episodes
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Article Out Loud – Lessons From FIFA World Cup Operations in Houston
This is an article by Esmeralda Valague, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, November 4, 2026. Houston’s experience during the 2026 FIFA World Cup offers five operational lessons for emergency managers preparing for large-scale, multiagency events. Years of regional collaboration and...
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Article Out Loud – Building Communications Infrastructure for Cascading Disasters
This is an article by Tonya Thornton, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, November 4, 2026. When communications networks fail, consequences can cascade through critical infrastructure and turn a localized disruption into a regional crisis. Preparing for that possibility means having...
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Hazmat Readiness, Rail Safety, and Unified Command
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Chief Pete Jensen, chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Hazmat Committee and member of the NFPA 470 Committee, to discuss the evolving challenges…
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Article Out Loud – NFPA 3000: From Hard Lessons to a National Standard for Survival
This is an article by Joseph Hendry, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 28, 2026. Reviews of active assailant incidents reveal persistent operational shortcomings that can undermine response efforts and recovery. Learn about NFPA 3000, which provides a community-wide…
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Article Out Loud – How Technology Has Changed the Emergency Management Field
This is an article by Ines Bebea and Ashleigh Holmes, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 28, 2026. Over three decades, New York City Emergency Management has transformed emergency response through mobile technology and resilient digital networks. These advances have...
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The Infrastructure Behind First Responder Communications
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with David Brossette and Herschel Sova of Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions to discuss the critical role connectivity plays in emergency response. Drawing on their...
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Lessons From 44 Years in Hazmat Response
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips sits down with veteran hazardous materials responder and instructor Alan Finkelstein to discuss the realities of hazmat response, training, and leadership. Drawing on more than four decades in fire service and…
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Article Out Loud – Translating Emergency Management for Operational Technology Disruptions
This is an article by Aaron Clark-Ginsberg, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 21, 2026. Operational technology disruptions challenge emergency managers to adapt their practices to unfamiliar technical and organizational environments. Learn how understanding these systems can...
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Article Out Loud – Preparedness for the AI Era Requires a Reserve of Critical Workers
This is an article by Carter C. Price, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 21, 2026. Artificial intelligence will transform work in public and private sectors, but predictions about which jobs will disappear often outpace the evidence. For critical sectors, policymakers should...
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Using AI Responsibly in Emergency Management
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with preparedness technology entrepreneur Justin Snair to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping emergency management, public health preparedness, and exercise…
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Article Out Loud – How Communities Are Funding Their Own EMS
This is an article by Ari Meisel, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 14, 2026. EMS agencies face growing call volumes and rising costs while traditional funding models struggle to keep pace. Learn how diversified funding streams can reduce financial risk and help agencies...
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Article Out Loud – Stopping Drones Requires Sensing Them First
This is an article by Curtis Walters, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 14, 2026. As drone threats increase, maintaining airspace awareness gives critical infrastructure organizations the ability to assess threats and make informed decisions. Learn how building that…
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Article Out Loud – The Relevance of Redundancy During Severe Weather
This is an article by Scott Johnson, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, October 7, 2026. When emergency communications fail during severe weather, the consequences can quickly put lives and public trust at risk. Redundancy helps public safety systems stay operational when power or...
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When Connectivity Fails: Keeping Responders Connected
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Benjamin White, a communications technology specialist with extensive experience supporting public safety and critical infrastructure connectivity. White discusses the...
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Partnerships, Messaging, and Preparedness: How Partnerships Can Create Clear Messaging in a Crisis
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Corpus Christi Emergency Management Coordinator Jace Johnson and Oceans and Wildlife Institute Emergency Management Manager Mike Griffin to discuss the partnerships,...
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Article Out Loud – Disinformation Preparedness for the Next Natural Hazard
This is an article by Lauren K. Hagy and Jamie Biglow, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 30, 2026. Disinformation can undermine disaster response by creating confusion and threatening public safety. Learn how emergency management agencies can build resilience before...
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Article Out Loud – Whole Community Evacuation in Alaska Villages
This is an article by Judy Kruger and Daryl Schaffer, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 23, 2026. Typhoons Halong and Merbok that hit coastal Alaskan communities exposed response and recovery gaps for Alaska Native communities. From shelter options for remote Alaska…
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Weather Warnings, IPAWS, and Preparedness Partnerships
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman speak with Joanne Culin, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Amarillo, Texas. Culin discusses how weather warnings are developed, the role of IPAWS…
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Building Stronger Communities Through CERT
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and editor-in-chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Mark Sloan, director and emergency management coordinator for Harris County Homeland Security & Emergency Management, to discuss the evolving role of Community Emergency...
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Article Out Loud – Youth Preparedness: What Would a Zombie Do?
This is an article by Alyssa Owen, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 16, 2026. Emergency preparedness messages can become easy to ignore when the public hears the same guidance again and again. Learn how a more creative approach, such as using a zombie theme, can engage...
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Article Out Loud – A Potential “Super” El Niño: Public Safety Preparedness Through Early 2027
This is an article by Joanne Culin, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 16, 2026. The forecasted 2026–2027 El Niño is expected to strengthen, potentially becoming a major driver of weather variability across North America. Learn how its slow development provides valuable…
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The New Reality of Disaster Grants
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and editor-in-chief Catherine Feinman speak with Elizabeth Van Nostrand, an expert in public health emergency law and grant funding. The discussion explores the rapidly changing landscape of disaster funding, including...
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Article Out Loud – Lessons From Tanglewood: When a Reunification Plan Exists
This is an article by Anthony Horton, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 9, 2026. A school shooting at Tanglewood Middle School in South Carolina put a well-practiced reunification plan into action and demonstrated the value of preparation during a crisis., Learn how…
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Bee Safety for First Responders: An Overlooked Risk
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips speaks with Dr. Garett Slater, assistant professor and state apiculture extension specialist at Texas A&M University, about the often-overlooked role of honey bees in emergency response and public safety. Drawing on…
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Article Out Loud – Building Redundancy in Weather-Warning Systems
This is an article by John T. “Tim” Briery, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 9, 2026. In disaster-vulnerable regions, sole reliance on cellular and digital warning networks leaves populations in danger. Catastrophic flood events as in Kerr County in 2025 demonstrate how...
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Article Out Loud – Boards, Not Binders: Enhancing Hospital Emergency Response
This is an article by Rashmeet Gujral, Gintu James, and Rosemary McDonnell, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 2, 2026. During a mass casualty incident, even experienced personnel can struggle to quickly understand where they fit within an unfamiliar command structure.…
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Article Out Loud – More Than a Feeling: Trust Is the Impact of Good Design
This is an article by June Isaacson Kailes, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, September 2, 2026. Strengthening trust as an overarching element in public-facing communication during emergencies means recognizing that even the best alerts and updates fail if people do not trust them....
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Protecting the Vulnerable: Lessons From the Front Lines of Anti-Trafficking Work
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and guest Rebecca Jowers discuss the realities of human trafficking, the misconceptions that often prevent people from recognizing it, and the importance of education, prevention, and survivor-centered care. Learn how...
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Working the Problem: From Rangers to Readiness
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Editor-in-Chief Cathy Feinman sit down with Dee McCown, whose career spans service as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army (including two tours in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment), the FBI, international corporate...
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Article Out Loud – A Proactive Approach to Political Violence
This is an article by Richard Schoeberl, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 26, 2026. Despite a historic drop in violent crime, a more dangerous threat is taking its place. Political violence is accelerating as targeted attacks and extremist activity reshape the public safety...
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Article Out Loud – Building Decision Skills Through Interactive Teaching Tools
This is an article by Judy Kruger, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 26, 2026. In a world of accelerating change, technology-driven innovation can help public safety and emergency management agencies prepare for emerging situations. Learn how games and simulations strengthen...
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Preparedness, Hazmat, and Overlooked Risks
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips sits down with hazardous materials expert Chris Hawley to discuss the preparedness gaps that continue to challenge communities across the country. Drawing on nearly four decades of hazmat and weapons of mass…
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Article Out Loud – Chinese Transnational Criminal Organizations
This is an article by Jeff Bolettieri, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 19, 2026. Across the United States, Chinese underground banking networks have used illicit massage businesses as powerful engines for money laundering and human trafficking. As law enforcement shifts…
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The Cost of Ignoring Weak Informational Signals
This is an article by Sarah Adams, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 19, 2026. Before a disaster, warning signs are usually apparent. The challenge is overcoming the instinct to dismiss them while there is still time to act. Learn how recognizing signals while they are still...
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Pyro-Terrorism: Fire as an Emerging Threat to Homeland Security
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and Cathy Feinman are joined by Robert Baird, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and former director of fire and aviation management for the U.S. Forest Service across all 18 forests across the state of...
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Article Out Loud – Remembering September 10
This is an article by Christopher Hawley, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 12, 2026. America’s emergency response system has grown stronger by learning from every major terrorist attack. Learn how the real challenge is ensuring that those lessons endure, because any…
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Article Out Loud – Encouraging Bystander Action on Warning Signs: Making Leakage Actionable to Prevent Targeted Violence
This is an article by Lauren K. Hagy and Beth Daviess, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 12, 2026. Warning signs often appear prior to acts of targeted violence. While these indicators can foreshadow an impending threat, they too often go unrecognized or fail to prompt…
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Article Out Loud – Hostile Event Preparedness for First Responder Agencies
This is an article by Tim Long, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 5, 2026. Hostile incidents that threaten the public have, in recent times, also been threatening responders. To protect response personnel, agencies must move beyond experience alone. Learn how to build a cycle...
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Article Out Loud – A Responder’s Thoughts on Protecting Schools From Violent Threats
This is an article by Gary L. Sigrist Jr., an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, August 5, 2026. School safety is not built by technology alone. The schools that are most successful at keeping firearms out of their buildings create a culture that recognizes concerns and takes action...
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AI, Ethics, and the Future of Cybersecurity in Preparedness
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips is joined by Dr. Kevin T. Crouse, the chief information security officer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, to discuss the growing intersection of artificial intelligence, ethics, and the future of...
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Article Out Loud – AI Options to Support Disaster Response
This is an article by Judy Kruger and Seán Sebastian, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 29, 2026. Artificial intelligence can help turn complex data into timely decisions and maintain operations, even during crises and staffing constraints. Learn about the downsides of…
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Article Out Loud – Preparedness Operations: Building the Data Foundation That Lets AI Work
This is an article by Justin Snair, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 29, 2026. Organizations can lose critical operational knowledge when experience after a disaster is reduced to documents that omit the reasoning behind key decisions. Before artificial intelligence can turn...
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From the Field to the Network: Lessons in Disaster Communications
In this episode of Domestic Preparedness: The Podcast, host Nicolette Phillips and editor-in-chief Cathy Feinman discuss with Kelly Adley, a former law enforcement officer and leader within FirstNet built by AT&T, how disaster communications resources support first responders. Drawing on...
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Article Out Loud – Patterns in Industrial Accidents: Lessons for Emergency Response
This is an article by Joshua Dise, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 22, 2026. Industrial disasters rarely follow the orderly sequence described in emergency plans. They often begin during routine operations then grow through cascading failures while responders face changing...
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Article Out Loud – Game-Based Exercises and Real-World Readiness
This is an article by Victoria Kluge, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 22, 2026. Tabletop exercises confirm that a plan exists, but game-based exercises reveal whether an organization can execute when the plan begins to fail. Learn how game-based exercises can expose...
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Prepared Before the Storm: Coordinating Transportation Resources Across State Lines
Transportation resilience depends as much on coordination as infrastructure. In this interview, Josh Rodriguez of AASHTO explains why effective preparedness begins long before a disaster occurs and how formal mutual aid transforms emergency response into a planned capability.
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Article Out Loud – No Oil Aboard: Alternative-Fuel Vessels and the Regulatory Response Gap
This is an article by Dan Smiley, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 15, 2026. As more maritime vessels adopt alternative fuels, the dedicated funding and response machinery of the U.S. maritime casualty response system, which was built around oil spills, leaves a dangerous gap....
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Article Out Loud – The Moral Injury of Disaster Response
This is an article by Gregory C. Smith, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 15, 2026. Disaster responders spend their careers helping people through tragedy, but the emotional toll of that work often lingers long after the crisis. Beyond fatigue and burnout, many responders face…
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Article Out Loud – The Ripple Effects of Industrial Disasters
This is an article by Terrence Walker, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 8, 2026. One industrial incident can trigger far-reaching consequences and disrupt multiple systems. Coordinated planning and training can uncover gaps and improve response efforts for interconnected...
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Article Out Loud – Life and Death: Crisis Decision-Making
This is an article by Daryl Schaffer, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, July 8, 2026. From senior leaders allocating scarce resources to responders making split-second triage calls, lives often depend on judgments shaped by experience and circumstance. Behind every rescue are...
About this show
Established in 1998, the Domestic Preparedness journal was created to provide developments on emergency preparedness, disaster response, and resiliency to first responders, health professionals, emergency managers, government officials, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector in a succinct and easy-to-access format.
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