COMMENTARY
Editor’s Note: Responding to Disasters in 2025 and Beyond
At the beginning of each new year, discussions about change and what will happen in the upcoming year tend to dominate conversations, and 2025 is no exception. The rapid pace of technological innovations, frequent changes in leadership, and other factors make it challenging but not impossible to prepare for incidents that may happen in the months or years ahead. Lessons learned from events like COVID-19 help public health and other sectors prepare for the…
Most Recent

Advisory Board Spotlight: Interview with Major Rhonda Lawson
Major Rhonda Lawson
January 22, 2025
Rhonda Lawson is a major in the chief’s office of the Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Division. She began her 27-year career with the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1997 as a trooper. In 2012, Lawson transferred to the Texas Division of Emergency Management as captain and deputy Operations Section

Preparing for the Next Biothreat: Lessons Not to Forget
Christy Anderson
January 15, 2025
In 2024, senior officials from hospitals, healthcare organizations, public health, emergency management, and other responder communities convened at two workshops to share the lessons they learned as leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their lessons learned can help communities better prepare for the next biothreat.

Editor’s Note: Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence
Catherine L. Feinman
December 25, 2024
The December 2024 edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal provides insight into the intersection of AI and emergency preparedness. With their exponentially increasing speed of development, existing, emerging, and not-yet-created technologies must all be part of the planning process in 2025 and beyond.

Advisory Board Spotlight: Interview with Caroline Agarabi, Ph.D.
Caroline Agarabi
December 4, 2024
What does it take to bridge science and strategy in the world of emergency preparedness? Caroline Agarabi, Ph.D., shares how her work shapes disaster response plans, supports lifesaving countermeasures, and prepares communities for the unexpected. Dive into her unique journey and insights in this compelling conversation.
Commentary Archives
Publisher’s Note: Auld Lang Syne (A Chance to Recollect and Restore)
MacGregor Stephenson
December 28, 2022
As we come to the end of a challenging year and a tumultuous period, please know that your efforts are appreciated, and the sacrifices of
The Importance of Strong Leadership for a Unique Discipline
David Fogerson
December 21, 2022
A transformational leadership style can help bridge relationship and communication gaps between leaders and other community stakeholders. Learn how one young deputy fire chief learned
Building Strength in Workforce and Structure
Catherine L. Feinman
December 21, 2022
Each person plays a critical leadership role, from top leadership to frontline workers. The authors in the December edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share
Find Chances to Make Positive Changes
Catherine L. Feinman
November 30, 2022
Emergency preparedness and response professionals willingly insert themselves into many emergencies and disasters that they could have avoided in other professions. However, they use these
PPD-44: Implications for Domestic Incident Management
Robert J. (Bob) Roller
November 23, 2022
An essential national incident management guidance document is finally available to responders nationwide. This document will significantly improve a unified response to and recovery from
Avoiding the Complacency Trap After This Hurricane Season
Mark Misczak
November 23, 2022
Despite punishing hurricanes in Puerto Rico and Florida, the 2022 season has been relatively quiet for much of the Gulf coast and Atlantic seaboard. This
We Want to Hear from You!
Domestic Preparedness
November 16, 2022
Interested in sharing your thoughts on ways to improve the Domestic Preparedness Journal? Willing to help by participating in a 60-minute market research interview? We’re
The Role of Faith in Disasters
Michael Prasad
November 9, 2022
Many faith-based organizations have disaster response and recovery components as major elements of their own missions. By partnering with governmental and nongovernmental organizations, faith-based groups
Training the Next Generation of Cyber Guardians
Steve Stein
November 2, 2022
Despite small local governments being overrun with malware, ransomware, and myriad other threats, it is difficult to find experienced cybersecurity professionals. Meanwhile, students search for
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Commentary
Editor’s Note: Responding to Disasters in 2025 and Beyond
At the beginning of each new year, discussions about change and what will happen in the upcoming year tend to dominate conversations, and 2025 is no exception. The rapid pace of technological innovations, frequent changes in leadership, and other factors make it challenging but not impossible to prepare for incidents that may happen in the months or years ahead. Lessons learned from events like COVID-19 help public health and other sectors prepare for the…
Most Recent

Editor’s Note: Giving Thanks for the Planners
Catherine L. Feinman
November 27, 2024
In this November edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal, get a glimpse into securing New York City’s largest events. In

Advice for Surviving a Disaster: Be Selfish and Small-Minded
David C. Williams II
November 13, 2024
In the base camp of his fifth federally declared disaster this year, a disaster finance coordinator reflects on a friend’s

Advisory Board Spotlight: Interview with Robert DesRosier Sr.
Robert DesRosier Sr.
November 6, 2024
Robert DesRosier Sr., former director of Blackfeet Tribal Emergency Management and Homeland Security, discussed his journey into emergency management

Local-Level Planning for National-Level Threats
Catherine L. Feinman
October 30, 2024
The authors in this October edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share their knowledge and best practices for protecting communities
Commentary Archives
Security in and Around D.C.: Following the Informational Dots
Catherine L. Feinman
September 11, 2024
Preparing for any special event includes many unknowns. When an event involves national security, the stakes are even higher. Public safety agencies have been sharing
Community Engagement – Strength in Numbers
Catherine L. Feinman
August 28, 2024
When community leaders in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery invest in engagements with community members, the return on investment can be measured in lives, properties,
So Much More to Do After the Initial Response
Catherine L. Feinman
July 31, 2024
When a disaster strikes, people pay attention. They watch the news, check on their loved ones, and help survivors as they can. However, after the
It Takes a Community to Stop Drug and Human Trafficking
Catherine L. Feinman
June 26, 2024
The authors in this June edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal share valuable information about the threats and hazards related to drug and human trafficking.
Mitigate the Impacts When Communities and Nature Collide
Catherine L. Feinman
May 29, 2024
Emergency preparedness professionals plan for and try to mitigate natural hazard events, but nature is unpredictable. In this May edition of the Domestic Preparedness Journal,
Preparing for the Next Public Health Emergency
Catherine L. Feinman
April 24, 2024
Public health is not just about pandemics but also about a wide range of threats that can affect the health and well-being of communities. In
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