Emergency Management
Rescue from above: How drones may narrow emergency response times
While research has often found that drones arrive faster than first responders, there’s little conclusive evidence that drones improve health outcomes.
The nation’s 911 system is on the brink of its own emergency
Federal legislation that could steer billions of dollars into modernizing the patchwork 911 system remains waylaid in Congress.
Feds invest $60M to boost local climate resilience, workforce development
The Climate-Ready Workforce initiative looks to place individuals in good-paying jobs that help advance coastal communities’ climate resilience.
Can a ‘sprint’ to a medical emergency solve states’ EMS shortages?
Minnesota lawmakers have approved a so-called sprint paramedic program to confront the state's worsening rural emergency response.
911 call centers cope with more calls, fewer workers
Staff shortages are forcing emergency call center workers to pick up more overtime, work longer hours, adding extra pressure to an already stressful job, a new survey found.
Emergency alert: States confront EMS shortages
Minnesota declared an “EMS emergency” last month, but it’s far from alone. An outdated approach to funding the service is largely to blame, says experts.
North Carolina tried to rebuild affordable housing after a hurricane. It took half a decade.
Documents show how federal paperwork delayed the state’s recovery from Hurricane Florence and left low-income renters in the lurch.
Most states have yet to permanently fund 988. Call centers want certainty.
Only eight states have enacted legislation to fund the 988 hotline through phone fees, and others are relying on short-term funding. Mental health experts and call center operators say more money is needed to ensure residents receive the care they need.
How to get federal disaster aid: FEMA is running out of money, but these strategies can help survivors of Hurricane Idalia and the Maui fires get aid faster
COMMENTARY | After a natural disaster strikes a community, determining and documenting the extent of damage to homes and property is a crucial step in receiving financial aid to recover.
Life in a rural ‘ambulance desert’ means sometimes help isn’t on the way
Rural health care services like ambulances and hospitals are often spread few and far between, research shows. A shortage of services puts residents' health at risk and even affects local economies, experts say.
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How one city streamlined emergency evacuations
Officials in Berkeley, California, can send mass messages as well as targeted, zone-based evacuation alerts, cutting the city’s alert time from hours to minutes.
Climate change is increasing stress on thousands of aging dams across the US
COMMENTARY | The American Society of Civil Engineers estimated that more than 2,300 high hazard potential dams—those that could cause loss of life or serious property damage if they fail—lacked emergency action plans.
Researchers demo geotargeted wildfire alerts sent to vehicles
The Department of Homeland Security is testing how remote sensors and public warning systems can deliver timely, actionable wildfire alerts to the public.
Public safety relies on behind-the-scenes technology
COMMENTARY | Reliable emergency response, citation management and crime analysis technologies give responders the data they need quickly and accurately.
With the reopening of the I-95 bridge, Shapiro has passed his first big test
The Pennsylvania governor’s handling of the disaster has won over some critics. But will it help win over a divided legislature?
When homes flood, who retreats and to where?
COMMENTARY | Two disaster response experts mapped thousands of FEMA buyouts and found distance and race play a role.
The 6 Fundamentals of an Effective Real-Time Crime Center
COMMENTARY | These centers, which can help police investigators develop leads and share crucial information with other officers and agencies, are becoming more common. Here's how to make them more effective.
First responders need presumptive ID technology to better assess and act on hazardous incidents
The ability to accurately identify hazardous materials at the scene provides public safety officials with enhanced personal safety, controls public risk and delivers actionable onsite intelligence.
Camera, sensor, drone data lights up disaster response
ALERTCalifornia’s network will provide actionable natural disaster data for public safety agencies and researchers responding to wildfires, floods, landslides and other climate-driven events.
Spring Wildfires in the Eastern US Got Off to a Roaring Start This Year
It may not be as dramatic as when the West burns, but an unseasonably warm, dry winter could make fire season longer and more intense.
