bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shooting the Moon: Should states require the H1N1 vaccine for healthcare workers?
Authors: Nourmohammadi, JD Paris , Ryan, JD Brigid
Published: August 2018

On June 11, 2009, the director of the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the phase of alert in the Global Influenza Plan from level five to level six. The cause for this was the H1N1 virus which had already affected several countries. A level five alert is declared when more than one country in a single WHO geographic region is affected by the same virus. A level six declaration means that community outbreaks are occurring in at least two WHO geographic regions. Once such a declaration is made, little time remains before mitigation efforts must be planned and communicated to the public. In the wake of the WHO declaration, policy makers are clamoring for adequate disease mitigation strategies. Some health departments intend to require employees to wear personal protective equipment while on the job. Other state health departments are encouraging employees to stay home sick if they think they might have the flu. The New York State Health Department has issued an order requiring all healthcare workers to be vaccinated for H1N1 or risk being terminated. This article will explore the New York State policy and make recommendations to policy makers about how to prevent the spread of H1N1.
Challenges faced by the chronically ill and disabled in high-risk hurricane areas
Authors: Blendon, ScD Robert J. , Connolly, MSEd John M. , Benson, MA John M. , Buhr, AM Tami , Pollard, PhD William E. , Mitchell, PhD Elizabeth W.
Published: August 2018

Using results from three surveys of adults in highrisk hurricane areas in eight Southern coastal states, this article examines the challenges faced by people from households where someone has a chronic illness or disability and would need help to evacuate. The analysis finds that 43 percent of people in this vulnerable group had not arranged the help they would need to evacuate. They had different reasons than other adults for why they would or might not evacuate in a future hurricane and were more likely than others (22 to 10 percent) to say they would go to an evacuation center if they did evacuate. Among those who had experience with a recent hurricane, people in this vulnerable group had encountered many more problems than others during and immediately after the storm, including more than one in four who suffered from heat exhaustion, who did not get needed prescription medicines, or who did not have enough fresh water.
Emergency preparedness and vulnerable populations: Lessons learned for education and training
Authors: Isralowitz, PhD Richard , Findley, DrPH, MSW Patricia
Published: August 2018

First responders, including those addressing mental health and social work needs, should be prepared and trained to respond in times of crises. However, too often such preparation is not taken until after a crisis has occurred. This article describes a cross national working exchange between United States and Israeli academic and human service personnel who engaged in a process to identify the lessons learned from disaster situations. Qualitative analysis of the focus groups identified that the most vulnerable populations, including children, immigrants, the elderly, and those with disabilities need a coordinated preparedness plan and that local efforts tend to be reactive to meet emergency needs. The need to prepare staff and volunteers for disaster response and management was also identified, including curriculum to address stress reactions. This initiative reveals the need for the development of additional education and training projects, as well as preparatory activities, to address the needs of vulnerable people including the elderly, immigrants, children and youth, underserved minority people as well as disaster relief staff and volunteers.
Steps in writing an effective Master Scenario Events List
Authors: Renger, PhD, MEP Ralph , Wakelee, MPH Jessica , Bradshaw, MBA, MEP Jillian , Hites, PhD Lisle
Published: August 2018

Planning and conducting effective operationsbased exercises is a complex and resource intensive process. The US Department of Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) describes many key elements in successfully planning and conducting operations-based exercises. The Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) is integral to the successful conduct of operations-based exercises. The MSEL is the exercise blueprint, consisting of messages, or injects, designed to test exercise objectives and drive continual exercise play. Surprisingly, there is little guidance provided in the exercise development literature or by HSEEP about how to create an effective MSEL. This article discusses essential elements for a MSEL, offers recommended steps for writing a MSEL, and then illustrates these steps using an example from an operations-based exercise.
Understanding citizen perspectives on preparedness: A focus group study of South Carolina residents
Authors: Pearson, MS, DrPH Joseph L. , Galloway, MSPH Charlotte Toole , Duhé, PhD Sonya Forte , Patterson, MHA Nathaniel J.
Published: August 2018

For emergency managers and other preparedness officials to successfully protect the public from disasters, citizen participation and cooperation are essential. Individual citizens must be aware of potential threats and take the fundamental steps needed to protect themselves and their families from disasters. In an effort to gain an understanding of citizen perspectives on preparedness, focus groups were conducted among residents of eight South Carolina counties. Participants (n = 67) responded to questions relating to aspects of disaster awareness, preparedness, and response. Participants were also queried on their sources of preparedness and response information as well as aspects of trust and credibility. Responses were coded by themes reflecting five distinct aspects of preparedness: responsibility, education and training, motivators, barriers, and community assets. Participant comments indicated a clear sense of responsibility in protecting themselves and their families from a disaster. Comments also underscored an interest in having the information and resources to overcome barriers to preparedness. Participants expressed their dependence on local leaders and institutions to gain insight on what to do in an emergency and their reliance on personal experience in guiding preparedness and response actions. These results offer an important glimpse into the mindset of citizens regarding their role in preparing themselves and their families for disasters of all types. Further, these results serve to guide the efforts of emergency managers and other preparedness officials in the process of engaging citizens in preparedness activities.
November/December 2009
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 7, Number 6
Happy New Year!
Authors: DeVito Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

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To the editor:
Authors: Holm, MPA, JD David W.
Published: August 2018

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Alien concept: The propriety of conducting immigration paperwork checks during evacuations
Authors: Hahn Erin , Wilairat, JD Adrian
Published: August 2018

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Breastfeeding support in emergencies: Policy implications for humanitarian relief agencies
Authors: Angeletti, MSW, PhD Michelle A.
Published: August 2018

While breastfeeding provides numerous benefits to infants and young children, these benefits are especially evident during and after emergencies. This article describes the benefits of breastfeeding in emergencies and provides guidelines that can be implemented by humanitarian relief agencies to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.
H5N1 planning concerns for local governments
Authors: Schneider, PhD Robert O.
Published: August 2018

The objectives of this essay are two-fold. First, it will review the very real threat an avian influenza pandemic poses to local communities. Second, it will identify several unaddressed but critical concerns that require the attention of local governments as they refine their pandemic preparedness planning. It is concluded that greater coordination with the private sector, improved public health surveillance efforts, planning for public education, and greater attention to ethical issues are essential concerns that should be on the agenda of local governments as they proceed with their preparations.
An introduction to netcentric operations and services-oriented architectures for emergency managers
Authors: Youmans, MSc IA, CISSP Jeff
Published: August 2018

The winds of change are upon us (once again). In the computer world, it seems changes like this happen every other day. In this case, however, it really is revolutionary. The way information is passed not only within your department but also within other departments is going to move faster than ever before. It’s a wholesale architectural change that for once will not affect the computer in your car or on your desk, but will affect how the data are accessed. The objective of the servicesoriented architecture is to obtain the overall goal of netcentric operations and speed the flow of data. The end goal is to resolve disastrous situations, get help to the victims, and track suspects faster than ever before.
Planning for the last disaster: Correctional facilities and emergency preparedness
Authors: Schwartz, PhD Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2018

This study uses hurricanes Katrina and Rita to illustrate the phenomenon of “planning for the last disaster,” in which public agencies become so transfixed by a profound crisis or disaster that they begin to prepare for another occurrence of the same event. In doing so, they abandon or ignore their ongoing and more generic emergency planning and deny the obvious, that the next emergency or disaster has a high probability of being a very different situation. The same counterproductive results can be obtained if an organization is swept up in media hype and public concern about an “emergency du jour,” such as Y2K or pandemic flu. Although this article examines these issues in correctional organizations, the same principles apply to almost all public agencies.
January/February 2009
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 7, Number 1
Redefining regional planning
Authors: Emrick, JD Preeti V. , Nagel, MA, CEM Kimberly L.
Published: August 2018

In the wake of recent disasters including September 11, 2001, and the 2005 hurricane season, regional planning has become a high priority. Despite the 2007 release of the National Preparedness Guidelines, improving regional collaboration has continued to be a significant challenge and remains immeasurable. Regional operational plans are ineffective during disasters because of the differing goals of the jurisdictions within that region. It is evident that regions should be formed naturally based on how jurisdictions usually interact with each other. Regional planning is ineffective today because the federal funding process does not promote regional planning as a main goal. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified Expanding Regional Collaboration as a National Priority; however, DHS does not effectively target this priority with grant money. To accomplish true regional collaboration, it is important to remember that all disasters are local. The federal government has become highly reactionary to major incidents and has forgotten this basic truth. Federal policies are built from the top down and do not effectively facilitate the traditional decentralized system of emergency management. The overhaul of existing systems to conform with national policies has resulted in less effective planning and disaster response. Regional planning needs to incorporate local jurisdictions and define their roles and processes. Local operational plans must be developed in concert with each other. Plans created for the region should be regional coordination plans. Additionally, the grant money must be tied closer to the National Priority of Expanding Regional Cooperation.
Human performance modeling for emergency management decision making
Authors: Murray, PhD, PE Susan L. , Ghosh, MS Kashmeera , Gosakan, MS Mala
Published: August 2018

Objective: Computer simulation models allow users to analyze problems and identify improvements. Human performance models (HPMs) are a type of computer simulation model that is used to study and evaluate complex operations involving humans completing tasks. This article describes the advantages that HPMs can have for those involved in emergency management.Design: IMPRINT Pro is an HPM software tool developed by the US Army Research Laboratory. It is a stochastic discrete-event network modeling tool. The modeling process includes defining tasks to be completed, the personnel responsible for performing the task, the success probability for each task and the operation as a whole, resource availability and limitations, and other features to evaluate scenarios. The results include easy-to-use task network diagrams and corresponding performance metrics. The models can be used as a preplanning and training tool to improve an organization’s performance.Setting: To demonstrate the benefits of simulation modeling for emergency management, a case study of a combined anthrax and bomb threat made at a university is presented. Data from first responders including police and fire departments and the procedures used are modeled.Results: The case study shows the complexity of many emergency management situations. Human performance modeling is a powerful tool that can provide insight to different possibilities in these complex situations and can predict outcomes without having to go through an actual emergency event or costly drills. Computer modeling saves money, time, and efforts for emergency managers and responders. These models serve as useful training and evaluation tools.
Crisis preparation, media use, and information seeking during Hurricane Ike: Lessons learned for emergency communication
Authors: Burke, PhD Jennifer A. , Spence, PhD Patric R. , Lachlan, PhD Kenneth A.
Published: August 2018

This study was a replication and extension of a previous work that examined crisis preparation, information- seeking patterns, and media use in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. A quantitative survey study was undertaken to examine the same variables after Hurricane Ike. Surveys were collected from 691 Hurricane Ike evacuees. Respondents were more likely to have an evacuation plan or emergency kit than those displaced by Katrina, and older respondents were less likely than younger respondents to have an emergency kit in place. Women, African Americans, and older respondents indicated a greater desire for information, with African American respondents desiring information concerning government responses, evacuation efforts, and rescue operations. Television and interpersonal exchanges emerged as the most commonly used sources for information. The findings are discussed in terms of pragmatic implications for emergency management practitioners regarding message design and placement.
Age, gender, and information-seeking patterns following an urban bridge collapse
Authors: Spence, PhD Patric R. , Lachlan, PhD Kenneth A. , Nelson Lindsay D. , Shelton, MA Ashleigh K.
Published: August 2018

Previous research suggests that mediated information seeking may be especially strong during crises and other times of uncertainty, however, little is known about sex differences in both information seeking and responses under these conditions. The current study explores these differences using data collected from Minneapolis residents following the I-35W bridge collapse.
New technology applications in hazardous materials operations
Authors: Drury, ScD Jill L. , Micire, MS Mark , Yanco, PhD Holly A.
Published: August 2018

The authors have been investigating novel ways to apply technology to enhance response to fast-paced, complex, hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents. Although there are many uses of Global Positioning System, Radio Frequency Identification, simple radio frequency transmitter/sensor devices, and multitouch display technologies, these technologies have only made their way into the HAZMAT community in limited ways. Based on an investigation of the technology needs of HAZMAT responders, the authors developed an approach to combine these technologies to address the observed safety, situation awareness, and efficiency shortfalls. This article describes the proposed approach and provides the results of an investigation into its acceptance and likely utility. During lowfidelity prototype-based user tests and structured interviews, certified HAZMAT responders gave high scores to the usefulness of the proposed functionality and its likely helpfulness in maintaining safety
Establishing human rights protections in postdisaster contexts
Authors: Hurst, JD Jessica L.
Published: August 2018

Postdisaster environments are proven battlegrounds for human rights violations, and a binding international instrument speaking directly to the right to postdisaster human rights protections is a critical and necessary strategy in international disaster response and recovery efforts. This article encourages the development of an international instrument crafted to specifically address human rights protections in postdisaster contexts, founded in international human rights law and policy, and invoking the authority of international law bodies, which can also be used to further refine US emergency response policy.
News reporting of the January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake: The role of common misconceptions
Authors: Alexander, PhD David
Published: August 2018

The Haiti earthquake of January 12, 2010, was one of the worst seismic disasters of the last half-century. Given the severity of damage to infrastructure and the gravity of the humanitarian crisis, it was particularly difficult for journalists to report the situation accurately during the early stages of the crisis. In relation to the Haitian catastrophe, this article considers 10 misassumptions that commonly appear in news reports about disaster. They include “myths” about the inevitability of disease, the prevalence of panic, and the need to impose martial law. Behind the misassumptions is a widely disseminated but wholly inaccurate model of the breakdown of society, which is greatly at variance with the observational definition by sociologists of the postdisaster “therapeutic community.” This article concludes that the misassumptions are, at least in part, alive and well. Some of the less responsible news media enthusiastically propagated them without checking the reality on the ground in Haiti. However, there are signs that at last the more thoughtful media are prepared to question the myths of disaster. In part this is clearly because influential people in the humanitarian relief effort have made a special effort to make journalists aware that certain notions are misassumptions— for example, that unburied dead bodies give rise to disease epidemics. Nevertheless, it is not yet clear whether we are entering a new age of more responsible reporting of disasters by the mass media.
Perceptions of emergency management in US cities: A survey of Chief Administrative Officers
Authors: Reddick, PhD Christopher G. , Rahm, PhD Dianne
Published: August 2018

This article provides data drawn from a survey of 131 Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) in the 200 largest US cities. Much of the existing policy research on emergency management has focused on the extent of collaboration between and across government units and the civil sector. This study focuses on CAOs’ perceptions of risk, the use of information technology, and emergency management program management. This study analyzes the differences in the views of CAOs. Those who see their cities at particular risk of terrorist threat and/or natural disaster view the aspects of risk, technology, and program management differently than do CAOs who do not believe they are at heightened risk.
Keeping food safe during an extended power outage: A consumer’s perspective
Authors: Godwin, PhD Sandria L. , Coppings, PhD Richard J. , Kosa, MS Katherine M. , Cates, BS Sheryl C. , Speller-Henderson, MS Leslie
Published: August 2018

Most Americans live at risk of experiencing a natural disaster. Such disasters are often accompanied by power outages, sometimes for extended periods. Six formal focus groups were conducted, two in North Carolina and four in Tennessee, to assess consumers’ food safety knowledge and practices during extended power outages. Forty-seven adults of various ethnicities, ages, and genders participated in the focus groups held in libraries, extension offices, or other community centers. Participants’ knowledge of safety precautions that should be taken during and after a power outage and the actions that participants had taken to be prepared for a possible power outage in the future were evaluated. Few participants were prepared for their most recent extended power outage, and most participants had not taken additional measures to prepare for a future outage. To determine the safety of food during or after a power outage, some participants relied on their senses. Barriers to not following recommended practices included not being aware of specific recommendations, not believing specific recommendations, procrastination, cost, and limited space for storing emergency supplies. Motivators to following the recommended practices included having concerns about contracting foodborne illness, believing the messages, and having recently experienced an extended power outage. It was concluded that few consumers were prepared to keep their food safe during an extended power. In anticipation of a natural disaster that may cause an extended power outage, food safety educators should work with the media to provide information to consumers on actions they should take to prepare for an extended power outage.
System dynamics modeling to optimize emergency responders’ emergency and nonemergency efforts: Case study of Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering combating weapons of mass destruction response capabilities
Authors: Schmidtgoessling, MS Robert , Slagley, PhD Jeremy , Shelley, PhD Michael , Smith, PhD David
Published: August 2018

Objectives: The authors applied a system dynamics model to the problem of optimizing the balance of emergency response training with routine work tasks using a case study of US Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering units.Design: A system dynamics model was constructed using available work time inputs for emergency response training and routine task execution. The model generated estimates of task proficiency for emergency and routine tasks.Setting: The study was conducted using a case study of management of US Air Force Bioenvironmental Engineering units.Main outcome measures: The model generated estimates of task proficiency (0-100 percent) for emergency and nonemergency tasks based on time allocation policy inputs.Results: The optimal balance to maintain both emergency and nonemergency task proficiency at or above 70 percent was to have an intensive 2-week period of 35 h/wk devoted to emergency response training, followed by a constant 21 h/wk (52.5 percent of available effort) to emergency response training.Conclusions: The results reinforce the popular notion that an organization with a significant amount of effort devoted to routine tasks that differ from emergency response tasks will not be able to approach 100 percent readiness task proficiency without significant degradation of routine task proficiency. Synergy of routine task selection to enhance readiness proficiency is essential to maintain emergency response capabilities.
January/February 2010
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 8, Number 1
March/April 2010
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 8, Number 2
July/August 2010
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 8, Number 4
November/December 2010
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 8, Number 6
Epsilon Pi Phi announces its 2010 Gold and Silver Level Achievement Award
Authors: Kemp, PhD, CEM Micheal A.
Published: August 2018

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Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters: Progress despite practical impediments
Authors: Xenakis, JD Aileen
Published: August 2018

This article identifies the key elements of Federal Emergency Management Agency’s November 2010 Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters. It addresses the impact that such guidance will have within the emergency management and sheltering community, specifically what integration means from a policy perspective as well as from a practical standpoint. This article addresses the impetus behind the guidance and demonstrates that although budget constraints might not allow for all changes to be made immediately and completely, the guidance itself, as a standard to which state and local governments can aspire, is a critical development for the improvement of sheltering community members with functional needs.
Applying a framework for defining emergency management scenarios
Authors: Raymond Hales, MA Douglas , Race, MA Peter
Published: August 2018

Introduction: Scenarios are used extensively to support emergency management (EM). Virtually every user within the community, from policymakers to first responders, uses scenarios in one guise or another. They provide the context to characterize a dynamic problem space, to support the rehearsal of response options, and to facilitate the evaluation of new technology. With such far-reaching implications, there needs to be a means to guide scenario selection.Objective: The Canadian Centre for Security Science sponsored the development of a framework to characterize scenarios and to assist in evaluating EM capabilities, explicitly in the area of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear response. The framework also complements capability-based planning and provides a means to share scenarios.Methodology: The Public Safety and Security Planning Scenario Framework assists the EM community, which ranges from the national to the community level, by selecting scenarios based on user perspectives and objectives. In developing the framework, three challenges were addressed: a taxonomy was required to frame and define what constitutes a scenario; parameters were needed to describe and characterize scenarios; and structure was called for to assist in ordering the collection and comparison of representative scenarios.The first challenge involved reviewing existing literature to define the term “scenario.” Typically, scenarios are used to consider near-term threats, to capture planning assumptions, and to provide the perspective necessary to assess concepts and capabilities. The framework proposes a set of criteria or dimensions (eg, risks, triggers, and time horizons) that can be used to characterize scenarios. To test the framework, a representative set of scenarios was cataloged using these dimensions. Analysis of the resulting set was instructive in revealing the differences in planning scenarios across the chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear, and explosive communities. As the framework matures, it is hoped that it will promote information reuse and provide a valuable forum for capturing best practices and developing standards, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness improvements both locally and nationally.
The role of intermodal transportation in humanitarian supply chains
Authors: Zhang, MS Han , Strawderman, PhD Lesley , Eksioglu, PhD Burak
Published: August 2018

After a natural or man-made disaster, effective and efficient disaster relief support is needed. People affected by disasters should be moved from impacted areas, and staff and disaster relief supplies need to be moved to affected destinations in a timely manner. Disaster relief supply chains facilitate the transportation of personnel and supplies that directly affect the humanitarian aid performance. Utilizing appropriate transportation modes in the relief chain is critical to maintain effective relief operations. The main objective of this study is to identify the role of intermodal transportation and related decision making in disaster relief transportation. This objective will be achieved through the following specific aims: identify and assess the current response operations; determine how, if at all, and why humanitarian organizations utilize different modes of transportation to move goods and personnel effectively and efficiently when responding to and recovering from disasters; and identify factors that will potentially enhance the attractiveness of using intermodal transportation. To achieve these aims, two rounds of interviews were conducted first, and second, a large-scale online survey was distributed. Data analysis found that intermodal transportation is not frequently used in disaster relief operations. Decision makers in disaster relief agencies consider multiple factors when choosing transportation modes, but among the factors identified by participants, travel distance was the transportation mode considered most often, regardless of whether supplies or people were being transported. Finally, the organizations that cover larger areas and preposition supplies in their relief operations tend to use intermodal transportation more frequently.
Toward multihazard mitigation: An evaluation of FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plans under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
Authors: Olonilua, PhD Oluponmile O. , Ibitayo, PhD Olurominiyi
Published: August 2018

This article evaluates the extent to which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-approved plans submitted by local and tribal governments in response to the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA2K) comply with the requirements of the Act.The DMA2K requires state, local, and tribal governments to develop a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan to remain eligible for predisaster funding. The specific requirements investigated in this study are collaboration with several identified stakeholders in the planning process and in the mitigation action section of the plans, incorporation of public information and awareness in the mitigation action section, and public participation both in the process of developing the plans and in the mitigation action section of the plans. Other requirements include the incorporation of evacuation and sheltering as elements of multihazard plan, terrorism, technological hazard, and “special needs” population. A total of 202 FEMA-approved hazard mitigation action plans were selected using both stratified and purposive sampling, and the result of the evaluation shows that the extent of compliance by cities and counties in the sampled multijurisdictions with the requirements of DMA2K and FEMA is generally low. For example, more than 70 percent of cities in four of the sampled multijurisdictions did not include evacuation or sheltering in their hazard mitigation action plans.With the exception of provision for special needs population, t-test analyses of all requirements show no significant difference between plans produced by counties and cities. This study provides a policy learning opportunity for policy makers, emergency management officials, and many other stakeholders to make necessary adjustments to the hazard mitigation plans while reviewing and updating approved plans. This is especially true as DMA2K requires that plans must be updated and reviewed after 5 years.
Hurricane preparedness and sheltering preferences of Muslims living in Florida
Authors: Mando, BA Ahed M. , Peek, PhD Lori , Brown, PhD Lisa M. , King-Kallimanis, PhD Candidate Bellinda L.
Published: August 2018

Objectives: Given the increasing diversity of the US population and the continued threat of hurricane devastation along the heavily populated Gulf Coast region, the lack of research on preparedness and sheltering activities across religious or cultural groups represents a significant gap in the field of hazards and disaster research. To address this void, a questionnaire examining hurricane preparedness attitudes and sheltering preferences was administered to Muslims living in Tampa, Florida.Design: An exploratory study using a cross-sectional survey of Muslim adults who were attending a religious or cultural event.Setting: The Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area and the Muslim American Society located in Tampa, Florida.Participants: The final convenience sample of 139 adults had a mean age of 38.87 years (±11.8) with males and females equally represented.Results: Significant differences were found in disaster planning activities and confidence in hurricane preparedness. Notably, 70.2 percent of the respondents were unsure about having a plan or were without a plan. Of the 29.7 percent who actually had a plan, 85.4 percent of those individuals were confident in their hurricane preparedness. This study also revealed that safety, cleanliness, access to a prayer room, and privacy were concerns related to using a public shelter during hurricanes. Nearly half of the respondents (47.4 percent) noted that the events of 9/11 influenced their comfort level about staying in a public shelter during a hurricane disaster.Conclusions: Disaster planners should be aware of the religious practices of the Islamic community, encourage disaster planning among diverse groups, and address safety and privacy concerns associated with using public shelters.
Tracking antimicrobials dispensed during an anthrax attack: A case study from the New Hampshire anthrax exercise
Authors: Tropper, MS, MPH Jeanne , Adamski, RN, MSN Chris , Vinion, MEA Cynthia , Sapkota, MBBS, MPH Sanjeeb
Published: August 2018

The Countermeasure and Response Administration (CRA) system is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informatics application developed to track countermeasures, including medical interventions (eg, vaccinations and pharmaceuticals) and nonmedical interventions (eg, patient isolation, quarantine, and personal protective equipment), administered during a public health response. This case study follows the use of CRA as a supplement to paper-based processes during an exercise in which antimicrobials dispensed to individual exposed persons were captured after a simulated bioterrorist attack of anthrax spores. The exercise was conducted by the New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services on April 14, 2007.Automated systems like CRA can track when medications are dispensed. The data can then be used for performance metrics, statistics, and in locating victims for follow-up study. Given that this case study was limited to a single location in a relatively rural setting, the authors concluded that more study is needed to compare the feasibility of using an automated system rather than paper-based processes for effectively managing a very large-scale urgent public health response.
Agent-based modeling to inform flood emergency planning and management
Authors: Di Mauro, BEng, MEng, PhD Manuela , Lumbroso, MEng, MSc, CEng Darren , Tagg, MEng, CEng Andy
Published: August 2018

Objective: Agent-based modeling can provide powerful tools to inform flood emergency management and to provide an assessment of loss of life due to a flood event. The objective of this work is to study the suitability and robustness of this type of models for being applied in practice in managing flood emergencies.Design: This article describes the application of a prototype, agent-based Life Safety Model (LSM) to two populated areas in the Thames Estuary. Parameters sensitivity analyses have also been performed to assess the robustness and the applicability of this model as part of the actual emergency practice.Results: The model of the two areas resulted in the estimation of the number of fatalities for each scenario for different causes such as drowning, exhaustion, building collapse, and vehicles being swept away. The model was also successfully validated against historical data from the 1953 Canvey Island flood.Conclusions: The LSM offers a scientifically robust method of assessing injuries and lives lost, and it allows the comparison of different emergency management strategies that could assist in reducing the loss of life during future flood incidents.
Children and disaster planning: The National Commission on Children and Disasters’ findings and recommendations
Authors: Cornette, JD Emily Cathryn , So, JD Angelique Pui-Ka
Published: August 2018

This article focuses on the National Commission on Children and Disaster’s 2010 Report regarding disaster planning for children. This article recommends measures to ensure best practices in planning for children in disasters. It also highlights the unique needs of children and sheds light on the differences between planning for children and planning for other at-risk populations.
Incorporating strategic management into public health emergency preparedness
Authors: Langabeer II, PhD James R. , DelliFraine, PhD Jami L.
Published: August 2018

Although federal funding for public health emergency preparedness has approached $10 billion since September 11, 2001, there has been little research on the value of this investment relative to competing priorities or whether these funds achieved desired goals. Although some have argued that this dearth of research is due to a lack of definition for preparedness, the authors contend that the problems result from lack of goal specificity and absence of a guiding strategy. This results in minimal cooperation between agencies and low levels of measured preparedness outcomes. By using insights from the discipline of strategic management, the authors provide guidance to the field in development of government policies for developing a comprehensive integrated preparedness strategy.
Emergency management policies and natural hazards in the United States: A state-level analysis
Authors: Pinet-Peralta, PhD Luis M. , Bissell, PhD Rick , Hein, BSc, MSc Katrina , Prakash, MSc David
Published: August 2018

Every year, natural hazards kill and injure hundreds of people and also have significant social, economic, and political effects on society. However, not all disasters or crises are the focus of state, regional, or national efforts to mitigate their effects. In this article, the authors use Wilson’s policy typology to describe the unintended consequences that disaster legislation has had on the distribution of costs and benefits of disaster relief programs in the United States. The data provide evidence that the concentration of disaster relief programs for natural disasters is not based on need and that interest groups commonly drive disaster policies to benefit those with the greatest risk for losses rather than those in greatest need. Policymakers can use this information to examine both intended and unintended consequences of disaster response and recovery policies and can orient the limited resources available toward those who are least capable of recovering from natural disasters.
Long-term care and disaster preparedness: A study of organizational types and levels of preparedness for a disaster or emergency
Authors: Selod, MA Saher , Heineman, PhD Janice , O’Brien, MPH, MA Catherine , King, PhD Scott P.
Published: August 2018

Objectives: Although the consequences of Hurricane Katrina motivated considerable research into long-term care (LTC) facility preparedness, many questions still remain. This study examines the characteristics of LTC facility in relation to the level of preparedness to discern whether there are patterns that can inform future planning efforts. The data from PREPARE, a federally funded disaster preparedness program for LTC staff, are used in the analysis.Methods: More than 400 PREPARE participants completed both baseline and impact surveys as well as a demographic survey, allowing for an analysis of the characteristics and levels of disaster preparedness among participating LTC facilities. Crosstabs were run for the baseline and impact surveys against the demographic survey that the participants completed. Cluster analysis was performed to fit organizations into distinct groups based on their baseline responses to key preparedness domains.Results: The results of the crosstabs reveal the specific areas where LTC facilities have a more comprehensive disaster plan. For example, skilled nursing facilities appear to be more prepared than continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs); rural facilities seem to be more prepared than urban facilities; and facilities that are part of a chain did not emerge as being better equipped than independent facilities. Cluster analysis found three groups of organizations: “Resourceful but Hesitant,” “Unprepared,” and “Model Preparedness.”Conclusions: These findings have important implications for public health efforts surrounding disaster preparedness in LTC. The findings suggest that CCRCs deserve special attention in preparedness planning and that consideration in disaster planning is required in both rural and urban areas.
Developing a campus mental health resource plan
Authors: Clark, BS, MBA Candidate Quintana M. , Dietz, PhD, PE J. Eric , Howells, BS Jefferson F.
Published: August 2018

There has been an accelerated increase in the number of college students experiencing psychological distresses. The variance of the distresses are causing college campuses across the United States to realize the need for organized campus-wide collaborative mental health plans as part of their emergency management operations plan. In this article, the authors outline a method for developing a mental health resource plan (MHRP). Our plan is designed to aid in decreasing emergent and nonemergent mental healthrelated incidents and serve as a guide for addressing distressed students, faculty, and staff. Addressing mental health issues in college campuses across the nation is gaining widespread attention due to recent tragic mental health-related incidents. In an effort to support the initiatives that address mental health on college campuses, in 2008 and 2009, the US Department of Education granted a total of 19 million to us and 42 other higher education institutions to develop, review, or improve campus-based all-hazards emergency management plans, which includes addressing and assessing the mental health needs of students who are at risk of causing harm to themselves or others. As a partial result of this research effort, the authors present a generalized methodology for developing a college campus MHRP that can be used to prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from mental health-related emergency events.
The role of the medical students in influenza pandemic response
Authors: Waight, MD Gina , Berhane, MD Abeba , Orton, MD Lorenzo , Cinti, MD Sandro , Billi, MD John E. , Kim, MD, MBA Christopher S.
Published: August 2018

Objectives: To better define the role of the medical students in the event of a disaster requiring a surge response in healthcare systems.Setting: The University of Michigan Medical School and Health System, where staffing plans for a pandemic flu were actively taking place.Subjects: All medical students at the University of Michigan.Interventions: The authors surveyed medical students to evaluate how they felt they could contribute during a pandemic flu.Results: Of the students who completed the survey, 88 percent of the respondents felt that students should formally be incorporated into the health system’s staffing plan during a pandemic. This survey further identified the specific patient care tasks that students felt comfortable performing, which may be of value to medical school and hospital administration that are considering inclusion of medical students into their pandemic planning.Conclusions: There should be formal inclusion of medical students into health systems’ staffing plans in the case of pandemic flu, as they are valuable first responders who are both willing and able to participate in the pandemic response.
Conservation districts and emergency management: New partners for tight fiscal times
Authors: Weinerman, MPA Jason
Published: August 2018

Declining state budgets and pressure on the federal budget are likely to leave local emergency management efforts in a precarious position. During these challenging times, all government agencies will need to reach out and establish new partnerships to accomplish their missions. Emergency management situations, such as blizzards, fire, floods, and drought, are likely to originate in rural areas, and finding a partner who has a good working relationship with rural landowners is critical. Conservation districts are special- purpose government units that have a long history of working with rural landowners and getting active management installed on the ground. In addition, conservation districts have existing partnerships with other state and federal agencies, which can bring additional financial resources into the emergency management arena in a multipurpose framework. Although conservation districts are unlikely to be able to work in preparation and response planning, they can provide valuable assistance in mitigation and recovery operations. By including these special-purpose units of government in the emergency management planning and implementation efforts, emergency managers can extend their reach while not having to add additional resources.
January/February 2011
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 9, Number 1
March/April 2011
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 9, Number 2
May/June 2011
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 9, Number 3
July/August 2011
Authors: DeVito, Jr. Richard A.
Published: August 2018

Volume 9, Number 4
Hurricane knowledge and interpretation of forecasted error cone and wind potential graphics
Authors: Sherman-Morris, PhD Kathleen , Antonelli, PhD Karla B.
Published: August 2018

Objective: The purpose was to examine how participants understand, interpret, and make decisions using hurricane forecast graphics.Design: A four-part online survey was administered.Participants were provided an error cone graphic and one of three experimental potential for damaging winds graphics. Hurricane knowledge was also measured.Subjects: Two hundred eighty-six individuals initially responded to the survey. A subset of the sample was used for analysis (N = 203, with 130 responding to questions in all four parts). The average age was 41.97 (SD 12.97) with a range from 18 to 75. The reduced sample was 56.7 percent female and 43.3 percent male.Results: Responses were significantly different between those receiving the potential for damaging winds graphic and both other graphics. The addition of the error cone did not significantly change decision making. Perceived helpfulness of the forecast graphic increased with the addition of the track, but similarly, the addition of the error cone did not contribute significantly (means = 5.91, 7.78, 8.09). A majority of respondents answered five of the six hurricane knowledge questions correctly (62.1-79 percent). The lowest percentage knew what ingredients hurricanes needed to form (36.3 percent).Conclusions: Track information significantly altered participants’ perceptions of risk from damaging winds, but the error cone did not. Hurricane knowledge was good, with misconceptions existing regarding the effectiveness of taping windows and the meaning of the term “major hurricane.” Understanding of the two forecast graphics was also good.
Using systems evaluation theory to improve points of dispensing planning, training, and evaluation
Authors: Renger, PhD, MEP Ralph , Granillo, MS, MEP Brenda
Published: August 2018

Recurring throughput problems served as a catalyst to search for a better approach to planning, training, and evaluating points of dispensing (POD) exercises. The paper begins with a discussion of the potential of systems thinking and systems theory to improve exercise planning, training, and evaluation. The paper then illustrates how systems concepts guided a POD design team in improving their planning, training, and evaluation strategy. The paper concludes by suggesting the application of systems thinking and systems theory to other emergency response strategies (eg, incident command, emergency operating centers) shows great promise, warranting further investment in testing its efficacy.