Disaster Management
The disaster management resource page covers a range of news and information on how fire departments respond to major disasters. Features tackle topics like how to lead during times of crisis, incident communications and interoperability, preparation for active shooter events, and response efforts to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes and other significant weather events. Use this page to find resources, articles and tips to help aid your department in responding to disasters, as well as details on FEMA and USAR responses to recent incidents.
82% of U.S. fire departments are all or mostly volunteer and, often, their funding depends on people stepping up to help
Miami Beach officials approved the deployment of 12 firefighters overseas
Flooding
Officials in Leominster said residents near a dam should “immediately evacuate” as a precaution
Storm remnants from Hurricane Ida caused torrential rain, flooding and tornadoes in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
Detailing the logistics to keep firefighter camps up and running during fire season
Hospitals, ICUs are filled with patients from the fourth COVID surge, sparked by the highly contagious delta variant and low vaccination rates across the state
Forty-five members of the elite rescue team were sent to a staging area in Alabama as the Category 4 storm made landfall in Louisiana
Years of preplanning aided the incident command of an MCI, building fire, technical rescue, hazmat, and terrorism crime scene all in one
The Northern California blaze now encompasses 253,052 acres – an area eight times the size of San Francisco
Chiefs Pfeifer and Schwartz, Commissioner Cassano and FBI Special Agent Combs came together for the first time during Fire-Rescue International 2021
The vehicle is fully powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, mitigating the need for diesel generators that produce toxic fumes
Touring the condo collapse site offers a glimpse into the monumental rescue and recovery efforts underway
Agencies are (or should be) preparing for continued rolling blackouts meant to minimize the risk of electrical line-caused fires
Cooling centers, water distribution and other precautions not enough to prevent heat-related fatalities
The flames are deep and firefighters have not been able to find their source, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said during a news conference
Approximately 130 firefighters, working in teams, are approaching the pile from above and below as they search for any signs of life
Created in the 1980s, the search and rescue team has been dispatched to disasters in the U.S. and across the world to help comb through rubble, save lives and locate the dead
Crews must focus on the job at hand, not speculate about the cause; we can leave that to the experts
As part of the “ROG the Dog” animal-assisted therapy initiative, 30+ dogs will be stationed across the country to deploy following emergencies
First responders performed dozens of swift water rescues following record rainfall in the Nashville area
Several people were extricated from damaged homes as first responders conducted extensive search and rescue efforts
A state of emergency was declared in Kentucky following heavy thunderstorms in parts of Appalachia
Fire and EMS agencies in central Texas have seen emergency call volumes skyrocket amidst hazardous conditions, road closures and power outages
Search and rescue efforts are ongoing amidst the destruction caused by the storm
Fire officials say the call to assist hospitals is the first time the system has been used for something other than a major wildfire
FirstNet was one of several AT&T services temporarily disrupted when an RV exploded next to AT&T’s central office in Nashville
It’s time for a national response to our national emergency
From gathering necessities to understanding the hazards once the winds have ceased, these seven steps will ensure your community is prepared for a major storm
Protests
Chiefs from FDNY, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Charlotte offer lessons from the front lines of civil unrest
Protests
While we don’t know what we will wake up to on Nov. 4, we must focus on professionalism, choosing to help, not acting as accelerant
The tropical storm made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday, leaving three people dead in three different states
Leadership
Tim McConnell was praised by officials for his efforts to restore fire stations after Hurricane Katrina, but endured scorn related to long-standing labor grievances
Chief Mike Ragone recaps Global Medical Response’s pandemic response and explains how fire and EMS agencies must prepare for future outbreaks
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