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Jim-McKay-Emergency-Management

Jim McKay

Editor

Jim McKay is the editor of Emergency Management. He lives in Orangevale, Calif., with his daughter, Ellie, and son, Ronan. He relaxes by fly fishing on the Truckee River for big, wild trout. Jim can be reached at jmckay@emergencymgmt.com.

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Public Safety
Unified Command Must Be in School, First Responder Playbook
To be most effective in a school emergency, administrators, teachers and first responders all need to understand the roles everyone plays, and experts say those roles should be established ahead of time.
August 23, 2024
 · Jim McKay
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Public Safety
Software, Volunteers Bridge the Gap for Iowa First Responders
The Iowa United First Aid program enlists volunteers who are on standby and equipped with basic first aid gear to help on EMS calls, and a specialized software connects them to 911 callers in need.
August 23, 2024
 · Jim McKay
Digital illustrations of floating virus particles over a soft-focus background of a person holding a smartphone.
Public Safety
COVID-19 Spikes This Summer in Calif. as the Bird Flu Lurks
As rates of COVID-19 surge and the long-term threat of bird flu is on the horizon, experts say the lack of a national health system and coordinated messaging put the U.S. at risk for another pandemic.
August 22, 2024
 · Jim McKay
A firefighting aircraft drops fire retardant over the forest during wildfire suppression efforts in Montana.
Recovery
Could Promising Fire Suppression System Be a Game-Changer?
A former firefighter has developed an environmentally friendly aerial suppression system using expanding foam that the company says is far more efficient in putting out fires than other methods.
August 09, 2024
 · Jim McKay
Aerial view of a wildfire burning in a forest.
Preparedness and Communications
Wildfire Fighting Agencies Spend Too Little on Prevention
A survey found that less than 40 percent of agencies spend at least 10 percent of their budget on prevention, while 42 percent said they don't use any software to detect and monitor fires.
August 08, 2024
 · Jim McKay
An industrial plant on a waterfront against a cloudy sky.
Recovery
Mapping Tool Shows Climate Change Effects Are Nationwide
A new tool from Rebuild by Design shows climate change is an equal opportunity hazard. But spending money ahead of time on mitigation and prevention can be more cost-effective than committing it after disaster strikes.
August 02, 2024
 · Jim McKay
The destroyed Irving Elementary School in Joplin, Mo.
Public Safety
Deadly Tornado in Joplin, Mo., Leads to New Building Codes
The standards are for new buildings and will offer the minimum protection from 97 percent of the tornados experienced in the United States. For areas with potential for EF5 Category storms, building a safe room may be necessary.
July 26, 2024
 · Jim McKay
An automated license plate reader mounted on a pole against a partly cloudy blue sky.
Public Safety
Despite Successes, ALPR Tech Still Raises Privacy Concerns
Law enforcement officials in many cities that have deployed automatic license plate recognition cameras say they help solve crimes, but critics are skeptical and raise concerns about privacy.
July 24, 2024
 · Jim McKay
three first responders wearing headsets and taking calls in a dispatch center
Public Safety
Pandemic Ramped Up the Need for Real Next-Gen 911 Solutions
There have been improvements in location accuracy in the next-generation environment that push data from the call center to the first responder, but complete NG911 deployments have been slow.
July 12, 2024
 · Jim McKay
man using a VR headset to play a video game called Zengence
Public Safety
New York City EMTs Testing Video Game for Mental Health
The first responders are piloting a video game called Zengence that is aimed at inducing activities like breathing to reduce stress, improve wellbeing and develop resiliency.
July 10, 2024
 · Jim McKay
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