Ever since I discovered the wonder of Civil Defense at 27 in doing contract work reviewing Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) and inspecting county Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) all over the United States and teaching emergency managers for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, I have been fascinated by how critical it is to this nation’s survival.
Category Archives: Features
The Passing of Dr. Peter Vincent Pry, Executive Director of the Task Force on National & Homeland Security
By David T. Pyne Dr. Peter Pry’s interview with the Westminster Institute calling for U.S. leaders to make peace, not war with Russia, one of his top strategic priorities before he passed (Author’s Note: What follows is a tribute which I wrote on behalf of the Task Force on National & Homeland Security to our Executive Director who passed […]
Russia-Ukraine Crisis May Have Far Reaching Impact
By Ellie Goldner To understand the current Russian-Ukrainian crisis, you should bear in mind Winston Churchill’s attempt to define Russia as “a riddle, wrapped in mystery, inside an enigma.” To the vast majority of Americans, those words still ring true today, as very few of our countrymen know much about Russian culture or history other […]
COVID -19 A Worst-Case Scenario?
Could COVID-19 cause a worst-case scenario or something more catastrophic for our nation? Let’s work this scenario out. Every week on my Civil Defense Radio podcast I open the show with “Welcome to Civil Defense Radio where we discuss all things Civil Defense. Civil Defense is about building resiliency by becoming better informed, prepared and […]
Are Emergency Managers Preppers?
Are Emergency Managers Preppers? Are they better prepared than most other citizens? These were just two questions I recently asked a discussion board with well over 1,000 Emergency Managers. I also asked how many of them are prepared at home and work? Are their families prepared with food, water, medical supplies, generators and knowledge of […]
It is in the Public Interest to Build a Culture of Preparedness Locally
It is in the public interest to build a culture of preparedness. The federal and state governments haven’t necessarily failed to do this because it’s not really their duty.
American Civil Defense 1945 – 1984
The Evolution of programs and policies for civil defense was written by B. Wayne Blanchard, Ph.D., Planning Specialist for Civil Defense Programs Federal Emergency Management Agency 1985. This is the link to that document. It is a short PDF and well worth the time to read and understand how the various presidential administrations either supported […]
The First EMP Commission Reports
The link below takes you to the website of William R Graham, former chairman of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack, also known as the EMP Commission. There are now 12 reports from the Commission that will help inform you of the threats, and also provide […]
What can people do in their communities to be more prepared?
People need to be engaged in their own safety and security from disasters. The emergency managers in the local jurisdictions are doing a great job with what they are given. They are usually understaffed and don’t have the manpower to effectively prepare their communities. A civil defense organization is an all-volunteer community-based resource multiplier that […]
A New Call for Civil Defense
After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the increasingly serious threats from both state actors and non-state actors, there has been a growing call for the resurrection of some form of civil defense structure in the United States. Among those calling for this resurrection was a bi-partisan committee in the U.S. House of […]