Post-Event Debriefing & Recovery

Why We Can’t Compare Disasters: WTC, Murrah, Katrina & More – SDP#37

There are several reasons why each disaster should be studied as an individual unit. By isolating communications and geography specific to time, context and situation, Dr. Perrodin demonstrates the inherent problems with comparing disasters. He also notes the incredible impact of “lived experiences” and longitudinal demographic factors that contributed to the improbable rescue of 500,000 people in only 9 hours from Lower Manhattan on 9/11/01.

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Moral Distress versus Psychological Distress – Understanding & Healing Compounded Pain

Psychological distress vs. moral distress In my role as a county critical incident debriefer, I encounter emergency responders processing psychological distress.  This is a normal response to an unintentional traumatic event such as a person killed in an accident.  Yet, a second form of distress infiltrates the minds of responders who have been subjected to a…

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Mass Shooting Incident Symposium – Key Points to Consider

The DeForest (WI) Police Department made me a special non-law enforcement guest of the Mass Shooting Incident Symposium held at the Schauer Performing Arts Center in Hartford, Wisconsin on March 4, 2013. This exemplary event, designed for law enforcement, entailed brilliant studies of four mass shootings with attention to efficient incident and post-incident responses. Presenters:  Major Kevin…

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Study Found Nearly Half Of Surveyed Superintendents Lacked Plan for Crisis Prevention – (4 Steps of Crisis Prep and Response)

In 2004, a national preparedness study was conducted of 2,137 (usable returned responses) superintendents in public school districts.  The objective of the study was to document the preparedness of public schools in the United States for the prevention of and response to a mass-casualty event (Graham, 2007). In the survey, summary results indicated that most…

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