Houston Dunkirk, Cajun Navy & Fixing FEMA – SDP#43

An abysmal government response to Hurricane Harvey exposed inadequate planning, lack of resources and confusing attempts at invoking incident command that iced potential responders such as commercial drone operators. Rescue efforts defaulted to heroic, overwhelmed local crews bolstered by the truly remarkable “Cajun Navy”. In substantial form, social media played a key role for those attempting to contact responders. This show describes the nuances of the Hurricane Harvey landfall and offers precise protocols to improve future responses to natural disasters.

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My Tense Trip To The Dark Web – Risks & Rewards of TOR – SDP#42

“The dark web—which utilizes a technology created by military researchers in the 1990s to allow intelligence operatives to exchange information completely anonymously—is unknown to many. It’s been said to be a breeding ground for organized crime, sex traffickers, and hackers. But it’s also used by good actors, including whistle-blowers and activists.”

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Part 2: Drones Will Revolutionize Crisis Response! Preston Rice Interview – SDP#41

Drones can fly at speeds of 70 MPH and electronic fences can’t prevent them entry into prison yards, hospital property or school zones. Wow, seems like drones pose risks to society – regulate them! Wait! Did I mention that drones efficiently operate within radioactive areas or locations that would present hazards to humans, such as scouting the “hot” regions of a forest fire? Drone expert Preston Rice explains and demonstrates the potential ways in which drones benefit humans – especially in the area of crisis prevention and response.

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PART 1: Little Known Facts About Drones – Preston Rice Expert Interview – SDP#40

The FAA controls the airspace above your lawn! However, the question of who owns the skies remains murky at local government levels. Rules & regulations for operating a drone differ greatly between a hobbyist and commercial operator. Drones, some smaller than a human hand, are used in many industries and show great promise for positive contributions to search & rescue and crisis response. Dr. Perrodin and Madison Area Drone Service Owner Operator Preston discuss the amazing capabilities and influences of drones from the television shows we watch to monitoring growth of hundreds of acres of crops. By the way, eagles have been trained to pluck nefarious drones from the skies! That, and much more, in this part of one of two series in which you will learn how drones are a tremendous benefit across society – and just wait for positive impacts of drones in the future!

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Back to School Safety Special – Time to be Terrified!! – SDP#39

High-drama multi-agency intruder response simulations transpire daily in schools across America. This hyper-realistic approach to school safety has produced a flurry of litigation centering psychological trauma for adults and children. Furthermore, theatrical drills are not supported by empirical research and differ greatly from other preparedness practices.

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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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Sophie’s Choice, Moral Dilemmas & 9/11 Research Design Issues – SDP#36

Moral dilemmas center ethical choices in rescue operations in which the grueling decision is between, at times, equally-deserving alternatives. Dr. Perrodin also critiques a safety response article comparing the actions of rescuers present at the Murrah Building and rescuers present at the World Trade Center – noting such comparisons hold great challenges to distilling information that can be generalized to other settings.

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One Question Predicted Emotional Breakdown Better Than Any Other – SDP#34

A WWII field psychiatrist found that infantry soldiers in the 5th Army survived a maximum of 238 aggregate combat days (ACD) before a fate of (1) physical casualty, (2) prisoner of war, or (3) psychiatric casualty. For the first time, it was realized that every soldier had a “finite voltage” and sooner or later would break – even if they appeared to have held up magnificently under incredible stress. This understanding demarked a sharp change in thinking that previously held that soldiers that “broke” under pressure did so only due to some psychological flaw.

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