#responder-and-survivor-act

[ follow ]
US news
fromBoston.com
2 hours ago

Southern California wildfire mostly contained as officials lift many evacuation orders

The Springs Fire in Riverside County is 75% contained, with evacuation orders lifted for many neighborhoods as fire crews continue to battle the blaze.
Canada news
fromwww.cbc.ca
3 days ago

2 GTA mental health treatment centres for first responders a step closer to reality with new funding | CBC News

Federal government allocates $15 million for new treatment facilities for first responders with post-traumatic stress injuries in Greater Toronto Area.
US politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 days ago

US Homeland Security shutdown to stretch on, despite Senate passing funding

The House has not voted on the Senate bill, prolonging the partial government shutdown affecting DHS funding and federal workers.
fromTravel + Leisure
3 days ago

Hawaii Is Open for Travelers After Historic Storms-Here's How to Help Local Communities Recover

More than two trillion gallons of water-enough to fill three million Olympic-sized pools-fell across the state, marking the most severe storm conditions in nearly two decades.
Miami food
fromNextgov.com
5 days ago

Lawmaker looks to award grants for veteran suicide prevention AI models

The Recovery Engagement and Coordination for Health-Veteran Enhanced Treatment, or REACH VET, program identifies veterans in the top 0.1% of suicide risk by analyzing health records for specific indicators of potential self-harm.
Non-profit organizations
Social justice
fromTruthout
5 days ago

It's Not Just Huerta. For Many Survivors, Silence Seems Like the Only Option.

Sexual abuse within movements, exemplified by Cesar Chavez, must be addressed to foster change and protect survivors' dignity.
San Francisco
fromMission Local
5 days ago

Cell outage blocks San Francisco 911 calls

A cell outage may disrupt 911 calls in San Francisco, prompting residents to use Wi-Fi calling or text 911 for assistance.
fromwww.npr.org
6 days ago

Trump administration cuts turned rural towns into sitting ducks for disasters

"We are seeing increased storms and increased water volumes," says Laura Holbrook, the director of the flood protection authority for Luzerne County, Pa, where the town is located.
Environment
World politics
fromThe Cipher Brief
1 week ago

National Security Starts at Home - Not on the Battlefield

National security relies on enduring internal capacity rather than just accumulated hard power or visible instruments of power.
#emergency-preparedness
Public health
fromMail Online
1 week ago

Emergency list reveals survival items Americans should stockpile

Americans should prepare emergency supplies to sustain themselves for several days without outside help during disasters.
California
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Saratoga evacuation seminar helps residents prepare for emergencies

Saratoga city officials hosted a preparedness seminar with public safety organizations and nonprofits to help residents understand evacuation procedures and emergency response coordination.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Saratoga evacuation seminar helps residents prepare for emergencies

Saratoga city officials organized a community seminar featuring multiple public safety organizations and nonprofits to educate residents about evacuation preparedness and emergency response procedures.
Public health
fromMail Online
1 week ago

Emergency list reveals survival items Americans should stockpile

Americans should prepare emergency supplies to sustain themselves for several days without outside help during disasters.
California
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Saratoga evacuation seminar helps residents prepare for emergencies

Saratoga city officials hosted a preparedness seminar with public safety organizations and nonprofits to help residents understand evacuation procedures and emergency response coordination.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Saratoga evacuation seminar helps residents prepare for emergencies

Saratoga city officials organized a community seminar featuring multiple public safety organizations and nonprofits to educate residents about evacuation preparedness and emergency response procedures.
fromThe American Conservative
2 weeks ago

Veterans Have Earned The Right To Ask. It's Time We Did.

We Americans who will protect our flag should have a voice in where it is flown. Despite his unimpeachable record of heroism and patriotism, he was disparaged and mocked by his government and the corporate press.
Right-wing politics
#fema
fromwww.ocregister.com
1 month ago
US news

FEMA will resume staff reductions that were paused during winter storm, managers say

FEMA will resume cutting CORE staff, potentially undermining disaster response capacity by eliminating experienced on-call employees and disrupting teams and leadership.
fromTruthout
1 month ago
US politics

Noem Faces More Calls to Resign After Gutting FEMA, Abandoning Disaster Victims

Kristi Noem's leadership weakened FEMA and hindered federal disaster response, leaving communities vulnerable during major winter storms.
SF politics
fromenglish.elpais.com
2 weeks ago

The future of FEMA is at stake under the leadership of Markwayne Mullin

The removal of Kristi Noem from DHS raises concerns about FEMA's future leadership and disaster response effectiveness under Markwayne Mullin.
LA real estate
fromtherealdeal.com
2 weeks ago

Wildfire rebuild roadblocks breed very little predictability

Wildfire rebuilding progress remains slow due to complex, non-linear permitting processes and insurance barriers rather than a single straightforward obstacle.
#emergency-management
Online Community Development
fromNextgov.com
2 weeks ago

When disaster strikes, census data can help show who is in harm's way

The U.S. Census Bureau's OnTheMap for Emergency Management tool helps officials quickly estimate population and workforce data in disaster-affected areas to guide emergency response and recovery efforts.
NYC LGBT
fromQueens, NY Patch
2 weeks ago

3 Killed In 4-Alarm NYC Building Fire: FDNY

A four-alarm fire in Queens killed three people, injured five firefighters, and hospitalized two others in critical condition on Monday afternoon.
London politics
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

The deal that cost father and son's lives in 'forgotten disaster'

A father and son died in a 1946 crush at an FA Cup match at Burnden Park when over 85,000 people exceeded the stadium's 20,000 capacity, killing 33 and injuring 400.
Boston
fromBoston.com
3 weeks ago

Two officers rescue woman found asleep amid house fire in Merrimac

Two police officers rescued a sleeping woman from a burning house in Merrimac after a resident's 911 call alerted them to the fire.
fromBoston.com
3 weeks ago

North Kingstown, R.I. police officer dies by suicide, department says

To our fellow officers and first responders: you are never alone, and reaching out for help is a sign of strength.
Mental health
fromGothamist
4 weeks ago

NYC Council bill aims to close gaps between hospitals and shelters after deadly winter

Nolberto Jimbo-Niola, 52, died outside in the bitter cold this winter and was found on a Queens park bench with discharge papers from a local hospital. His death was one of more than two dozen from hypothermia so far this year in New York City, as residents faced a weekslong stretch of brutally cold temperatures.
NYC politics
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

How to Help Communities Rebound from Crisis and Disaster

Disaster psychology provides an empirically-based framework for building community resilience and growth during crises through understanding predictable psychological phases and natural recovery mechanisms.
California
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Legislators eye new prevention efforts in fire-scarred California: 'A tipping point'

California legislators introduced a dozen bills to prevent wildfires and reduce damage following devastating January fires that killed 31 people and caused $250 billion in losses.
Medicine
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Everyone Deserves Trauma-Informed Healthcare

Trauma-informed care must extend beyond mental health to all medical settings, using principles of partnering, consent, and pacing to honor patient humanity and prevent retraumatization.
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

I led communications at FEMA during a hurricane - and had to flee my home after a death threat

In the middle of the response, as we were communicating safety and recovery information, other public officials and I were targeted. A mix of people were insinuating that we weren't doing our job. They were also spreading misinformation. As I reflect, what was really surprising to me at the time was getting attacked for my religion. I'm Jewish. There were a lot of people online who could say anything and everything without knowing me - very hurtful things.
Women in technology
Public health
fromABC7 San Francisco
1 month ago

Social workers demand UCSF improves safety after worker fatally stabbed by patient

UCSF social workers demand stronger workplace safety measures and increased staffing following a colleague's fatal stabbing, citing unaddressed safety concerns and lack of leadership response.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Navigating the Messy Middle of Disaster Recovery

Disaster recovery extends beyond the initial crisis phase; year two brings psychological challenges including chronic stress, financial strain, and bureaucratic delays that impair functioning and compound trauma.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Jon Karl Calls Out Trump Admin Over Emergency Hotline That Tells Americans Do Not Rely' on Them for Evac Help

The Trump administration's evacuation hotline for Americans in the Middle East contradicts Secretary of State Rubio's public plea for citizens to register, as the recorded message discourages reliance on U.S. government assistance.
#crisis-intervention
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago
Social justice

Letters: Police are the wrong people for crisis intervention

Police lack the advanced clinical training and education of counselors and are inappropriate for crisis intervention; behavioral health-led responses by clinicians and social workers are more effective and cost-effective alternatives.
Social justice
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Letters: Police are the wrong people for crisis intervention

Police lack the advanced clinical training of counselors and crisis intervention by police correlates with worse outcomes for people in mental health crises; behavioral health-led responses by clinicians are more appropriate and cost-effective.
Social justice
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Letters: Police are the wrong people for crisis intervention

Police lack the advanced clinical training and education of counselors and are inappropriate for crisis intervention; behavioral health-led responses by clinicians and social workers are more effective and cost-effective alternatives.
Social justice
fromThe Mercury News
1 month ago

Letters: Police are the wrong people for crisis intervention

Police lack the advanced clinical training of counselors and crisis intervention by police correlates with worse outcomes for people in mental health crises; behavioral health-led responses by clinicians are more appropriate and cost-effective.
Television
fromVulture
1 month ago

Well, That Sucks

Kyle Fraser, Survivor 48 winner, was medically evacuated from Survivor 50 after suffering a suspected torn ACL during the first immunity challenge.
Environment
fromEarth911
1 month ago

Guest Idea: The Wildfire Season You're Not Prepared For

Extreme wildfire conditions caused by heat, drought, and wind alignment have nearly tripled globally over 45 years, with human-caused climate change responsible for over half this increase, making simultaneous extreme fire weather across multiple regions increasingly common.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Hope in Hostage-Taking and Kidnapping Incidents

Narratives shape how people process trauma and build resilience, while uncertainty from wrongful detention creates profound psychological strain that unfolds silently within families.
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

Trump Wants Veterans to Lose Benefits As Soon As Their PTSD Symptoms Are Treated. There's One Problem With That.

During the troop surge in Iraq, I learned to constantly scan for threats, how to distinguish the sharp crack of a gunshot pointed in my direction from one outgoing toward an enemy, and the myriad ways that explosives can be hidden on a roadside. I learned that hypervigilance can be the difference between life and death. What I didn't learn was how to turn it off. Now, I take three psychiatric medications every day, and I go to therapy every week.
Law
Gadgets
fromNextgov.com
1 month ago

When every second counts: government tech helps first responders' lifesaving missions

Indoor-capable drones and indoor location-tracking technologies significantly improve first responder situational awareness and reduce risk in hazardous interior environments.
Mental health
fromBuzzFeed
1 month ago

I Am A School Shooting Survivor. The Violence From ICE Is Triggering My Trauma In Ways I Never Expected.

A student was spared physical harm in a high school shooting but remained haunted by peers' screaming as violence erupted.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
1 month ago

3 big changes are proposed for FEMA. This is what experts really think of them

A proposed overhaul would shift disaster responsibility to states, halve FEMA's workforce, and enact reforms requiring some congressional approval.
Mindfulness
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Like Water, We Heal

Resilience is psychological flexibility—soft, adaptable responses like water that reorganize inner life toward a new equilibrium instead of returning to a prior baseline.
#world-trade-center-health-program
#suicide-prevention
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

In case of emergency: The importance of learning CPR, pet first aid

But if we're not prepared, panic and confusion can hinder our ability to act appropriately when they need us most. The best way to increase your chances of responding quickly and calmly is to familiarize yourself with basic pet first aid techniques. Though never a substitute for veterinary treatment, properly applied first aid can minimize a pet's trauma and even save their life until you are able to transport them to a veterinarian,
Pets
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Senators call for investigation into insurance department over handling of L.A. wildfire claims

Two California senators have asked for an investigation into the state insurance department's handling of complaints filed by Los Angeles wildfire victims struggling to collect payouts from State Farm. The calls follow a Los Angeles Times report Thursday that revealed a range of complaints among more than a dozen fire victims over how the state insurance department has handled their claims since the January wildfires.
California
Psychology
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

Lessons for Life on the Anniversary of a National Disaster

Avoiding six common decision-making errors revealed by past disasters enables more effective and successful decisions across management, coaching, and personal life.
#wildfires
Public health
fromBuzzFeed
2 months ago

First Responders Are Calling Out The "Fatal" Safety Mistakes You Need To Stop Making ASAP

Home medical oxygen increases fire risk; secure and store cylinders properly, avoid ignition sources, and use smoke alarms and warning signs.
Miscellaneous
fromIndependent
2 months ago

'We were all crying and blood was running down our hands and legs' - arson victim on her terrifying ordeal

A petrol bomb attack gutted a Finglas, north Dublin home, injuring a brother and burning Amanda Uwase while her siblings escaped.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
2 months ago

Editorial | Why involuntary hospitalization is a last, necessary resort for NYC amNewYork

Prevent deaths from street exposure by expanding outreach, involuntary hospitalization for those with severe mental illness, and increasing shelter and warming capacity during extreme cold.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

Resilience and Reconstruction: What Now?

Sustainable recovery requires creating environments that honor past losses while providing resources, tools, and systemic support across individual, relational, institutional, and cultural levels.
US politics
fromBusiness Insider
2 months ago

The Department of Veterans Affairs gutted its workforce. Lawmakers say veterans are now paying the price.

The Department of Veterans Affairs lost over 40,000 employees in FY2025, primarily healthcare staff, reducing capacity for mental health care and appointment access.
fromBuzzFeed
1 month ago

First Responders Are Calling Out The "Fatal" Safety Mistakes You Should Never, Ever Make

If you are choking and are alone, try to get yourself into a high-traffic area, such as a hallway in a building or outside your house. If you pass out, you're way more likely to be found as opposed to being in a room in a building or your house. Call 911 even though you can't speak. Someone will be sent to your location by dispatch.
Public health
Environment
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Three LA wildfire victims on surviving the horror and what happened next

Winds-driven January fires in Los Angeles destroyed homes, killed 31 people, and forced families into prolonged displacement and repeated temporary housing during slow recoveries.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 months ago

Epstein Survivor Says Republican Members of Congress Bailed on Meeting With Victims After They Said They Would Show Up'

Several Republican members of Congress agreed to meet Epstein survivors but ultimately did not attend; President Trump declined to meet and later attacked supporters.
California
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Eaton and Palisades fire refugees moved near and far - and often

Tens of thousands displaced by the Eaton and Palisades fires endured prolonged, improvised sheltering, moving frequently among temporary accommodations while rebuilding their homes.
Public health
fromKqed
2 months ago

'Salt to a Wound': Social Workers Still Reeling in Aftermath of Ward 86 Stabbing | KQED

Ward 86 staff intervened to stop the stabbing; staff and eyewitnesses say a deputy intervened only shortly afterward, contradicting claims of immediate deputy action.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

California wildfire survivorsgot a rude surprise that could hit more Americans

Since the 1990s, American homes have been systematically underinsured in the event that they are completely destroyed. Study after study shows that, counter to the public's understanding, many home insurance policies are not required to cover total replacement of homes. The trend, though decades old, has been somewhat hidden. But climate-driven events that cause massive destruction, especially wildfires, are revealing just how pervasive and severe the problem has become.
Environment
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
1 month ago

A Better Way to Respond to Mental Health Crises

Most mental health crises do not justify deadly force; specialized mental-health crisis teams reduce violence and produce safer, better outcomes.
US politics
fromThe Nation
2 months ago

Should We Treat Political Violence as a Public Health Crisis?

Political violence in the U.S. has become routine and causes lasting psychological and public-health harms beyond immediate security threats.
fromLos Angeles Times
2 months ago

A push to end a fractured approach to post-fire contamination removal

The patchwork efforts to identify and safely remove contamination left by the 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires has been akin to the Wild West. Experts have given conflicting guidance on best practices. Shortly after the fires, the federal government suddenly refused to adhere to California's decades-old post-fire soil-testing policy; California later considered following suit. Meanwhile, insurance companies have resisted remediation practices widely recommended by scientists for still-standing homes.
Public health
US politics
fromAxios
2 months ago

FEMA faces trial by ice as winter storm nears after Trump's staffing cuts

A severe winter storm threatens regions unaccustomed to extreme cold, risking crippling ice, heavy snow, prolonged power outages, and testing federal disaster-response priorities.
Mental health
fromwww.housingwire.com
2 months ago

Navigating recovery: Counseling and coaching options for homeowners after natural disasters

Connecting disaster survivors to counseling and HUD-approved financial coaching accelerates emotional and financial recovery, reduces eviction and foreclosure risk, and improves payment outcomes.
fromwww.sandiegouniontribune.com
1 month ago

California teen loses hand, suffers severe burns when fireworks device explodes

A 15-year-old boy suffered severe burns to his chest and face and lost his right hand when a fireworks device detonated in his hand in Oceanside Thursday, officials said. The teen suffered the injuries, including the traumatic amputation of his hand, when the device blew up shortly before 9 a.m. on North Horne Street near Civic Center Drive, near the Walmart parking lot, police said.
California
Public health
fromBuzzFeed
2 months ago

19 "Fatal" Safety Mistakes You Should Never, Ever, EVER Make, According To First Responders

Prioritize immediate assistance over recording, call emergency services, learn airway-clearing and choking first aid, and secure pets so responders can access the scene safely.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Opinion: Will California lawmakers break their promise to child sexual abuse survivors?

Tax dollars should fund children's education, not attorneys' fees in child sex abuse cases; AB 218 closed a loophole that let schools avoid civil liability.
US politics
fromwww.dailynews.com
2 months ago

Trump signs executive order taking over Los Angeles County wildfire rebuilding process

Donald Trump signed an executive order to cut red tape and accelerate rebuilding in wildfire-hit Los Angeles areas, prompting pushback and calls for federal funding.
fromBusiness Insider
2 months ago

How 911 calls actually work, according to a former emergency dispatcher

Across the country, emergency call centers are short-staffed, underfunded, and losing dispatchers faster than they can replace them. A 2023 survey found that one in four 911 positions nationwide is vacant, and 36% of centers reported having fewer positions filled in 2022 than in 2019. Martinez explains to Business Insider how dispatchers decide who gets help first for police, ambulance, and fire services, why they sometimes have to drop one call to save another, and the "caller hacks" that can literally save your life.
Mental health
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 months ago

Unbelievable Any Of Them Have a Job!' Epstein Survivor Rails Against DOJ Redactions to CNN

DOJ released 3.5 million Epstein files but heavy redactions of victim 302s enraged survivors and raised questions about compliance and transparency.
Mental health
fromPsychology Today
2 months ago

When Therapy Happens During War

Trauma often intensifies after release, leaving families and caregivers facing guilt, hypervigilance, and difficult reintegration amid ongoing conflict.
Mental health
fromSFGATE
1 month ago

California mental health advocate killed by her husband, officials say

Celinda Jane Gonzales, a Yurok mental health advocate and suicide-prevention worker, was killed in an apparent murder-suicide by her husband in Humboldt County.
California
fromKqed
2 months ago

How Palisades Fire Put New Volunteer Firefighting Force to the Test | KQED

Trained civilian "Community Brigades" partnered with firefighters during the Palisades Fire, offering a first-in-the-nation, potentially replicable model for community wildfire response.
Mental health
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Opinion: It took a village' to heal her trauma and homelessness. Will California keep funding this help?

Trauma-informed community services, consistent care, and compassionate housing support enabled recovery from long-term abuse, addiction, homelessness, and estrangement.
[ Load more ]