Emergency Response
Video: Tornado-struck Joplin, Mo., declared federal disaster zone
Jasper and Newton counties in Missouri, which include the city of Joplin, have been declared federal disaster zones following a powerful tornado that tore through the area on Sunday night....
Readers' Viewpoint: Effective disaster management requires planning, cooperation
American City & County readers comment on what could be done to help government emergency responders on all levels work together better in the event of a major disaster....
2011 hurricane season planning begins
In preparation for the beginning of the north Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, the U.S. Census Bureau has released data to help emergency planning, preparedness and recovery efforts....
City manager: Crisis can improve disaster management
In light of the disasters in Japan, Santa Clarita, Calif., City Manager Ken Pulskamp shares tips on preparedness in an article on the International City/County Management Association website....
Fire chiefs support nationwide public-safety broadband network
President Obama's call for establishing a high-speed wireless broadband network for public safety has the endorsement of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. ...
Viewpoint: Software puts the heat on Memphis crime
By Richard Janikowski
Memphis police compile data and improve cooperation to make the city safer....
Spread the Message
In late January 2011, the Groundhog Day storm began moving across the country from New Mexico to New England. When the National Weather Service extended...
Hiring a new city
Atlanta suburb sets up shop quickly by contracting out most services....
Survey: Nearly half of Americans lack emergency plans
Nearly half of Americans do not have family/household emergency plans, according to Federal Signal's "2010 Public Safety" survey, which was released on Wednesday....
Heart Safe Sandy Springs (Ga.)
By Nancy Jackson
Heart Safe in Sandy Springs, Ga., was one of 6 winners of American City & County's 2010 America's Crown Communities excellence awards....
Pinellas County, Fla., Public Works Operations and Vehicle Storage Buildings
By Nancy Jackson
The Public Works Operations and Vehicle Storage Buildings in Pinellas County, Fla., was one of 6 winners of American City & County's 2010 America's Crown Communities excellence awards....
Your money or your house
American City & County readers weigh in on whether the South Fulton firefighters should have put out the fire before collecting the fee....
Viewpoint: Lessons learned from a 200-year storm
By Leo Fontaine
The mayor of Woonsocket, R.I., shares the town's secrets for keeping its wastewater treatment plant operating despite a powerful April storm....
Outsourcing safety
By Autumn Giusti
Some cities are considering contracting out their public safety services to the county or state in which they are located....
Define 'emergency'
A Bradenton, Fla., man was arrested on April 13 after reportedly calling 911 a total of 18 times in two months....
A force for change
Tempe, Ariz., Police Department deploys mobile wireless technology that boosts computing capabilities....
We can't drive 65
Average American drivers actually stay within posted speed limits on interstates when they are in light traffic conditions, according to a report released by Tom Tom Inc....
New Orleans mayor testifies on Stafford Act reform
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin testifies before a Congressional subcommittee on reforming the Stafford Act. ...
It takes a village
By Erwin Blackstone and Simon Hakim
Local governments should engage everyone in the community — from the private sector to volunteers — to address major disasters....
Real heroes
ICMA is sending a team to help Haiti recover from the earthquake. ICMA's International Team Leader David Grossman explains how the association is helping rebuild Haiti....
Agencies make progress toward interoperability
By Ed Brock (edward.brock@penton.com)
National communications plan is on track, officials say....
Viewpoint: Five innovations that will change cities in the next five years
By Adam Christensen, social media communications manager, IBM
This year's version of IBM's annual "Next 5 in 5" — a list of five innovations that will change cities over the next five years — could significantly improve the fate of cities facing massive urbanization and stressed infrastructure....
Hillsborough County, Fla., Senior Zones
The "Senior Zones" in Hillsborough County, Fla., was one of 11 winners of the 2009 America's Crown Communities excellence awards....
Decatur, Ala., Pre-Evaluated Landing Areas Project
The pre-evaluated landing areas (PELA) project in Decatur, Ala., was one of 11 winners of the 2009 America's Crown Communities excellence awards....
Richmond and York County, Va., External Alarm Interface Exchange
The external alarm interface exchange project in Richmond and York County, Va., was one of 11 winners of the 2009 America's Crown Communities excellence awards....
