Profiles in Preparedness #2: November 2023
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Here is what I wrote, read, watched, or listened to this month that has helped me think about how organizations and professionals can prepare for an uncertain future.
In November, I wrote:
“The Evolution of Left of Bang” – The concept of getting left of bang has changed for me over the years. From starting with a focus on preventing attacks from occurring to being ready to respond to events that can’t, we are reminded about the need to prepare for an uncertain future every day.
“Recommended Reading: Uncovering Disaster Timelines” – Getting left of bang starts with understanding a timeline of events. Breaking down the sequence of events that occurs in a hurricane can help identify where, when, and how professionals can get ahead.
“Preparing for Physical and Cyberattacks on the Nation’s Electrical Grid” – The impacts of energy outages go far beyond the annoyance of not having a light turn on or being unable to charge your phone. Planned and unplanned power outages can have a number of impacts across a community, and many in the past few years have resulted in the loss of life. In an article published on the Hagerty Consulting blog, I look at the risks to our grid and actions emergency managers can take to prepare their communities.
Here are five things that I read and listened to this month:
“The Deadly Maui Inferno, Hour by Hour” – The New York Times has changed how disaster case studies and stories are told. Instead of just naming streets or neighborhoods in an article or sharing a static map, this article has embedded video onto dynamic maps and drops the reader onto the street and see the fire unfold as if they were there.
Business and Distribution Models for Cybersecurity Startups – As a large and growing industry, cybersecurity providers can teach government and public safety professionals a lot about how to prepare for an uncertain future. Government leaders might not do “sales,” but they spend a lot of time advising and influencing their communities.
“How to Win the Holiday Season” – It isn’t a normal application of a left-of-bang approach to work and life, but here is an article about getting ahead of end-of-year requirements and requests at work. While for many organizations, “It’s like everyone’s surprised that the year is almost gone,” anticipating needs and being proactive can be key to protecting your time off this holiday.
“A Climate Change Success Story? Look at Hoboken” – In September, as NYC dealt with drowned subway lines, Hoboken (just across the Hudson River) had a non-incident. This is a great look at the benefits of investing in mitigation because it is about the things that didn't happen. It isn't an article about heroics or life-saving rescues, and there was no "breaking news" because of flooding. It was an event that didn't cause people to live in crisis mode.
Power Corrupts Podcast: It doesn’t look like this show is being recorded anymore, but I’ve really enjoyed listening to Brian Klaas’ unbelievable story-based episodes that dive deep into “the hidden and often nefarious forces that shape our world. Election rigging. Smuggling. Narcopolitics. Ransom. Conspiracy Theories. North Korean bank heists. Cults. Drug Lords. Voodoo. Money laundering. Assassinations. Unhinged conspiracy theories.”
To see more articles I’m reading, thinking about, and sharing, connect with me on LinkedIn.
Articles written for our Academy sections:
For paying subscribers, here are the articles and resources added to our Academy sections this month:
I have moved over 30 exclusive articles and practice exercises that used to be housed in The CP Journal’s practice section to Substack and made them available for subscribers.
I added articles that expand on the “Choosing your Exercise Type” module, with articles about drills and functional exercises and “Five Ways an Executive Can Deliver Powerful Opening Remarks.”
Whenever you’re ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:
1. The Tactical Analysis Online Course: Join over 4,000 students who have learned how to read behavior, establish baselines, and recognize threats using the approach written about in Left of Bang: How the Marine Corps’ Combat Hunter Program Can Save Your Life.
2. Subscribe to the Left of Bang Academy: Access the tools and resources needed by professional emergency managers and homeland security professionals to prepare their organizations for future disasters, disruptions, and crises.
3. Share the newsletter with friends and colleagues to help your organization and the industry prepare for an uncertain future.