Cyber-attacks and their implications for emergency management

Abstract

Emergency management has rightfully given attention to a variety of emergencies and disasters that have occurred throughout the United States over the past few years and months. Foremost among them is COVID-19, which underscores the need for improvements in public health preparedness and response. But the country has also been impacted by major hurricanes/tropical storms, damaging Derecho windstorms, devastating urban-wildland fires, significant floods, notable social unrest/riots, extreme winter temperatures and accompanying loss of electricity, and many other costly and deadly events including a disturbing building collapse in Surfside, Florida. This list is not comprehensive, of course. It excludes other concerns regarding rising social vulnerability, shortsighted development decisions, a degraded environment, and our inadequate and decaying infrastructure. It is understandable, therefore, that we are focused on the pressing issues of the day and needed changes in our policy priorities. Unfortunately, this may cause us to possibly overlook other potential risks.