There is no shortage of guidance on school emergency preparedness. California’s Emergency Management for Schools guide and FEMA’s Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans are both thoughtful, thorough, and well intended. At a combined 250+ pages, they are also a heavy lift. K-12 school leaders are are deeply committed to their students and communities, often operating with limited resources while managing competing priorities. Additionally, since emergency...

Returning to the City of Los Angeles for a consulting project where my career began almost 20 years ago felt a bit like coming home. Walking into the Emergency Operations Center brought back a flood of memories from my early days in emergency management: the excitement of learning the ropes, the challenge of writing plans from scratch, and the colleagues who played such a big role in shaping my path. My early years at the City of LA taught me that while plans and procedures matter, they are...

In the rush that follows a crisis, the pressure to act immediately is real, driven by politics, public scrutiny, and urgency on the ground. But moving fast without structure can cost time, clarity, and effectiveness down the line. Taking an “operational knee”—a short, strategic pause—can make the difference between a reactive response and a coordinated one. This isn't about delay, and it never overrides life safety. It’s about building the discipline to pause, assess, and align. Even a few...