Practical readiness for households, organizations, and communities without allowing preparedness to take over daily life.
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Commons Guide
Tabletop Exercise: Tampa Armature Works and a Multi-Site Attack
A Tampa-area discussion exercise testing venue coordination, traffic and crowd movement, responder identity, hospital surge, misinformation, and a second wave of incidents.
Current assessments and intelligence-style work connected to this subject.
Watch Floor Brief
Ebola Returns: What Worked Last Time and What Didn’t
The return of Ebola to international headlines is a reminder that some threats never disappear; they simply fade from public attention until conditions allow them to…
The current global environment is no longer defined by isolated crises. It is defined by convergence. What analysts now describe as a polycrisis is not a…
Holiday Season Threat Awareness and the Role of Public Vigilance
As the holiday season approaches, the security environment always grows more vulnerable to threat activity. Large gatherings, predictable public events, and symbolic religious observances provide both…
Suicide Bomber Recognition and Response: Lessons from the EasyJet Incident
On July 27, 2025, Abhay Nayak, a 41-year-old passenger on an EasyJet flight from London to Glasgow, caused panic when he exited the lavatory mid-flight shouting…
Riyadh Revisited: Lessons from a Complex Attack and Implications for Homeland Defense
On this date in 2003, a series of coordinated suicide bombings struck residential compounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, targeting Western nationals. Orchestrated by al-Qaeda, these attacks…
The upcoming Paris Olympic Games, scheduled to begin on July 26th, is preparing for a host of threats. While numerous actors could potentially disrupt the Games,…
Practical guidance from The Commons for turning lessons into capability.
Commons Guide
Tabletop Exercise: Johnstown Veterans Event and Multi-Site Attack
A discussion exercise for a smaller jurisdiction focused on a veterans event, limited resources, mutual aid, hospital surge, credential verification, and a second incident.
A response-focused discussion exercise for testing unified command, credential verification, mass-casualty coordination, public messaging, continuity, and a second wave of incidents.
10 Community Counterterrorism Readiness Priorities
A state-and-local readiness checklist covering communications, command, medical response, HAZMAT, hospitals, digital resilience, community expertise, private partners, and exercises.
Digital Hygiene for Law Enforcement and First Responders
A practical OPSEC brief for reducing doxxing exposure, protecting family information, hardening accounts, and responding when personal information is published online.
Why biological incidents can be difficult to see at first, what public-health patterns matter, and how families and communities should respond to official guidance.
Recognizing the Indicators of a Possible Suicide Bomber
A public-safety brief on observable warning signs, avoiding stereotypes, creating distance, and reporting a concern without confronting the person yourself.
The basics for an ordinary household: communication, meeting points, essential supplies, medications, documents, children, pets, and a calm plan everyone can understand.
A practical guide to location data, app permissions, device separation, connectivity, metadata, and the habits that reduce unnecessary exposure while traveling.
Practical steps for neighborhood communication, schools and workplaces, wellness support, volunteer networks, local food and blood banks, medical training, and trauma kits.
A calm framework for assessing risk, planning communications, training volunteers, working with local authorities, and supporting people after a frightening event.
An expanded working paper for families and communities: communications-down planning, essential buffers, go bags, vehicles, medical readiness, chemical/biological awareness, mobility, and local relationships.
Digital Hygiene Checklist Search your name, phone number, and email online Remove your info from data broker sites (use tools like Optery, DeleteMe, or Incogni) Blur…
Here’s links to pull materials from: https://youtu.be/OrXtioJ0C58?si=bePIqMkHmfGfkwiY https://www.uber.com/en-FR/newsroom/security-update/ https://www.wxyz.com/news/national/fake-ride-share-drivers-could-know-your-personal-information-arizona-woman-warns-after-lyft-experience Intro Today we’re diving into a growing threat you might not…
When Your Apps Turn Against You: Digital Hygiene for Americans Overseas
Consumer apps can expose more than a location. Over time, routine check-ins, fitness data, photos, rides, social posts, and account metadata can reveal patterns about where…
Misused Fire Alarms, Missed Opportunities: Rethinking School Security During the Off-Season
Wayne Black, author of School Insecurity: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents and Educators on School Security, lays down a hard truth: no child has died in…
Surveillance of Churches in the U.S.: Awareness, Reporting, and Security Measures
Churches across the U.S. have been experiencing a concerning trend of surveillance activities. These incidents typically involve one to four individuals entering religious establishments and attempting…
Enhancing Airport Security – Your Role in Mitigating Terrorist Threats
Terrorist threats are expected to spike this year, with groups like al-Qaeda continuing to prioritize aviation and crowded spaces. Suicide vests remain a favored method of…