Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the Future of Policing Institute fellows are theirs and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities they represent.
Black Swan Events 2026
A black swan event refers to a highly unpredictable and rare occurrence that has a profound impact, often explained away only after it happens. In 2026, the world faces the possibility of such events, threatening to upend global stability with revelations that challenge our understanding of the universe or disasters capable of reshaping geography.
These incidents are not just newsworthy moments—they represent pivotal turning points that could force humanity to confront its vulnerability and insignificance. As society stands on the edge, the unlikely may become inevitable, leaving lasting effects on the trajectory of human history.
Local government can empower citizen preparedness and self-reliance through the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
Local government can help its community members prepare to help themselves during natural disasters by creating the infrastructure for a community-wide GMRS radio system.
Apocalyptic events and policing
An apocalyptic event refers to any catastrophic event with the potential to bring about the end of our world as we know it. This could range from natural catastrophes, like supervolcano eruption or meteor impact, or man-made catastrophes, like nuclear warfare or pandemic pandemic; all of these have one thing in common - severe disruption or collapse of society's fundamental structures such as governance, economy and public safety mechanisms like police.
The rapid intensification of hurricanes: knowledge cops don’t know they need
Recent years have been witness to an upsurge in hurricane intensity, drawing great concern from meteorologists, emergency management professionals and public safety leaders alike. Hurricanes, often challenging storms to prepare and respond to under the best of circumstances, become even more so when their intensities surge unexpectedly in short spans of time. Understanding its consequences of “rapid intensification” is essential when considering public safety and resource allocation decisions.