EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARCHIVES
The Complex Biology of Chemical Threats
Diana Hopkins
March 23, 2011
Chemicals are chemicals and biologicals are biologicals, but there are some substances – particularly useful in terrorist attacks – that are a little bit of both. Here is a short list of some but by no means all of these potentially lethal substances now receiving greater attention not only from
CBRNE: Warnings Heard, But Not Heeded
Richard Schoeberl
March 23, 2011
Question #1: Is the United States prepared to cope with new terrorist attacks in which CBRNE weapons are used to destroy the nation’s critical infrastructure and kill thousands of U.S. citizens at the same time? Answer: Not yet, but policy guidelines have been established and the long-range planning process has
Public Works Emergency Management – From Training to Reality
David Geary and Tracy Fessler
March 23, 2011
For understandable reasons, major disasters – e.g., earthquakes and tsunamis – get most of the headlines and more of the public funds available even in economically difficult times. Local jurisdictions would be well advised, therefore, not only to focus greater attention on emergencies closer to home but also to ask
Concepts on Information Sharing and Interoperability
John Contestabile
March 23, 2011
The distinguished former director of Maryland’s DOT Engineering & Emergency Services presents his knowledgeable views on the effective use of design to improve and facilitate not only all-hazards long-range planning but also incident-response capabilities and on-site effectiveness.
Finding Comfort Around the World
Catherine L. Feinman
March 16, 2011
The Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort was pushed into the spotlight last year during its 60-day disaster-relief mission in Haiti following the massive 7.0 earthquake that struck that tortured island on 12 January 2010. Formerly the SS Rose City, an oil tanker, the Comfort has actually been carrying out a broad range of disaster-relief, humanitarian-assistance,
Implementing the National Health Security Strategy
W. Craig Vanderwagen
March 16, 2011
Question #1: Is the United States prepared to cope with new terrorist attacks in which CBRNE weapons are used to destroy the nation’s critical infrastructure and kill thousands of U.S. citizens at the same time? Answer: Not yet, but policy guidelines have been established and the long-range planning process has
Future Chemical Challenges: Common Operating Picture Needed to Manage Common Problems
Michael E. Forgey
March 9, 2011
Future chemical challenges facing the United States far into the foreseeable future will be both more frequent and more deadly than those encountered in the halcyon years of the 20th century. Which is why the time is NOW to prepare to meet those challenges head-on and, if prevention does not
The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut
Domestic Preparedness
March 7, 2011
All citizens should not only be better prepared for major earthquakes but also practice how to protect themselves if and when earthquakes actually occur. The goal of the Great Central ShakeOut, which is hosted by the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), is to help people and organizations meet both
DHS Announces Release of New Training Course: Workplace Security Awareness
Domestic Preparedness
March 5, 2011
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the availability of IS-906, Workplace Security Awareness, a no-cost training course developed by the department’s Office of Infrastructure Protection Sector-Specific Agency Executive Management Office. The online training now available provides guidance to individuals and organizations on how to improve security in the
Tailoring an Emergency Operations Plan
Raphael M. Barishansky and Audrey Mazurek
March 2, 2011
The old tailor’s maxim – “Measure twice; cut once” – is also a suitable approach to the writing of an all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan for a health department. Here is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to the planning, writing, reviewing, and approval processes necessary to the drafting, development, and dissemination
When High-Tech Fails: Back to Plan B
Joseph Cahill
March 2, 2011
Modern communications systems are a marvel to behold – and to use. And they keep getting better, generation after generation. The only problem, though, is that they sometimes fail, for inexplicable reasons and at the worst possible times. Which is why a backup system (pen and paper, perhaps?) is still
Public Health Emergency Resilience: The Next Challenging Step
Bruce Clements
February 23, 2011
The four keys to maintaining and improving the nation’s public health and emergency preparedness, according to HSPD-21 and other policy directives, are improved capabilities in bio-surveillance, countermeasures distribution, mass-casualty care, and community resilience. Considerable progress has been made in upgrading the first three of those essential “components” – but the
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