HAZMAT ARCHIVES
Listeria – When Food Bites Back
Dana Pitts
June 26, 2013
Food safety is a top priority at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As the only agency tasked with tracking human cases of foodborne illness at the national level, the CDC works – in collaboration with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety &
Promoting Food Security in Disaster Relief Situations
Scott McCallum
June 19, 2013
In 2011, 14.9 percent of U.S. households (17.9 million households) were “food insecure,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s study, Household Food Security in the United States in 2011. Those numbers equate to slightly more than 50 million Americans living in food-insecure households: 33.5 million adults and almost 17
Counter-Agroterrorism 101
Patrick P. Rose
June 19, 2013
Some biological agents – anthrax and ricin, for example – can be used as weapons against human targets; others specifically attack animals and food crops. Both types of attack, though, can have devastating effects on the economy and on the morale and overall wellbeing of a nation. To mitigate these
The Boston Bombings – Redefining Shelter in Place
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
June 5, 2013
When a bomb explodes, a biological or chemical agent is released, or an active shooter is at large, time is of the essence. In some situations, having residents shelter in place, although costly and inconvenient, may be the fastest and only way to stop the perpetrator and reduce the number
Protecting Schools – Tornadoes & Other Natural Disasters
Kay C. Goss
May 29, 2013
As the southwest areas of the country face deadly tornadoes, other areas are preparing their communities and schools for the 2013 Hurricane season, which officially starts on the first day of June. Unlike tornadoes, hurricanes usually give advance warning – sometimes several days – before making landfall. Schools, though, must
National Preparedness: Challenges, Definitions & Jurisdictions
Jordan Nelms and Amanda Faul
May 22, 2013
Implementing the guidance provided by Presidential Directive 8 can lead to organizational and procedural challenges – while also working toward greater national preparedness. The first step in implementation is to identify threats and hazards and define the risk as it pertains to a particular jurisdiction. The next step is to
Specialized Teams Meet Unique Challenges
Joseph Cahill
May 1, 2013
People, weather disasters, terrorist attacks, and other criminal activities are inherently unpredictable. Which does not mean that law-enforcement and healthcare agencies cannot prepare for them by using the “special events” calendar as a training curriculum.
Avoiding the Threat Posed by Predictive Certainty
Michael Vesely
April 24, 2013
Trying to predict risks is a risk in itself. It is, of course, difficult to quantify numerically the overarching risk involving a particular asset. However, the more complex the assessment model used, the less likely it is that most people will understand it and the greater effort that must be
Today’s ‘New’ Maritime World – Threats & Risks
Corey Ranslem
April 24, 2013
The International Maritime Bureau has reported that, as of 15 April 2013, there have been 76 attacks and four hijackings on the world’s oceans and other waterways since the start of the year. Three maritime experts share their collective knowledge of piracy attacks in today’s world and offer some helpful
Transportation Requirements for Special Needs Populations
Thomas Russo
April 17, 2013
Decision makers, managers, and responders who focus on special needs populations require additional planning to ensure the safe evacuation and well-being, following a major disaster, of those entrusted to their care. Among those populations, there are three distinct groups – those with transportation; those without transportation; and those who cannot
Catastrophic Planning vs. Conventional Disaster Planning
Dennis R. Schrader
April 17, 2013
Since 9/11 and Katrina, significant federal funding has been invested in planning for similar incidents and events that may (or may not) happen in the future. Meanwhile, state and local planners must focus their efforts on the incidents most likely to occur within their own jurisdictions. This approach seems eminently
Providing Security for High-Speed Rail
William Rooney
April 17, 2013
In a fast-paced world, it makes sense to increase the speed of transportation. However, as plans are being created, there is much more to consider than simply the costs, design, and location of new high-speed rail projects. For one thing, this new mode of transportation will also draw significant attention
Follow Us
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.
