SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ARCHIVES
Grid Power Failure – Alternative Energy Systems That Work
William Kaewert
November 19, 2014
As businesses and residents examine alternative energy sources in light of long-term power outage threats, some important features must be considered. Ensuring that a system is able to operate off grid requires that it operate completely independently, have a manual or automatic transfer switch installed, and include either on-site energy
Maine – A Journey Through State Grid-Protective Legislation & the Threat of Regulatory Capture
Andrea Boland
November 19, 2014
Government officials in Maine are taking steps to protect the electric grid from severe geomagnetic disturbances and manmade electromagnetic pulse weapons. However, ensuring that state agencies and electric utilities work together toward a common goal can be a challenge. The final task force report on emergency legislation passed on 11
Satellite Navigation & Timing: Good News, Bad News
Dana A. Goward
November 19, 2014
The Global Positioning System is an integral part of the U.S. critical infrastructure. However, its importance may not be realized until the system fails. It is important to examine the good and the bad of satellite navigation and timing when discussing: current systems, vulnerabilities, satellite signals, cost, implementation, and government
Challenge: Defeat Ballistic Missile Attacks From the South
Henry (Hank) F. Cooper
November 19, 2014
When President John F. Kennedy announced that Soviet ships were transporting nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles to Cuba, U.S. citizens prepared to “duck and cover” as they had been taught in grade school. Individuals and families were more self-reliant in the 1960s than today. With greater reliance on electricity, all
Washington, D.C. – Fail Gracefully, Recover Quickly
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
November 11, 2014
In the nation’s capital, emergency managers identify hazards, consider location-specific elements, and implement lessons learned from past incidents in order to create a robust preparedness plan for critical infrastructures, including power and water. Efforts in neighboring jurisdictions and private sector cooperation also contribute to the regional resilience of the power
‘Old-School’ Response to Medical Emergencies
Joseph Cahill
November 10, 2014
This current emergency medical services (EMS) dispatch and response process has evolved significantly over the past few decades. A dispatcher records the details of a 911 call in a web-based application. That information flows through a computer terminal into an ambulance. The unit responds using directions from a global positioning
Hazard Assessment & Response Management for CBRNE Incidents (HARM)
Domestic Preparedness
November 9, 2014
The Center for Domestic Preparedness is offering a unique course that challenges individuals assembled from different disciplines and geographic areas to apply their operational knowledge in support of a hazardous materials team responding to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CBRNE) incident.
The Professional Emergency Manager
Daryl Lee Spiewak
October 29, 2014
A professional emergency manager is defined based on a combination of education, training, experience, and other attributes, such as: a common body of knowledge; specialized skills and abilities; adherence to standards, ethics, and a code of conduct; and determination of compliance procedures. However, the true attributes of a professional emergency
Part V – The ‘Big Picture’: Integration of Strategies & Plans
Catherine L. Feinman
October 29, 2014
Part 5 of 5: By implementing a national command structure, creating ongoing relationships, sharing resources, and participating in joint exercises and trainings, Baltimore City is able to better coordinate preparedness efforts with multiple disciplines and jurisdictions to protect communities and critical infrastructure. A small staff can accomplish a lot when
Part IV – A Regional ‘Whole-Community’ Approach
Catherine L. Feinman
October 22, 2014
Part 4 of 5: Baltimore City takes the whole-community approach to a regional level. By integrating the business community into the city’s operations and planning process and working with regional partners to plan for and respond to incidents and special events, the city is able to use these many relationships
A Training Partnership That Began With a Grant
University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security
October 15, 2014
Emergency management agencies must build relationships with many different agencies and organizations. In some cases, these relationships grow into an integrated partnership with diverse roles and responsibilities. The Center for Health and Homeland Security and Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management have one such partnership, which is helping to
Part III – Collaborative Efforts for Citywide Preparedness
Catherine L. Feinman
October 15, 2014
Part 3 of 5: In any large city, there are many agencies and organizations that must learn to work together for the benefit of the city as a whole. In Baltimore, these groups come together through local emergency planning committee meetings, trainings, exercises, special events, and other interagency preparedness efforts.
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