SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ARCHIVES
Public Health Response & Emergency Management Planning
Patrick P. Rose
October 9, 2013
Most disaster responses necessarily include a public health component. Emergency managers must always be aware of that fact when dealing with emerging threats and their possible consequences. By incorporating a public health response into emergency management planning, the nation will be much better prepared for the next pandemic or biological
Operationalizing the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure Resilience
Dane Egli and John Contestabile
September 25, 2013
Defining “resilience” is one challenge; putting it into action is another one, more difficult and more complex. The Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory is addressing both challenges, and recently asked a broad spectrum of thought leaders to help strengthen the nation’s ability “to adapt, withstand, and recover.”
Building Resilience Early & Geographically
Stephen McElroy
September 11, 2013
Earthquakes have changed the course of rivers, tornadoes have uprooted and moved trees and homes, and other types of disasters have caused terrain and geographical changes that made it difficult for residents to recognize their own neighborhoods. Geographic information systems offer emergency managers and responders a valuable tool to help
NDMS Builds Capabilities With Fundamentals Course
Domestic Preparedness
September 3, 2013
The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) is charged with augmenting the nation’s medical response in support of state and local authorities. To accomplish its mission, the NDMS has employed Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) – consisting of professional medical personnel, supported by logistics and administrative teams – across the country.
Insider Threats: A Call for Greater Vigilance
Joseph W. Trindal
August 28, 2013
When the defense for acts of insider espionage is personal conscience, at least some people show sympathy for the accused. The publicity given to such lone-actor miscreants – coupled with the growing development of and dependence on cyber capabilities – is reason enough for considerable concern in both the public
The Pursuit of Nukes: No Job for Amateurs
Richard Schoeberl
August 21, 2013
Unsecured and non-declared nuclear and radiological materials make a deadly combination, particularly attractive to terrorists. Forestalling the threat of any attack using weapons of mass destruction requires careful consideration of not only the sources of the materials used and the technological capabilities of those building such weapons but also the
Radioactive Sources – An Invisible Hazard
Stephen Jolly
August 21, 2013
Medical and industrial facilities, universities and colleges, cargo containers, and floodwaters have something in common with nuclear power plants – all of them can be a source of nuclear radiation. Knowing where radiation might be “hiding” within a community is the first step that emergency managers should take to protect
Radiological Emergencies – Public Health Responsibilities/Challenges
Audrey Mazurek and Raphael M. Barishansky
August 14, 2013
Over the past decade, U.S. public health agencies (local, state, and federal) have seen an increase of responsibility in preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating emergencies. In addition to planning for responses to naturally occurring disease outbreaks, these agencies are often key partners in responding to weather
Nuclear Meltdown – The Need for Timely & Honest Information
Janette D. Sherman and Joseph J. Mangano
August 14, 2013
Similarities can be drawn between two nuclear disasters that occurred 27 years apart, in different countries. Dealing with a nuclear disaster in the United States or elsewhere still requires having accurate information – which must be delivered in time to help emergency responders deal with potentially major consequences. As long
Special Decontamination Considerations: Bridging the Gap
Ryan Hay
August 12, 2013
Following exposure to radiological or other hazardous materials, decontamination efforts often focus on the people directly involved, but other concerns also must be considered – the use of weapons and/or possible harm to animals, for example. Pennsylvania’s Lehigh County has developed a best practices approach to ensuring that response teams
Hospital Decontamination – High Costs & Limited Benefits
Craig DeAtley
August 7, 2013
Article Out Loud The primary reason why the Emergency Department of almost any U.S. hospital or other healthcare facility should be ready and able to respond to a hazardous material release is to protect patients, staff, and the hospitals’ own facilities from avoidable contamination. However, unlike many other patient-care procedures
Hackers & Federal Agencies: Broken Connections
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
July 31, 2013
Recent leaks about government surveillance programs that track U.S. and U.K. phone calls and internet communications have raised major concerns over the privacy of personal communications. There may be even greater difficulties, though, if current ties between the federal government and the U.S. “hacker” community are weakened or, perhaps, severed
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