Critical Infrastructure Archives

Emerging Infections and Their Impact on EMS

Raphael M. Barishansky January 7, 2009

“New” diseases, combined with the fatal rebirth of ancient diseases believed to have been terminally laid to rest, are giving epidemiologists, EMS agencies and responders, and healthcare workers a daunting challenge of epic proportions.

Litigation Trends Regarding Security

Neil C. Livingstone December 17, 2008

One of the most effective weapons against terrorists, surprisingly, is Money! Not the reasonable sums used to pay for new surveillance systems but damages charged against businesses that fail to provide proper security for customers, tenants, & employees.

Coming: An Upgrading of Security Standards for Rail Transit

Diana Hopkins December 17, 2008

For many Americans the most important date to remember next month will not be Inauguration Day, but 27 January, when the American National Standards Institute’s Transit Security Workshop starts a much-needed review of U.S. rail-security deficiencies.

Safety: Those Who Stay Behind

Joseph Cahill December 10, 2008

The evacuation of a major city devastated by a natural disaster or an act of terrorism takes multi-agency cooperation, numerous training drills, & dedicated professionals who have the courage needed to stay in place while saving the lives of others.

The Human Dimension: Identifying and Treating Disaster-Related Stress

Kay C. Goss December 10, 2008

After a disaster, emergency managers – along with other federal, state, tribal, and local leaders – begin rebuilding the communities struck, whether by natural or human-induced incidents. The recovery process calls out for the best of leadership and partnership in the region. Debris removal, the re-opening of schools and businesses,

Hospital Security: An Age-Old Problem Becomes Increasingly Important

Craig DeAtley December 3, 2008

The nation’s healthcare workers could become an endangered species if numerous planned improvements in hospital security are not funded and implemented in the near future. Here is a quick look at some of the innovative design upgrades recently introduced.

DHS STEPs Forward to Identify NIMS Technology

Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso December 3, 2008

Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5), which required the development of a National Incident Management System (NIMS) framework to coordinate the responses of local, state, and federal agencies to domestic terrorist attacks, was signed in December 2003. The NIMS framework is based on the Incident Command System (ICS) developed by

Emergency Operations Centers: The Heartbeat of Disaster Management

Kay C. Goss November 26, 2008

Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) are complex facilities to design and build. Many emergency managers and other participants in response operations may be involved in only one new facility or only one remodeling during their careers. To begin with, it is a major challenge to obtain funding for an EOC that

H5N1: Still Waiting in the Wings – An Updated Assessment of the Pandemic Flu Threat

Steven Harrison November 26, 2008

Just in case the United States, & the rest of the world, did not have enough to worry about, recent public-health reports provide a timely reminder that new pandemics, possibly the most disastrous ever, could still strike at any time.

Multipurpose Buildings: A Towering Challenge for Security Planners

Neil C. Livingstone November 19, 2008

From parking lots to elevators & escalators to penthouse apartments – every room and every floor in the office and residential buildings now being designed represents a different type of danger. Here is a handy list of some of the more avoidable ones.

Offshore Facilities: Growing Vulnerabilities in the Maritime Environment

Christopher Doane and Joseph DiRenzo III November 19, 2008

Any opinions expressed in the preceding article represent their own views and are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. Coast Guard.Offshore energy platforms, which are vital to help the United States meet its energy requirements, not only are growing in number but also create unique security challenges. Using

TERT Takes Toxic Approach to Emergency Response

Shannon Arledge November 12, 2008

Chemicals, biological agents, and other dangerous substances are among the key instructional materials used to train hazmat technicians and other first responders participating in the CDP’s upgraded “COBRA course” in Anniston, Alabama.

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