HAZMAT ARCHIVES
‘By Far the Greatest Threat to U.S. Civil Aviation’
Neil C. Livingstone
March 24, 2010
Umar Farouk Abdulmutullab was walking, almost literally, in the footsteps of Richard Reid when he tried to detonate an “underwear” bomb aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day 2009. Additional jihadist attacks are inevitable – unless and until the United States changes its supposedly egalitarian screening process in favor
The Need for Situational Awareness in a CBRNE Attack
Jordan Nelms
March 24, 2010
The handling of mass-casualty incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear,
and/or explosive materials requires special training and purpose-built systems and equipment, but the
greatest need on-site is continuing awareness by emergency responders of the horrendous threat they, and
the innocent victims they are helping, are facing.
The Short- & Long-Term Changes Needed at DHS, TSA
Neil C. Livingstone
March 23, 2010
Contrary to Secretary Napolitano’s rather politicized assertion that “the [U.S. aviation security] system worked,” it definitely did NOT work. But it could be made immensely more effective – less costly as well – if certain common-sense, albeit politically difficult, changes were made. Beginning immediately, and starting at the top.
Responding to CBRNE Attacks: A Quick Primer
Jennifer Smither
March 17, 2010
The dangers posed by IEDs, chemical and biological weapons & devices, and other WMDs has grown
exponentially in recent years – to the point that many analysts now use the term “when, not if” in
answering questions about the possibility of additional terrorist attacks against the United States. The
time to prepare is
The PPE & Other Basic Needs of Tactical Officers
Richard Schoeberl
March 10, 2010
An alarming report issued by the WMD Commission – combined with the growing need to “protect the protectors” and an increase in other responsibilities – suggests that law-enforcement agencies, specifically including SWAT teams, may soon have to become hazmat experts as well.
Keeping It Simple – And the Need for Pre-Planning
William (Jeremy) Magers
March 10, 2010
Question: How does an all-electric racing car work? Answer: By pushing the “start” button. One of the biggest problems in the field of domestic preparedness, it says here, is the misguided instructional emphasis on theory and complex technology rather than maintaining a laser-beamed focus on practical training, the explanation of
Compare Your Thoughts with Those from National Experts on … The Chemical Threat and the State of Chemical Preparedness
Stephen Reeves and John F. Morton
March 10, 2010
How serious is the chemical threat now facing the United States and its allies throughout the
world? Also, are U.S. responder agencies properly prepared to cope with that threat? If not, why not?
What additional policies and actions are needed? Those are just a few of numerous questions posed in
this DomPrep40 survey.
ICD – Shorthand for a Potentially Ubiquitous Threat
Joseph Cahill
March 3, 2010
Chemicals are a part of the everyday American’s diet. They are used – in carefully measured doses, it is hoped – in manufacturing; in the processing of food, beverages, medicines, and numerous other consumables; and in many other ways in almost every country in the world. Because of their relatively
Lessons Learned for Critical Infrastructure
Andrew Pearsons
February 24, 2010
Most discussions about protection of the U.S. “critical infrastructure” focus on power plants, government buildings, nuclear facilities, and other high-value “things.” It says here that people, U.S. citizens, both government workers and the general public – human assets, in other words – also need protection and, in fact, should be
No Easy Choices When Facing a Nuclear-Armed Gorilla
Neil C. Livingstone
February 24, 2010
As always, the principal topic discussed at the 2010 Herzliya conference was Israeli’s national
security. But the most important building block – stumbling block might be a more accurate term – in
maintaining that security at a high level was mentioned only in whispers, because no one dared to speak
its name: Iran’s
Has Resilience Become the New Protection
Leslie-Anne Levy and Monica Giovachino
February 10, 2010
Two CNA officials discuss the once frequently ignored relevance of Resilience – yes, with a capital “R” – as a major component of the U.S. “Grand Strategy” for homeland-security and how it evolved from a passing thought to a sudden realization and eventually to a nationally known buzzword.
GPS-Equipped Vehicles and the EMS Infrastructure
Joseph Cahill
February 3, 2010
The political/budgetary decision to purchase and install GPS devices on EMS ambulances (and sometimes other vehicles) should never be based on cost alone. For three reasons: (1) They save lives. (2) They facilitate closer control and better management of the overall EMS fleet. (3) Thanks to the first two reasons,
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