Excess Equipment Sales & Potential National Security Threats
James M. Rush Sr.
December 27, 2017
Low-probability, high-consequence situations, such as mass fatality events, often stress or overwhelm local response capabilities within a very short timeframe. The ability to handle these
situations differs greatly depending on the size of the jurisdiction affected and its readily available resources. New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Research conducted research to address this issue.
Preparedness & Resilience Without the Hype
Catherine L. Feinman
December 27, 2017
As another calendar year comes to a close, agencies and organizations are reflecting on the events of 2017: hurricanes, mass shootings, wildfires, critical infrastructure failures, disease outbreaks, cyberattacks, and other
ARTful Leadership & Disaster Management
Eric J. McNulty
December 27, 2017
Disaster preparedness and response professionals had a front-row seat for the turbulence in 2017. A historic hurricane season left first responders and the communities they serve struggling to keep up. Fires continue to ravage the west. Active shooter and terrorism incidents keep everyone on edge. Infectious disease outbreaks remain a constant worry. Cyberattacks open a new threat vector. Prolonged preparation, response, and recovery put stress on physical, emotional, financial, and infrastructure systems. Leaders must adapt to changing circumstances and needs.
Mass Fatality Research – New York & Beyond
Terry Hastings and Katie Joel
December 20, 2017
Low-probability, high-consequence situations, such as mass fatality events, often stress or overwhelm local response capabilities within a very short timeframe. The ability to handle these situations differs greatly depending on the size of the jurisdiction affected and its readily available resources. New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Research conducted research to address this issue.
Maryland’s Approach for Raising the Resilience Index
Charissa Cooper and Jessica Nusbaum
December 20, 2017
Threats, whether natural or manmade, have the ability to negatively impact communities. Although government agencies serve communities before, during, and after disasters, emergency management officials understand the realities of gaps that exist in disaster management systems exclusively managed by government. There is a mounting cognizance of the need for effective communication and coordination from a broad range of stakeholders to reduce the negative effects of a given disaster.
The Presidency & Control of Nuclear Weapons
Jerome H. Kahan
December 20, 2017
“The whole point of U.S. nuclear weapons control is to make sure that the president – and only the
president – can use them if and whenever he decides to do so,” said Alex Wellerstein, a historian of
nuclear weapons at the Stevens Institute of Technology, in an article published on 1 December 2016. As
presidents and circumstances change, it is important to understand presidential authority and
legislation as they relate to nuclear weapons.
Indiana’s Emergency Response Guidelines for School Safety
Robert Quinn
December 13, 2017
The 2016 Legislative Session of the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 147 requiring the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) to establish minimum standards and approve best practices no later than 1 July 2017 for a school emergency response system. The new guidelines are helping to improve school safety and security across the state and offer a template for other states to consider when reviewing and updating their emergency response systems.
10 Questions for Selecting Business Continuity Software
Erin Valentine
December 13, 2017
Being resilient when faced with an emergency or catastrophic event requires preplanning to ensure that operations can continue with minimal interruption throughout the event or restart soon after the event. Business continuity software can help bridge the continuity gap during these times. Answering these 10 questions before purchasing will help ensure a good match between the software and the user.
Emerging Threats to Rail Infrastructure: Part I, Freight
Joseph W. Trindal
December 6, 2017
There is a desire for some bad actors to target rail systems, especially the hazardous materials freight rail network. This threat underscores the need for the rail transportation industry to maintain and strengthen partnerships with federal, state, and local authorities.
Remember the Past, While Imagining the Future
Catherine L. Feinman
December 5, 2017
The imaginations of television and filmmakers are often used to create futuristic worlds, with technologies that can be used as tools or as threats. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are one such technology that is now off the screen and often seen in the sky. Like “The Jetsons” of the early 1960s, the airways offer many opportunities to transport people and objects from one place to another. With increased travel and transport, though, emergency preparedness, response, and resilience professionals must address the potential benefits of this technology as well as regulations and enforcement issues that could hinder daily and disaster operations. In a worst-case scenario, terrorists could conduct attacks using UAS equipped with explosives, weapons, or dispersal devices for chemical, biological, or radiological materials.
