Most recently published
Food Defense Activities – A Year in Review
Jason Bashura
January 22, 2014
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a staff of people dedicated to protecting the nation’s food supply. These Food Defense and Emergency Coordination Staff members are actively participating in conferences, meetings, and exercises throughout the year and providing valuable tools to national and international stakeholders. A summary of the
‘Game Day’ Food Defense: Enhanced Business as Usual
Michéle Samarya-Timm
January 21, 2014
With more than 40 Olympic venues serving an estimated 14 million meals, the 2012 London Olympic Games were susceptible to many potential foodborne illnesses – both intentional and unintentional. However, through education, communications, surveillance, and a focus on surge capacity, London provided a model that could help protect the food
Protecting the Food Supply Outside the Walls
Don Hsieh
January 15, 2014
When food products disappear, there are no serial or vehicle identification numbers to identify these stolen goods when they re-enter legal markets. Although there is a significant financial concern to the companies, a greater public concern is the safety of the food itself – ranging from improper handling and storage
Checklists for All-Hazards Food Defense Planning
Kay C. Goss
January 15, 2014
In the not-too-distant past, most food consumed by Americans traveled directly from the farm to the kitchen table. Today, there are a dozen or so stops of varying duration on the way – all of them vulnerable to mold, theft, sabotage, spoiling, and/or infection from zoonotic diseases.
Food Processors – Recovery Before a Recall
Wm. Mark Cosby
January 15, 2014
Recovery begins during the planning stage. As past unintentional cases of food contamination have shown, the effects of an intentional incident could be extremely costly to food processors and the nation as a whole. Understanding the features that processors should include in their recovery plans will help to quickly restore
TECHNOLOGY ALERT
Rob Schnepp
January 12, 2014
Performance Standards Introduced For Rapid Biological Field Tests AOAC International Approves RAMP following US Department of Homeland Security Sponsored Evaluation
New Mexico – ‘Defensive’ About Agriculture & Food
Kelly Hamilton
January 8, 2014
In a state with a large agricultural and food industry, protecting that infrastructure is a difficult yet necessary task that New Mexico takes very seriously. Guidance and support from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have helped initiate innovative programs and exercises to protect the state’s cattle, alfalfa hay, milk,
Productivity & Multiagency Meetings
Joseph Cahill
January 8, 2014
When multiagency meetings take time away from everyday tasks, productivity may decrease – but only temporarily. Those participating in such meetings should recognize, though, that the productivity lost that day usually will be reimbursed, with interest, when the same participants simultaneously respond to future incidents.
Training & Protecting the First On-Scene Responders
Richard Schoeberl
January 1, 2014
When a chemical or biological attack occurs, the first responders on the scene need the proper training and equipment not only to protect themselves but also to save others during the critical first ours after the attack. Today, unfortunately, not all of the nation’s responders receive the same training and/or
Preparing the Next Generation of Emergency Service Leaders
Anthony S. Mangeri
December 25, 2013
In a world where disasters and other emergency incidents occur every day, emergency service leaders are responsible for bringing calm and structure in the midst of crisis. Some of these leaders will begin this path as early as high school, while others will migrate to the emergency services as their
FINAL REPORT: Resilience 2013
Thad W. Allen
December 23, 2013
On 18 November 2013, DomPrep hosted an executive briefing at The National Press Club to present the Resilience 2013 – Survey & Report. The survey outlined in this report is the second of a series that Booz Allen Hamilton has partnered on with DomPrep Journal. The survey drills down into
Security Technology Trends to Watch in 2014
Jay Hauhn
December 18, 2013
As security needs continue to change, the technology to meet those needs also must constantly evolve. In 2014, five key technology trends may change the way that business managers protect their employees, data, and facilities: cloud services, wireless technologies, standards, distance biometrics, and business intelligence.
Call for Help – Defending the Food Supply
Amy Kircher
January 29, 2014
There are plots to use food as a delivery mechanism for weapons of mass destruction and plots to intentionally alter food products for economic gain. As such, food defense is everybody’s business. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently asking for comments that would help mitigate the intentional adulteration
Food Defense Activities – A Year in Review
Jason Bashura
January 22, 2014
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a staff of people dedicated to protecting the nation’s food supply. These Food Defense and Emergency Coordination Staff members are actively participating in conferences, meetings, and exercises throughout the year and providing valuable tools to national and international stakeholders. A summary of the
‘Game Day’ Food Defense: Enhanced Business as Usual
Michéle Samarya-Timm
January 21, 2014
With more than 40 Olympic venues serving an estimated 14 million meals, the 2012 London Olympic Games were susceptible to many potential foodborne illnesses – both intentional and unintentional. However, through education, communications, surveillance, and a focus on surge capacity, London provided a model that could help protect the food
Protecting the Food Supply Outside the Walls
Don Hsieh
January 15, 2014
When food products disappear, there are no serial or vehicle identification numbers to identify these stolen goods when they re-enter legal markets. Although there is a significant financial concern to the companies, a greater public concern is the safety of the food itself – ranging from improper handling and storage
Checklists for All-Hazards Food Defense Planning
Kay C. Goss
January 15, 2014
In the not-too-distant past, most food consumed by Americans traveled directly from the farm to the kitchen table. Today, there are a dozen or so stops of varying duration on the way – all of them vulnerable to mold, theft, sabotage, spoiling, and/or infection from zoonotic diseases.
Food Processors – Recovery Before a Recall
Wm. Mark Cosby
January 15, 2014
Recovery begins during the planning stage. As past unintentional cases of food contamination have shown, the effects of an intentional incident could be extremely costly to food processors and the nation as a whole. Understanding the features that processors should include in their recovery plans will help to quickly restore
TECHNOLOGY ALERT
Rob Schnepp
January 12, 2014
Performance Standards Introduced For Rapid Biological Field Tests AOAC International Approves RAMP following US Department of Homeland Security Sponsored Evaluation
New Mexico – ‘Defensive’ About Agriculture & Food
Kelly Hamilton
January 8, 2014
In a state with a large agricultural and food industry, protecting that infrastructure is a difficult yet necessary task that New Mexico takes very seriously. Guidance and support from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have helped initiate innovative programs and exercises to protect the state’s cattle, alfalfa hay, milk,
Productivity & Multiagency Meetings
Joseph Cahill
January 8, 2014
When multiagency meetings take time away from everyday tasks, productivity may decrease – but only temporarily. Those participating in such meetings should recognize, though, that the productivity lost that day usually will be reimbursed, with interest, when the same participants simultaneously respond to future incidents.
Training & Protecting the First On-Scene Responders
Richard Schoeberl
January 1, 2014
When a chemical or biological attack occurs, the first responders on the scene need the proper training and equipment not only to protect themselves but also to save others during the critical first ours after the attack. Today, unfortunately, not all of the nation’s responders receive the same training and/or
Preparing the Next Generation of Emergency Service Leaders
Anthony S. Mangeri
December 25, 2013
In a world where disasters and other emergency incidents occur every day, emergency service leaders are responsible for bringing calm and structure in the midst of crisis. Some of these leaders will begin this path as early as high school, while others will migrate to the emergency services as their
FINAL REPORT: Resilience 2013
Thad W. Allen
December 23, 2013
On 18 November 2013, DomPrep hosted an executive briefing at The National Press Club to present the Resilience 2013 – Survey & Report. The survey outlined in this report is the second of a series that Booz Allen Hamilton has partnered on with DomPrep Journal. The survey drills down into
Reshaping Law Enforcement in the 21st Century
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
December 17, 2013
New technologies and response equipment – combined with social media and mobile applications – are changing the way law enforcement agencies protect themselves and their communities. What were once only possible in science-fiction movies are increasingly growing in use within law enforcement communities across the nation – drones, facial recognition,
Detection Technology – Decisions & Support
Chris Weber
December 11, 2013
New technologies and equipment mean new training concerns. Ensuring that responders are capable of choosing the right equipment for an incident, knowing how to use it, and accurately interpreting the results are regular challenges for first responders and hazardous materials teams. To address these challenges, experts offer multi-technology support.
Preparedness Training & Potential Liabilities
Robert C. Hutchinson
December 11, 2013
Preparing for any disaster is essential for an effective incident response. However, by failing to properly prepare and train employees, agencies also are more vulnerable to potential liabilities. Past legal cases and court rulings highlight the consequences that agencies have faced as a result of inadequate training practices. Reduced funding
Community Resilience & Functional Needs
Marko Bourne
December 10, 2013
On 7 November 2013, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that: (a) New York City’s emergency planning inadequately accommodates people with disabilities; and (b) the city is in violation of local and federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. In his ruling, Furman said that the city’s current plans
Raising the Capabilities Bar for Future Medical Teams
Joseph Cahill
December 4, 2013
Predicting the future of emergency medical services (EMS) is often a frustrating task; but it also can be extremely rewarding. For many years, EMS leaders have been predicting a day when paramedics will be able to treat patients on-site – without having to transport them to a hospital or other
Reducing Risk, Building Resilience
Sherri Goodman and Gretchen Hund
December 4, 2013
The devastating impacts of Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters that have followed stress the importance of improving disaster-response planning. By gathering and sharing information, however, everyone can play a greater role in reducing risk and creating communities that are more resilient.
Redirecting Dual-Use Research Regulations
Courtney Gavitt
November 20, 2013
Life science research benefits society in many ways, but also creates certain risks – particularly when that research falls into the wrong hands, either deliberately or unintentionally. Clearly defined rules and regulations governing the results of such dual-use research could help keep scientific research focused on less dangerous and more
Emergency Management & Public Health: Partners in Preparedness
Kay C. Goss
November 20, 2013
Despite the fact that emergency managers and their public health partners have much in common, they often do not collaborate effectively in responding to mass-casualty emergencies. By identifying existing similarities and finding more common ground, the future reparedness and response efforts of both groups will be even more successful.
A Unified Strategy for Biodefense Preparedness
Patrick P. Rose
November 13, 2013
Regardless of what many experts perceive as the likelihood of a biological attack, continuing improvements in U.S. public health preparedness programs are necessary to ensure more effective response operations and save countless lives. A cooperative approach to biodefense planning should include an expansion of the nation’s existing arsenal of medical
Intelligent Accountability – Being Prepared for the Unthinkable
Susan Collins
November 13, 2013
The unthinkable can happen at any time, and in any place. Being able to track and credential first responders in a timely manner against the unseen perils in today’s dangerous world can save many lives. This podcast interview provides important insights on the effective use and training of intelligent accountability
Needed: More Biothreat Training for First Responders
Steven P. Bucci and Jennifer Corrente-Bucci
November 13, 2013
Biological weapons are the most significant threat the United States now faces. Identifying the signs and symptoms early is the best method of defending against such weapons, but U.S. military personnel are not yet properly equipped and trained to identify and prevent the spread of such threats.
Black Swans – Preparing for Pandemic & Biological Threats
Robert C. Hutchinson
November 6, 2013
The first step in preparing for a “Black Swan” event is to confirm that it actually exists. Once that is done, it is important to recognize its potential impact, implement the plans and strategies needed, and understand the roles played by all stakeholders involved.
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