Most recently published
National Fire Academy Adds Two New Applied Research Courses to NFA Online
Domestic Preparedness
October 16, 2012
The U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) announces the availability of two new NFA Online courses: Data Gathering Instruments to Support Applied Research Projects (Q170) and Designing an Applied Research Project Proposal (Q171).
Addressing Key Policy Issues Before the Next Catastrophe
Ann Lesperance
October 10, 2012
Economic redevelopment, waste and fatality management, and the prioritization of cleanup operations are just a few of the key policy issues that decision makers must consider and address before the next anthrax attack or other disaster strikes. Having a clear strategy, effective management plans, and solid relationships with partners who
Breaking the Rules to Save Lives
Joseph Cahill
October 3, 2012
No two emergency scenarios are identical and some may call for “creative” solutions – for example, overriding triage strategies for victims of a weapon of mass destruction or substituting medications for scarce countermeasures. Understanding the rules and how far they can “bend” in a crisis situation may help save not
Nontraditional Partnerships Advance Medical Countermeasure Dispensing
Greg Burel
October 3, 2012
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is changing the dynamics of public-private partnerships as they relate to medical countermeasures for public health threats. By using nontraditional partnerships, CDC is not only providing easier access but also reducing the time needed to dispense large quantities of antiviral drugs,
Understanding the Mobile Detection Deployment Program
The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
September 26, 2012
Terrorist threats of radiologicaluclear attacks continue to raise concern at all levels of government. To assist state and local responders during “surge” events, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office maintains detection units that can be deployed, along with laboratory personnel, to supplement the jurisdictions’ existing radiological and nuclear detection capabilities and
Hospital Response to a 10-Kiloton Nuclear Detonation
Craig DeAtley
September 25, 2012
Article Out Loud For many years, federal, state, and local authorities throughout the United States have planned and trained for the notional possibility of a 10-kiloton improvised nuclear device being detonated within a major metropolitan area. If that were to occur, the hundreds of thousands of fatalities and life-threatening injuries
Public Health Response & Severe Weather Emergencies
Audrey Mazurek
September 24, 2012
Public health professionals are constantly building the capacity and capabilities needed to respond to a variety of possible emergencies such as biological events, pandemic influenza, emerging diseases, manmade disasters, and a host of other dangers.
Hospitals Must Prepare Now for Future Contingencies
Theodore Tully
September 19, 2012
Considering the financial constraints already in place, and the likelihood that there will be continuing reductions in federal grant funds for preparedness, the challenge facing U.S. hospitals and other healthcare facilities to do more with less has perhaps never been greater. More specifically, in preparedness planning and operations, very few
New Security Officer Training Opportunity
Domestic Preparedness
September 19, 2012
Emergency Film Group has released Professional Security Officer: Roles & Responsibilities, a DVD-based training program for security guards. The training describes how security professionals support a safe workplace and a secure facility, while remaining professional, open and friendly.
CBRNE & NIMS: Complementary, Not Contradictory
Stephen Grainer
September 19, 2012
Some critics of the U.S. National Incident Management System (NIMS) have cited a wide variety of examples to justify their claims that the NIMS policy guidelines will not fully and/or effectively serve the nation’s needs in managing future emergency-response situations.
Securing Weapons of Mass Destruction: A Continuing Challenge
Richard Schoeberl
September 19, 2012
As events of the past week have shown, the 18-month upheaval that has devastated Syria continues to present a major risk that the Syrian government’s caches of CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive) materials might fall into the hands of looters, defectors, opposition groups, and/or terrorist organizations. Moreover,
The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills
Domestic Preparedness
September 13, 2012
Great ShakeOut earthquake drills help people in homes, schools, and organizations practice how to be safe during big earthquakes, and provide an opportunity for everyone to improve their overall preparedness.
Identifying & Isolating Bio-Threats Before They Present
Patrick P. Rose
October 17, 2012
An emerging infectious disease or a bioterrorism attack must be prevented from spreading globally even when the effectiveness of predictive measures and detection programs is in question. In addition to current medical countermeasures, defending against biological threats may require the enforcement of control measures that rely on non-medical public health
National Fire Academy Adds Two New Applied Research Courses to NFA Online
Domestic Preparedness
October 16, 2012
The U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) announces the availability of two new NFA Online courses: Data Gathering Instruments to Support Applied Research Projects (Q170) and Designing an Applied Research Project Proposal (Q171).
Addressing Key Policy Issues Before the Next Catastrophe
Ann Lesperance
October 10, 2012
Economic redevelopment, waste and fatality management, and the prioritization of cleanup operations are just a few of the key policy issues that decision makers must consider and address before the next anthrax attack or other disaster strikes. Having a clear strategy, effective management plans, and solid relationships with partners who
Breaking the Rules to Save Lives
Joseph Cahill
October 3, 2012
No two emergency scenarios are identical and some may call for “creative” solutions – for example, overriding triage strategies for victims of a weapon of mass destruction or substituting medications for scarce countermeasures. Understanding the rules and how far they can “bend” in a crisis situation may help save not
Nontraditional Partnerships Advance Medical Countermeasure Dispensing
Greg Burel
October 3, 2012
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is changing the dynamics of public-private partnerships as they relate to medical countermeasures for public health threats. By using nontraditional partnerships, CDC is not only providing easier access but also reducing the time needed to dispense large quantities of antiviral drugs,
Understanding the Mobile Detection Deployment Program
The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office
September 26, 2012
Terrorist threats of radiologicaluclear attacks continue to raise concern at all levels of government. To assist state and local responders during “surge” events, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office maintains detection units that can be deployed, along with laboratory personnel, to supplement the jurisdictions’ existing radiological and nuclear detection capabilities and
Hospital Response to a 10-Kiloton Nuclear Detonation
Craig DeAtley
September 25, 2012
Article Out Loud For many years, federal, state, and local authorities throughout the United States have planned and trained for the notional possibility of a 10-kiloton improvised nuclear device being detonated within a major metropolitan area. If that were to occur, the hundreds of thousands of fatalities and life-threatening injuries
Public Health Response & Severe Weather Emergencies
Audrey Mazurek
September 24, 2012
Public health professionals are constantly building the capacity and capabilities needed to respond to a variety of possible emergencies such as biological events, pandemic influenza, emerging diseases, manmade disasters, and a host of other dangers.
Hospitals Must Prepare Now for Future Contingencies
Theodore Tully
September 19, 2012
Considering the financial constraints already in place, and the likelihood that there will be continuing reductions in federal grant funds for preparedness, the challenge facing U.S. hospitals and other healthcare facilities to do more with less has perhaps never been greater. More specifically, in preparedness planning and operations, very few
New Security Officer Training Opportunity
Domestic Preparedness
September 19, 2012
Emergency Film Group has released Professional Security Officer: Roles & Responsibilities, a DVD-based training program for security guards. The training describes how security professionals support a safe workplace and a secure facility, while remaining professional, open and friendly.
CBRNE & NIMS: Complementary, Not Contradictory
Stephen Grainer
September 19, 2012
Some critics of the U.S. National Incident Management System (NIMS) have cited a wide variety of examples to justify their claims that the NIMS policy guidelines will not fully and/or effectively serve the nation’s needs in managing future emergency-response situations.
Securing Weapons of Mass Destruction: A Continuing Challenge
Richard Schoeberl
September 19, 2012
As events of the past week have shown, the 18-month upheaval that has devastated Syria continues to present a major risk that the Syrian government’s caches of CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive) materials might fall into the hands of looters, defectors, opposition groups, and/or terrorist organizations. Moreover,
Radiation Contamination of Emergency Equipment
Joseph Cahill
September 5, 2012
In 1945, Nagasaki became the second Japanese city destroyed by an atomic bomb in the closing days of World War II. The nuclear explosion caused immediate damage and killed tens of thousands of people, but the radiological contamination that remained took many additional lives. A crisis at a nuclear power
Countermeasures to Cope With Radioactive Exposure
W. Craig Vanderwagen
September 5, 2012
The threat posed by an intentional manmade explosion from a radiation dispersal device, a nuclear detonation, or an accidental failure of a nuclear power plant persists. Recent events have brought these threats into focus over the past couple years – e.g., the Iranian plans for nuclear development and the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear
DPJ Book Review: Centerline
Randall (Randy) Larsen
August 28, 2012
“Everybody who goes to war gets shot,” one soldier says. “Some in the body. Some in the head. Some in the heart.” The National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (NCVAS) estimates that, as of 30 September 2011, the nation’s veteran population is more than 22.2 million. Although the journey
The Path to Longer-Term Resilience
Mara Bún
August 22, 2012
Smoke thickened, black ash fell from the sky, and fire sirens wailed as residents fled for their lives – ortried to get back to their homes. They were all in a life-or-death race against Australia’s “Black Saturday”bushfires, which devastated huge areas of Victoria. Numerous lives were lost, thousands of citizens
Intelligence-Led Policing: Contributions to Community Resilience
Joseph W. Trindal
August 22, 2012
Law enforcement’s role in expanding and improving “Whole of Community” resilience is continuing to develop at a rapid rate. In most communities, incorporating the concept known as “intelligence-led policing” continues to progress. Therefore, today’s police service agencies are now in aneal position to contribute substantively to strengthening community resilience across
Radiation Resources for First Responders
George Mills
August 22, 2012
There is no room for error during a radiological event. For that reason, information must be readily available and as accurate as possible. Listen to subject matter experts from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as they discuss the types
Mass Transit Security Force Multipliers
Douglas McDaniel
August 15, 2012
Situational awareness and information sharing are key factors in the guidelines recommended for mitigating terrorist threats. By developing the standards and policies needed to train all employees to recognize and report suspicious activity – and regularly reassessing such training – mass transit agencies can build a strong front line of
The ABCs of Transportation Planning for Special Events
Laurel J. Radow
August 15, 2012
Washington Nationals’ owner Mark Lerner recently told The Washington Times that his team “would love to host a future All-Star Game.” That honor, though, would require extensive preparations to ensure the safety and security of people in and around the nation’s capital. Fortunately, the Federal Highway Administration has many useful
Improving Healthcare Sector Interoperability
Thomas Russo
August 8, 2012
Having choices opens many opportunities for patients and responders as well as medical staff within the U.S. healthcare system. However, that benefit has led to complications in communications and the sharing of information. Healthcare coalitions are seeking better ways to meet daily operational goals while at the same time expanding
Disaster Operations for Businesses: Options & Opportunities
Amy Major
August 8, 2012
Representatives of a Business Operations Center (BOC) ensure that the public sector obtains the resources needed during a disaster. In addition, the BOC offers private-sector volunteers an opportunity to play a critical role in disaster response while at the same time helping to reduce lost business revenue and building resiliency
Building/Improving Community Health Resilience
Jeffrey Stiefel
August 1, 2012
In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, reporters show images of communities that are faced with destruction and a need to rebuild. However, there is often an even greater devastation with even harder pieces to pick up – the mental and physical health effects. Both types of recovery are required
The Fallacy of Disaster Resilience
Joseph Cahill
August 1, 2012
Doctors, nurses, and other highly visible professionals get the greatest credit, deservedly, in most public-health incidents and events. Playing increasingly important roles, though – before, during, and after such incidents – are the nation’s unsung and much less publicized sanitarians whose special expertise in numerous operational scenarios is finally being
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