The National Academy of Public Administration Standing Panel on Intergovernmental Systems developed a case study assessing the system specific to emergency response in the United States. The case research investigates how government emergency management strategies and disaster preparation and mitigation efforts have evolved over time in this country, to highlight steps backward and forward.
This report surveys three emerging technologies – synthetic biology, additive manufacturing (commonly known as 3D printing), and unmanned aerial systems – and examines the nexus of each with nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons agent proliferation. It examines how non-state actors might use these emerging technologies to overcome traditional barriers against the development and employment of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
The FDA ensures that medical countermeasures – including drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests – to counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and emerging infectious disease threats are safe, effective, and secure. This is the FDA’s annual report detailing its medical countermeasure activities for the latest fiscal year available.
A new FEMA publication, “Earthquake Safety at Home,” identifies why and where earthquakes might occur and how readers can “prepare, protect, survive, respond, recover, and repair” from an earthquake. The guide discusses wide-ranging steps that readers can take to adequately prepare and protect themselves, their family, and their belongings.
This National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States of America 2020-2022 report outlines a new approach to counterintelligence. This new strategy focuses on five key areas where foreign intelligence entities are hitting the United States hardest and greater attention is needed – critical infrastructure, key U.S. supply chains, the U.S. economy, American democratic institutions, and cyber and technical operations.
Many federal agencies created to prepare and respond to man-made and natural disasters may have returned to Pre-9/11 status. Too many important positions are filled by acting personnel or are vacant. Discontent is on the rise and retention is low. One reader's logical and reasonable explanations and solutions to these concerns, spurred DomPrep to create a readership flash poll. The results of that poll and the comments and recommendations provided by more than 100 emergency preparedness professionals are shared in this report. Warning: Many of the responses are disturbing.
Ready or Not provides an annual assessment of states’ level of readiness to respond to public health emergencies and recommends policy actions to ensure that everyone’s health is protected during such events. This 2020 edition reports overall preparedness improvement but also identifies areas that need attention.
The National Qualification System (NQS) establishes and promotes baseline qualifications for a national incident workforce consisting of incident management, incident support, and emergency management personnel. This National Incident Management System (NIMS) Supplemental Guide for Coaches and Evaluators is a supplemental NQS guide that defines the roles coaches and evaluators play in developing a qualified incident workforce based on consistent performance standards. The guide explains the standards that coaches and evaluators uphold and identifies the skills necessary to succeed in their work with trainees.
Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Advisory Council presented a report to Acting FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor outlining actions the agency can take to address key issues facing the field of emergency management. The council passed 31 recommendations, which included input from a broad range of stakeholders including community partners, experts in insurance and risk, mitigation, and finance.
The National Preparedness Report evaluates annual preparedness progress and challenges facing the whole community. The 2019 National Preparedness Report highlights the diverse range of preparedness challenges the Nation faces—from terrorism and active shooter incidents, to cyberattacks, to natural disasters, as well as how stakeholders across the nation are using preparedness grant funding to invest in preparedness improvements.
