by James (Jim) Fulton, Founder and Board Member, ESi -
In ancient times - more specifically, the late 20th century - the emergency operations center was often whatever room at police headquarters, or in the Town Hall, happened to be vacant when the tornado struck. Today it is a well designed and properly equipped almost tailor-made space ready for use 24/7. And tomorrow's EOC will be even better - almost futuristic, in fact.
by Mitch Saruwatari, Vice President, Quality & Compliance, LiveProcess -
The names of the players, the weekly practices, and the physical skills required may be different, but the principles are the same: Teamwork, advance preparation, proper coaching, and dedication are essential to final victory - whether the battle is on the football field, at the scene of a mass-casualty incident, in an ambulance, or in the hospital emergency room.
by Gary Dunn, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Avon Protection Systems Inc. -
Continuing budget constraints will make it very difficult for agencies at all levels of government - including the nation's armed forces and homeland-security departments - to upgrade their "hardware" inventories during the coming year. For first responders, getting the most protection for the lowest acceptable cost could be a breathtaking challenge. Literally.
by Rodney Hudson, Founder/Owner, QuickSilver Analytics Inc. -
The sampling of toxic gases, vapors, etc., at mass-casualty scenes can be no better than the equipment used to gather the sample, whether intended for on-scene analysis or at a fully qualified laboratory. Lives are at stake, which means strict adherence to gold-standard measurements: at the scene, in the lab, and on the protective clothing worn by first responders.
After-action reports are better than nothing, but more detailed planning - before a major catastrophe - would be much better. That is the principal lesson learned from the terrorist bombings of the London Underground commuter lines on 7 July 2005. Future such attacks may be impossible to stop, but the casualty totals should be much lower - IF that very important lesson is not only learned but also acted upon.
by Brad Stobb, Regional Support Manager, DHS Systems LLC -
Coming soon: New and highly capable CERFPs and better- trained and -equipped WMD CSTs. The acronyms are daunting and impossible to pronounce, but they represent another quantum leap in U.S. homeland-preparedness capabilities, with special significance at the state, local, and community levels of government.
The well attended 15 November DomPrep Executive Briefing on the Department of Homeland Security's new "Private-Sector Preparedness" program not only provided a wealth of information for those participating but also raised several exceptionally relevant questions - on a broad range of closely related topics. The one virtually unanimous conclusion (no "official vote" was taken, though) was that additional briefings, in even greater depth, are urgently needed and should be scheduled just as soon as possible.
by Albert V. Romano, Senior Vice President, Homeland Security, Michael Baker Jr. Inc., DP40 Supported by Dennis Schrader, President, DRS International, DP40 -
The DP40 and DomPrep readers assessed their opinions on their understanding or interest of the PS-Prep Program. The results suggest that these communities do not yet have the understanding necessary to successfully implement the PS-Prep Program.
"How clean is clean?" That is the question that DHS officials and their state and local counterparts are asking themselves, and one another, in their efforts to persuade the American people that an office building, a residential complex, or other public site once contaminated by anthrax (or any other toxic agent) can indeed be completely decontaminated and made once again safe for humans and other living creatures.
Among the various threats to the safety and security of a nation, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack should not be overlooked. The potential threat of an EMP attack has been recognized since the early 1960s, but the growing debate surrounding this possibility parallels modern civilizations' growing dependency on electronics and the electrical grid. Thus the possibility of this type of attack has more far-reaching and devastating effects than in past decades. Stratfor Global Intelligence presents this compelling article about EMP attacks as well as possible scenarios and effects.
