by ASTHO Executive Director Dr. Paul E. Jarris; summarized by John F. Morton -
The nation's "Pandemic Preparedness & Response" capabilities - and deficiencies - are examined, debated, and discussed by the DOMPREP40 panel of career emergency-management and domestic-preparedness professionals. As with previous such surveys, readers are asked, and cordially invited, to make their own judgments on a broad spectrum of these literally life-or-death matters.
by Major General Stephen V. Reeves, USA (Ret.); Summarized by John F. Morton -
The DP40 and DomPrep readers where asked to voice their opinions on how prepared the United States is for a chemical attack and what it might mean for local emergency managers if a chemical warfare agent or TIC/TIM (toxic industrial chemical/toxic industrial material) event occurred.
The handling of mass-casualty incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and/or explosive materials requires special training and purpose-built systems and equipment, but the greatest need on-site is continuing awareness by emergency responders of the horrendous threat they, and the innocent victims they are helping, are facing.
The dangers posed by IEDs, chemical and biological weapons & devices, and other WMDs has grown exponentially in recent years - to the point that many analysts now use the term "when, not if" in answering questions about the possibility of additional terrorist attacks against the United States. The time to prepare is now, and the best way to prepare is by using the lessons learned from previous mistakes, miscalculations, and misunderstandings.
by Prepared by Major General Stephen V. Reeves, USA (Ret.), Summarized by John F. Morton -
How serious is the chemical threat now facing the United States and its allies throughout the world? Also, are U.S. responder agencies properly prepared to cope with that threat? If not, why not? What additional policies and actions are needed? Those are just a few of numerous questions posed in this DomPrep40 survey. Readers are hereby requested, and challenged, to compare their opinions with those of the DP40 panel of experts.
The DP40 and DomPrep readers where asked how they view the apparent transition from thinking in terms of critical infrastructure protection to thinking in terms of critical infrastructure resilience.
As always, the principal topic discussed at the 2010 Herzliya conference was Israeli's national security. But the most important building block - stumbling block might be a more accurate term - in maintaining that security at a high level was mentioned only in whispers, because no one dared to speak its name: Iran's continuing drive to develop a nuclear-weapons capability.
DPJ readers are asked to compare their views with those of the DomPrep40 professionals on a broad spectrum of nationally important topics - beginning in this issue with Critical Infrastructure Resilience.
The threat is imminent, and can become a reality at almost any time. But no one knows about it except those who plan to carry out the threat. Chicago's new District Intelligence Bulletin System (DIBS) is helping to even the odds by the extremely rapid dissemination, to law-enforcement agencies throughout the entire city, of almost real-time crime-scene information and other dangerous and potentially lethal threats, whether manmade or acts of nature.
