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.
Dash CEO, Justin Nelson, said, "As a longtime member of the Denver community, Dash is dedicated to supporting the organizations that deliver aid to individuals and families in need. We strongly believe in giving back to our community and place an emphasis on volunteerism; we encourage every Dash employee to complete at least six hours of volunteer time per quarter as part of our corporate bonus program."
Most discussions about protection of the U.S. "critical infrastructure" focus on power plants, government buildings, nuclear facilities, and other high-value "things." It says here that people, U.S. citizens, both government workers and the general public - human assets, in other words - also need protection and, in fact, should be at the top of the list.
The earthquake that devastated Haiti last month was a human tragedy of colossal magnitude - just as the immediate and well executed response of the international community was a heroic story of epic proportions. But the failure of the United Nations and other global organizations to focus on security needs in the disaster area itself was and is a continuing disgrace.
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.
"The irradiator program is an excellent example of the federal government working with our partners in industry to enhance the protection and resiliency of the Nuclear Sector to ensure the health and safety of the public as well as the environment" - Craig Conklin, director of the Sector-Specific Agency Executive Management Office (SSA-EMO) in the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Infrastructure Protection.
Part of Joint Task Force-Haiti - the task force organized by the U.S. Southern Command to oversee U.S. relief efforts in the country - the 18th Airborne Corps quickly deployed a DRASH Trailer Mounted Support System (TMSS) Large & a TMSS Medium to be used for command and control efforts. The TMSS systems come complete with generators and environmental control units (ECUs) to create a fully equipped workspace capable of running computers, lights, and other necessary equipment.
"Explosive Trace Detection [ETD] technology is a critical tool in our ability to stay ahead of evolving threats to aviation security," said TSA (Transportation Security Administration) Acting Administrator Gale Rossides. "Expanding the use of this technology at checkpoints and at departure gates greatly enhances security to keep the traveling public safe."
The Hospital Command Center (HCC) on-site training course is an advanced- level Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) training program held at the client's hospital. This offering is one of the first advanced HICS training courses available that gives participants an in-depth understanding of the role of the hospital command center during a disaster.
"Smart card-based secure identity credentials & single sign-on is a powerful combination that delivers the highest level of identity assurance and security, and at the same time makes network and application access easy and convenient for users whether at work, at home, or on the road," said Cédric Collomb, senior vice president Identity & Access Management, Gemalto.
The Hardened MobileTrace can detect and identify chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals that can be weaponized. Engineered to meet the U.S. Department of Defense's MIL-STD-810-G standard for temperature, dust, impact, and humidity, the Hardened MobileTrace is designed for quick and accurate detection in the most challenging environments.
"The success of our efforts to crack down on criminal organizations and...[those] who threaten the safety of our citizens requires close collaboration between the United States and Mexico," said U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. "This declaration will allow us to better protect both nations against violent drug cartels and transnational smuggling of drugs, cash, and firearms while facilitating legitimate travel and trade."
The ChemProTM100i is the latest "improved" version of the ChemProTM family of handheld detectors for the field detection and classification of Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs). The ChemProTM100i is fitted with six additional sensors to increase the number of chemicals detected, improve on its industry-leading sensitivity, and decrease the potential for false alarms.
"Resilience" used to be an after-thought in preparedness planning. Today it is not only a fundamental principle, an ultimate goal, and an essential guideline, but also the concrete foundation (literally as well as figuratively) of long-range policies, funding decisions, and effective response and recovery operations.
The Resolve Marine Group played a key role in helping to clear the shattered harbor area in Port au Prince and make it possible to bring ashore thousands of tons of food, fuel, medicines and medical supplies, and the numerous other life-saving essentials so desperately needed by the Haitian people.
The Itemiser DX is the latest trace-based desktop explosive trace-detection system to be approved as meeting the demanding detection standards recently established by the Transportation Security Administration. The Itemiser DX is the first trace system to simultaneously detect positive and negative ions using a single detector.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's trip is the second in a series of major international meetings intended to build consensus on strengthening global aviation security, and to identify specific steps that nations can take individually and collectively to protect all passengers - including the strengthening of international aviation security standards, the exchange of best-practices information, and the improvement of screening procedures and processes.
The Community Preparedness Webinar series focuses on bringing together government and community leaders to involve citizens in all-hazards preparedness and resilience. The webinar is designed to help raise awareness that such an event could happen almost anywhere and at any time.
The new online tool - available from February 6 to March 19 - allows members of the public and interested stakeholders to submit ideas and suggestions on ways the U.S. Department of Homeland Security can enhance transparency, participation, collaboration, and innovation - while saving taxpayer money.
The Disaster Response & Recovery Exposition (DRRE), co-located with the 2010 Integrated Medical, Public Health, Preparedness, and Response Training Summit, is the perfect opportunity for local, state, and federal public health and emergency preparedness practitioners and policy makers to discover the latest equipment, technologies, and services now available.
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.
Two CNA officials discuss the once frequently ignored relevance of Resilience - yes, with a capital "R" - as a major component of the U.S. "Grand Strategy" for homeland-security and how it evolved from a passing thought to a sudden realization and eventually to a nationally known buzzword.
Prevention, Response, and Recovery used to be the principal objectives of the U.S. homeland-security strategy. That blessed trinity has now expanded to a better balanced quartet, thanks in large part to various studies and official reports that have focused public and political attention on the need for Resilience as well.
The daily fingerprinting of hundreds of thousands of people must be carried out expeditiously without sacrificing accuracy or inviting a culture clash. Here is how the Department of Homeland Security is using Science and Technology to increase user-friendliness as well as technical exactitude.
Faced with the task of searching the heavily damaged plant, responders quickly went into action. Personnel from Middletown's Office of Emergency Management and the state's Department of Public Health set up two DRASH (DRASH 3XB & DRASH 6XB) shelters to support their efforts.
The Department of Homeland Security delivered the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Report to Congress on February 1, 2010. The QHSR outlines the strategic framework established to guide the activities of participants in homeland security toward a common end.
The Center for Biosecurity at UPMC conducted a two-year, comprehensive assessment of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and developed recommendations for improving and evaluating future hospital preparedness efforts.
ILC Dover has received NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approval on an alkaline battery pack assembly for the company's Sentinel XL PAPR. The Alkaline Battery Pack comes with 5 "D" size Duracell Batteries & can be used with both the Sentinel CBRN and Sentinel HP systems and is designed to function with existing fielded units or newly purchased systems.
MorphoTrak (Safran Group) has announced that the biometric matching technology it uses, through Sagem Sécurité, has earned the highest rank in the recent National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) test for latent fingerprint accuracy.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the interagency Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group, issued a draft of the National Disaster Recovery Framework - which is focused on engaging state, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit partners, the private sector, and the public to enhance the nation's ability to recovery from disasters.
"America's firefighters play a critical role in disaster prevention and response," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. "These Recovery Act-funded fire station construction projects and upgrades will strengthen community preparedness and the nation's emergency response capabilities."
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has activated additional components of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) to help U.S. hospitals provide care to critically ill survivors. This activation will allow U.S. hospitals that treat Haitian patients evacuated with life-threatening injuries caused by the earthquake to receive federal reimbursement for the costs they incur.
The new fabric, combined with Gore's patented boot construction, improves comfort in three ways, all of which keep feet drier and more comfortable: (1) the boot picks up less water & dries faster; (2) waterproof fabric protects feet from exposure to rain & inclement weather; and (3) the boot's construction increases the amount of moisture vapor (sweat) that can escape from the boot.
The political/budgetary decision to purchase and install GPS devices on EMS ambulances (and sometimes other vehicles) should never be based on cost alone. For three reasons: (1) They save lives. (2) They facilitate closer control and better management of the overall EMS fleet. (3) Thanks to the first two reasons, they improve productivity and reduce agency costs in the long run.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a vital mission: to secure the nation from the many threats we face. This requires the dedication of employees in jobs that range from aviation and border security to emergency response, from cybersecurity analysts to chemical facility inspectors. The President's Budget provides $43,593 million to DHS to achieve these goals.
CHIPS (Communication Headset Integrated Product Suite) Communication System integrates with MSA's Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) to provide communication configurations, clear radio communications, and hearing protection for areas where weapons may be fired.
ICx Technologies has announced the newest addition to the company's leading line of Fido explosives detectors. Designed to tackle the challenges involved in screening bottled liquids in the pressure-filled, fast-paced environment of airport security checkpoints, Fido ClearPoint rapidly and accurately identifies suspicious liquids through their containers.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano unveiled the Department's fiscal year 2011 budget request, which: (a) prioritizes efforts to enhance security measures that protect against terrorism and other threats; and (b) reflects the Department's commitment to fiscal discipline and efficiency.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlights the critical investments in President Obama's 2011 HHS budget that will protect the health and safety of American families.
The Ministry will deploy E-SPONDER's solution within the National Crisis Management Centre and make the system available to all regional Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) groups to help improve coordination, response, and information-sharing during emergencies.
The Civil Communications Solutions' mobile demonstration provides a high-tech experience through which public safety professionals can fully immerse themselves in rescue scenarios and realize the benefits that interoperable communications provide.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has begun enforcement of the interim final rule on the Importer Security Filing and Additional Carrier Requirements, thereby: (a) significantly increasing the scope & accuracy of the information gathered on cargo shipments arriving by sea into the United States; and (b) bolstering DHS's layered enforcement strategy to protect against terrorism and other crimes at U.S. ports of entry.
First Line Technology and CarbonX have joined together to bring first responders the future of fire-fighting cooling apparel, with PhaseCore, an environmentally friendly phase change material (PCM), to cool; and CarbonX, a nonflammable fabric, to protect the user from burn-related injuries.
