Officials of the District of Columbia and the Haitian Ambassador to the United States have opened a Command Center at the Haitian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Command Center, which is equipped with the computers, telephones, and WebEOC links needed to serve as an emergency information management system, will enable the embassy to manage its relief efforts more effectively.
Former Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) and former Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), chair and vice chair of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferation and Terrorism, released a report card indicating that the U.S. government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the country from the threats posed by WMD and terrorism.
The fifth annual Public Health Preparedness Summit (16-19 February in Atlanta) will focus on the new and emerging problems facing the nation's, and world's, public health preparedness professionals in the dangerous New World of the 21st century. A first-person report from the chairman of the Summit Planning Committee.
Goal: Ensure that all goes well before, during, and after a major public event. How to do so: Prepare an all-contingency plan, well in advance and involving all stakeholders involved, provide enough flexibility to cope with unexpected/unforeseeable "what if" contingencies, then practice, practice, practice.
The Christmas Day plans of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab were unrudely interrupted when the other passengers on Northwest Flight 253 foiled his murderous attempt to kill them all. The collective heroism they demonstrated was not just another instance of heroism by everyday citizens but also a shining example for others facing similar act-or-die choices in the future.
Today's well dressed emergency responder may not be featured in many fashion magazines and/or on TV commercials, but the personal protective equipment he or she is wearing is not only functional but also, usually, a very tight fit. An accessory bonus: It might also save his or her life.
Former Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) and former Senator Jim Talent (R-MO), chair and vice chair of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Proliferation and Terrorism, today released a report card indicating that the U.S. government is not taking the necessary steps to protect the country from the threats posed by WMD and terrorism.
Avon Protection has received an additional three-year contract from the United Kingdom (UK) Ministry of Defence (MoD) to supply S10 respirators to UK forces.
"The Iscon system is a next-generation imaging & detection system that creates a temperature differential between clothes and a hidden object," explains Iscon founder and President Izrail Gorian. "We"ve eliminated the two most prevalent concerns about airport scanner technology - radiation exposure and privacy issues. The U.S Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently testing our technology, which we are ready to sell to airports and other security-sensitive facilities."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $2.7 million to establish two new PERRCs. These centers will conduct research to evaluate the structure, capabilities, and performance of public health systems for preparedness and emergency response activities.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted this report to make sure the individual states are prepared for an increase in medical surge requirements if a terrorist attack or disease outbreak takes place.
Ahura Scientific's products expand Thermo Fisher's portfolio of portable analytical devices designed to provide users with the ability to rapidly identify and authenticate a range of molecular and elemental substances in the field.
The AcuTemp RKN air cargo container is designed to eliminate the challenges associated with maintaining the cold chain for shipping temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products.
The Hazard Assessment and Response Management (HARM) course is the first course of its kind at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama. The HARM course provides response personnel with a scenario, but the students determine the tempo, and plan their response.
The Industrial LuNAR detector is a dual-technology ceiling-mount intrusion detector, which combines detection accuracy with false alarm immunity, the detector can be installed up to 28 feet high and has Anti-Cloak Technology (ACT) to detect intruder camouflage attempts.
The purpose of this guide is to orient the military with NGOs - their operations, strengths, limitations, budgets, practices, and other characteristics that make them unique actors in a large and dynamic humanitarian community.
"With more medical teams in place, we will be able to significantly increase the numbers of people getting medical attention," said HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Blauer announced that it has achieved third-party certification of its WZ9435 XRT suit for use with Avon Protection's popular C50 and FM12 respirators.
The principal focus, understandably, is almost always on the individual and collective safety of a visiting dignitary, high-profile athletes, and other celebrities. But the health and safety of the general public also are involved, and should - must - be included in the advance planning from start to finish (and occasionally long after).
The technological journey from VIPER to Virtual Alabama to Virtual USA is long and sometimes tedious. But it is probably the best and perhaps only sure way to take today's communications systems from the dangerous present to a future that is safer, technologically sounder, and economically more prudent.
CEMPlanner is a web-based emergency planning system that brings planners together on a collaborative platform and facilitates the planning process to create and maintain standards-based plans that can be accessed online or downloaded into a printable format.
With this innovative technology, the law-enforcement community will now have the capability to accurately and efficiently search tattoo image databases to identify suspects, criminals & victims. This content-based image-retrieval and -matching technology uses features - such as color, shape, and texture - present in tattoo images, instead of labels or keywords, to compute the similarity between images.
The Department of Homeland Security has announced the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to allow eligible Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010 to continue living and working here for the next 18 months.
OSI Systems' (Rapiscan Systems' parent company) CEO Deepak Chopra said, "The cargo-scanning initiative at the Port of San Juan represents not only a new business model for the company but a new model in port security as a first-of-its-kind program which would result in the scanning of all inbound containers at high throughput and low cost."
The United States and New Zealand have agreed to enhance cooperation in science and technology research to improve the shared capabilities of both nations to protect against acts of terrorism and other threats to domestic and external security.
The HICS (Hospital Incident Command System) Command Toolbox, from DQE, is the first step for organizing an incident command situation in a hospital setting. The HICS Command Toolbox enhances a hospital's emergency-response capabilities by providing the tools needed to carry out HICS management procedures.
Bruker has announced that it has advanced to the last phase of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Autonomous Rapid Facility Chemical Agent Monitor (ARFCAM) Research & Development Program, which is intended to develop the 3rd generation chemical detection capability for critical infrastructure.
by Ron Houle, Vice President of Government Relations, DHS Systems LLC -
In many emergency situations the most important and longest-enduring task is finding proper shelter for disaster victims and their families. Ron Houle, DHS Systems' vice president of government relations, points out that the use of new high-tech fabrics and a focus on advanced technology is leading to the development of more durable and more efficient shelters that should ameliorate this problem considerably both now and for years to come.
by Gary Dunn, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Avon Protection Systems Inc. -
A judicious combination of grant funds and dual-purpose equipment, the building of integrated protection ensembles, and a continuing focus on new product development will be the keys to company success in the coming year, and probably well beyond, says Gary Dunn, Avon Protection Systems' vice president of Sales and Marketing.
A visit by the president or any other world leader qualifies as a Special Event. So do visits by other celebrities and dignitaries. For security personnel such visits also entail special workloads, the consideration of all potential hazards and dangers, the emphasis on a clear chain of command, and a rare exception to a time-honored EMS lifesaving principle.
In today's complicated world the definition of "Special Events" has expanded exponentially and now includes a host of activities ranging from Super Bowls and presidential inaugurations to high-school all-star games and spelling championships. Whatever the event, though, the keys to proper preparation are advance planning, the assignment of specific responsibilities to specific agencies, and the establishment of a clear chain of command.
DHS (Department of Homeland Security) Secretary Janet Napolitano, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, and Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism & Homeland Security John Brennan announced recommendations that DHS has made to the President for improving the technology and procedures used to protect air travel from acts of terrorism.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) published a notice in the Federal Register containing a list of 237 explosive materials that are subject to federal law and implementing regulations.
InterAct Public Safety Systems demonstrated that it was able to receive computer-aided dispatch (CAD) calls via an IP interface from multiple next-generation PSAP (Public Safety Answering Points) controllers located in different areas of the United States. The calls automatically generated not only a CAD incident with appropriate data but also the associated incident location on an online map.
This document presents the nation's first National Health Security Strategy (NHSS), which is intended to help galvanize efforts to minimize the health consequences associated with significant health incidents. The NHSS was developed in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal governments; community-based organizations; private-sector firms; and academia.
PPS manufactures and sells proprietary personal protective equipment - including protective suits, decontamination showers, and emergency shelters - to the nuclear industry. The PPS acquisition will add approximately $5 million in annualized gross revenue to Versar's base business and provide a strong platform to cross-market Versar's and PPS's combined product line both in the United States and to international clientele.
The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) has recognized three individuals for their distinguished leadership in critical infrastructure, resilience, and volunteer service; the awards were presented at an awards luncheon during the TISP Annual Infrastructure and Regional Resilience 2009 Conference in Grapevine, Texas.
"The EFSP provides an important resource to support our communities and our most vulnerable citizens," said FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Administrator Craig Fugate. "As we work to build our nation's emergency response team, it is important that we recognize the diverse assistance that our agency is able to bring to bear, and ensure we are leveraging those resources for those who need it most."
Special Events are exciting, enjoyable, and frequently historic - last year's U.S. presidential inauguration is the prime example. For emergency managers, security personnel, and other behind-the-scene participants, though, they also are a massive responsibility fraught with hidden dangers, an unending workload, and - far too often - enjoyable only when "nothing happens."
Rapid advances in eLearning technology have led to rapid advances in the preparedness training available to Emergency Department personnel in hospitals throughout the country, according to DQE President Howard Levitin. However, he adds, that training should be very carefully planned not only to be compatible with the individual hospital's incident command system but also to accommodate the budgetary and staffing realities affecting, and usually constraining, the daily operations of those same hospitals.
The increase in terrorist attacks in recent years - combined with the ability, and need, to deal both more promptly and more effectively with natural disasters - has led to a greater emphasis on new multi-tracking technologies that, EMSystems CEO Andy Nunemaker points out, give political leaders as well as emergency managers more accurate and more comprehensive information updates - in real time.
Panasonic's Toughbook Arbitrator 360 supports up to six in-car cameras, enhancing officer safety through automated controls and built-in live video streaming.
The CON-SPACE EntryLink Diversity system allows the entry team in a CBRNE (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive), HazMat, or Mass Decon situation to operate quickly & safely, while sending a clear real-time audio and video back to the incident commander, who can then direct the entry team by using a remote video monitor.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued new security directives, effective 4 January 2010, to all U.S. and international air carriers with inbound flights into the United States.
AristaTek, the leading supplier of Hazmat incident decision support software, has announced the availability of its latest version (6.0) of the PEAC-WMD software. The application now includes a host of new interoperability tools allowing hazmat responders to communicate current incident status, conditions, and other information to their command post and anywhere else the information is needed.
