"Our borders represent an enormous security challenge -- as well as a vital economic lifeline -- protecting both will result in a secure and prosperous future for our nation." Secretary Chertoff
FEMA has pre-positioned disaster supplies in hurricane prone, earthquake prone, and cities that have highly populous metropolitain areas. The goal in doing this is to substantially shorten the response times from incident to delivery of critical assets.
Very few U.S. hospitals have enough beds, operating rooms, or the medical staff & equipment needed to deal with a truly major disaster. Many warnings have been issued, but no plans are yet in place to deal with a worst-case scenario.
The administration's development and release of an "Implementation Plan" to deal with pandemic influenza is a helpful start - but no more than that. Few if any states or cities are taking the steps needed to protect their citizens.
AreaRAE toxic gas detectors were deployed at the 132nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6. The wireless detectors provided venue protection for spectators in the grandstands, as well as within the infield.
One of several changes that TSA will be making is to consolidate its Known Shipper list into one central database. Other changes will require background checks of off-airport freight employees, and extend the secure areas of airports to include ramps and
"It is not an economic pressure that can be addressed simply by dealing with more boots on the ground and more technology at the border, itself. We have to look at what's going on in the interior." Secretary Chertoff
Among the topics covered: the Guard's role in incident planning; the need for interoperability with first responders; additional, and more effective, interagency training exercises; and multi-agency communications policies and procedures.
GAO reported that the vaccine has not been adequately tested on humans; no studies have been done to determine the optimum number of doses; the long-term safety has not been studied and data on short-term reactions are limited...
Baltimore is among the first cities to have a full complement of three canines as part of a national program. The canine teams are part of a joint effort between the federal TSA and local MTA and MdTA.
"TWIC is designed to ensure that individuals posing a security threat do not gain access to our nation's ports," said Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
U.S. Navy technologies, ranging from an electromagnetic-pulse device that immobilizes vehicles to new approaches for protecting metals, are available to businesses for licensing and commercialization.
up to 6,000 Guard members will be deployed to southern border, construct high-tech fences, build new patrol roads and barriers in rural areas, employ motion sensors, infrared cameras, and UAVs, increase federal funding for state and local L/E.
By using cell-based vaccine manufacturing, these companies are able to provide a reliable, flexible and scalable method of producing influenza vaccines.
The new agreement will enhance NORAD by including a maritime warning responsibility in addition to its long-standing aerospace warning and airspace control responsibilities. This will allow a more complete picture of potential threats to North America.
Plans and protocols, matrixes and models, setbacks and shortcomings - all are in a day's work for those entrusted to ensure, insofar as possible, the safety and security of Washington, D.C., and the surrounding suburbs.
His views on how the NFA fits into the federal government's plans to fight terrorism. Also discussed: the standards set by the National Fire Protection Association, FIPS 201 credentials, and the personal identity verification card.
GAO believes that "future success is likely to principally depend upon focus, skilled leadership, clear roles and responsibilities, operational plans realistically exercised, and key resources appropriately and effectively deployed."
The American Red Cross plans to expand its capacity to handle disasters by increasing stockpiles of supplies and plans to build partnerships with comminity groups.
The table-top exercises will focus on several key preparedness and disaster response functions, including evacuations, sheltering, National Response Plan implementation, and National Incident Management System activation.
"By the end of this year, each urban area is going to get a score card, a public score card, that will identity gaps and help us to determine the improvements we need to make in the near term." Michael Chertoff, Secretary Department of Homeland Security.
"The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is pleased to present this manual,
which will be very useful for authorities and those responsible for disaster prevention and response." Mirta Roses Periago, Director, Pan American Health Organization
Emergency preparedness officials from the Mid-Atlantic region created an event that crossed organizational and institutional boundaries, bringing a broad-based group of stakeholders in hazards preparedness, response and recovery, and homeland security
Secure Enclave is the only trust-based security solution providing real-time monitoring, management, alerting, and active quarantine, as well as completing the security lifecycle by instantly returning compromised devices to a prior compliant state.
"[The] ... Federal Government has begun strengthening our ability to safeguard the American people in the event of a devastating global pandemic and helping to prepare the Nation's public health and medical infrastructure." President George W. Bush
The triage goal is to maximize the number of lives saved. But to do so requires some extremely difficult decisions from the EMT on the scene, particularly in mass-casualty incidents when time is limited and information is in short supply.
What are the best indicators of victim survivability? The RPMs provide a few clues that can be used to START processing. But continuing updates and additional analyses are needed to improve the decision-making process.
This report has four major sections: a narrative of what happened; findings; recommendations for changes;and appendices. The report recomends that FEMA be abolished and replaced with a new agency within the Department of Homeland Security.
GAO is recommending modifications to DOD's current weapon system acquisition policy to ensure that weapon system chemical and biological survivability is consistently addressed.
"Designating these teams now will give state and local officials a chance to plan, train, and exercise with their federal counterparts before a disaster strikes," said Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff.
The Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan would be implemented by the Secretary of Homeland Security in the event of a significant national transportation security incident.
