Earthquakes and related events, such as soil liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, floods, and fires, pose risks to highway infrastructure. With an interest in protecting public safety, facilitating response and recovery efforts, and minimizing economic loss and social disruption, this report addresses frequently asked questions about earthquake risk and highway system components, especially bridges.
The Department of Defense (DoD) is providing $1.76 million in extra funding to military laboratories to expand Zika virus surveillance worldwide and assess the virus's impact on deployed service members' health and readiness, Navy Cmdr. Franca Jones said in a recent interview.
CNA, in partnership with the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and in cooperation with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, will lead an initiative to provide training and technical assistance to implement the recommendations and action items of the President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing Final Report.
Mark Ghilarducci, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services for the State of California, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA). The hearing examined how the Department of Homeland Security is assisting states in preparing for and responding to cyberattacks.
With the United States as de facto leader, the five members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany - the so called "5+1" club - spent over two years negotiating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or so-called "nuclear deal," which is expected to reduce the danger of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. However, the nuclear deal is not seen by all as a "good deal."
The topic of borders - ports of entry, security, and public health concerns - has become politicized, and the focus on true border security has been somewhat lost. Educating politicians and instilling practicality in the public are necessary before any effective border security policy changes can be made. A recent roundtable discussion addressed these critical issues.
Few preparations made in anticipation of a disaster pay bigger dividends than how the team communicates with the news media and the public during a disaster. Seamless and coordinated communication is as important as seamless and coordinated operations - both during the disaster and in the recovery stage. Communications and operations must work in tandem.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $10.7 million in funding for research that could solve critical water problems in rural and agricultural watersheds across the United States. This funding is available through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
This report examines (a) the status of National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) efforts to develop a statutorily required Security Infrastructure Plan; and (b) the extent to which NNSA's future physical security infrastructure needs are included in the agency's current budget and planning documents.
The New York Police Department (NYPD), the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate recently took part in an active shooter exercise at a Brooklyn high school to evaluate tactics and technologies for responding to and containing rapidly escalating shooting incidents.
Purdue researchers have developed a prototype system that could allow law enforcement and public safety agencies to tap into thousands of cameras located in numerous venues including parking garages, college campuses, national parks, and highways. The system can also be used during natural disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes and blizzards, to find damage and plan rescues.
Four key threats the nation faces will follow the next president of the United States into office. These threats are not new, but will increase if not effectively addressed. Whoever is elected for this leadership position must be equipped with the right information in order to prioritize and make tough decisions regarding these threats.
Congress included provisions in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 for planning, building, and managing a new, nationwide, broadband network for public safety communications, by creating the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). This report discusses the process and resulting issues for Congress's consideration.
Changes in the relationship between the United States and Cuba have come fast and furious since the December 2014 announcement by the Obama administration that diplomatic relations would resume between the two former foes. Understanding past incidents will help the nation address current and future concerns as movement between these two countries increases.
As the United States embarks on the 2016 presidential campaign, the great debate on immigration and border security will continue to remain a blistering topic. However, controlling the borders is far more than just immigration control, it is about providing national security and protecting the American people from the threats that loom on the horizon.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate and the University of North Dakota announced a three-year cooperative research and development agreement designed to explore the uses of unmanned aerial technology as well as mitigations for possible misuse.
Crisis communications planning is key to any emergency preparedness effort. One reason that so many organizations struggle with communications when crises strike may be that they focused their planning efforts on the crisis plan document without creating a shared vision of desired outcomes. They failed to define what they actually needed to do to communicate.
In response to 9/11, the United States instituted one of the most massive changes in government with the creation and development of the Department of Homeland Security. Since then, a combination of massive attrition, personnel retirements, and complacency due to lack of new disasters has created a void of experienced government emergency personnel that must be addressed.
The U.S. Department of Defense recently published an updated information paper for service members and military medical personnel regarding the types and symptoms of anthrax infections, as well as vaccine dosing and caution information.
The Primary Response Incident Scene Management (PRISM) series was written to provide authoritative, evidence-based guidance on mass casualty disrobe and decontamination during a chemical incident. The PRISM documentation comprises three volumes: Strategic Guidance, Tactical Guidance, and Operational Guidance.
The first blood test for anthrax that could show results within minutes at a doctor's office or emergency room will take the final steps in development with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
Ninety-nine percent of chemical contamination can be removed by carefully removing clothes and wiping skin with a paper towel or dry wipe, according to new scientific studies of decontamination methods sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
Information technology (IT) is deeply embedded in traditionally non-IT systems, including automobiles, the electric grid, and emergency response. In many of these systems, security is largely incorporated as a last step. A new National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publication recommends ways to incorporate security design principles and concepts at every step.
Significant budgetary and political constraints should not keep people from fully exercising their authority and cause them to suffer the consequences should an attack take place. Working under budgetary-constrained environments is always difficult, but it takes on more urgency when there are clearly identified enemies that intend to harm the homeland. Difficult times call for innovative measures.
This article derives from an extended interview with Dr. Rajko Anic. As a physician during the 1992-1995 Yugoslav war and an accomplished mixed martial arts fighter, Anic explained that - when in a fight and the opponent seems to be countering every move - "If Plan A doesn't work out for you, then try B, C, or even D."
Today's disasters are more frequent and more complex than ever before. Although governments at all levels have risen to the occasion by training personnel and securing equipment and resources, there will always be a lack of manpower. This gap has been addressed using volunteers, who - despite having the best of intentions to help those in need - often lack the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities.
On 26 April 2016, the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) conducted the fifth experimental conventional explosion as part of its Source Physics Experiment (SPE) series. The SPE series, conducted at the Nevada National Security Site, improves the United States' capability to detect and characterize underground nuclear explosions.
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) First Responders Group Director Daniel Cotter said, "Over all, we need to think of smart fabrics as being a technology platform to support the Next Generation First Responder Apex Program, which is specifically designed to help tomorrows first responder be better protected, connected, and fully aware."
This report examines: (a) the extent to which key federal agencies have taken action to address electromagnetic risks and how these actions align with the 2008 EMP Commission report recommendations; and (b) the additional opportunities that exist to enhance federal efforts in addressing electromagnetic risks to the electric grid.
Ultra Electronics, 3eTI® announced that its product, CyberFence, received "Best Value" honors at the AFCEA Defensive Cyber Operations Symposium on 22 April 2016 in Washington, D.C. This award solidifies the CyberFence value proposition for providing robust and highly vetted security to industrial automation and control systems that shields against cyberattacks.
Federal Resources Supply Company announced it has acquired KD Analytical Consulting, Inc. The acquisition significantly expands upon Federal Resources' current success in providing high-quality, cost-effective total life-cycle solutions for its customers. KD Analytical's expertise in critical infrastructure protection and environmental analysis greatly advances Federal Resources' capability to serve these complementary markets.
The National Institutes of Health's National Biosafety & Biocontainment Training Program has selected the University of California, Irvine's (UCI) high-containment biosafety level 3 training laboratory as the third U.S. facility to provide continuing education to professionals. The official National Training Center is the first of its kind in the country to be designed and built solely for educational purposes.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Disaster and Failure Studies Data Repository was established in 2011 to provide a place where data collected during and after a major disaster or structural failure, as well as data generated from related research, could be organized and maintained to facilitate study, analysis and comparison with future events.
After its recent fundraising, Delair-Tech continues its global expansion with a new base in Los Angeles, California, to develop its U.S. activities. Delair-Tech has developed full-fledged solutions based on the use of long-range drones to support decision making for major groups in the transport, energy, mining, security, and agricultural sectors.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $6 million. "Through our Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan, USDA is leading the way to better understand how antibiotic resistance develops, find alternatives to antibiotics, and educate people on practices that reduce the need for antibiotics," said Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack.
To speed the development of diagnostic tests for Zika virus infection, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) will support the collection of blood samples from people in the continental United States and Puerto Rico who have been infected with Zika virus.
The DomPrep Journal features original content written by practitioners in various emergency preparedness and resilience fields. Addressing the needs of professionals dedicated to preparing and protecting their communities, the first four issues of the 2016 volume have been downloaded a total of more than 200,000 times! To view these or other past issues, visit the DomPrep Journal page.
Social media and collaborative technologies have become critical components of emergency preparedness, response and recovery. This report is intended for use by all public safety disciplines and all types of agencies to better understand and utilize social media and other web-based tools without having to duplicate effort or spend undue resources searching for examples, policy templates, or guidance.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) released the 2016 Emergency Response Guidebook, providing first responders with an updated go-to manual to help respond to hazardous materials transportation accidents during the critical first minutes.
908 Devices announced that the National Capital Region's Hazardous Materials Committee has purchased nine of its handheld mass spectrometer for downrange threat detection and identification (M908). The addition of M908 replaces older, technologically obsolete mass spectrometers with an innovative technology that is user friendly and inexpensive to maintain.
The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 requires the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to issue an annual report detailing its medical countermeasure activities. This report covers the development and availability of medical countermeasures, including regulatory science and legal and policy actions related to medical countermeasure (MCM) for fiscal year 2015.
