The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that the agency has now screened more than three million travelers through TSA PreCheck lanes. TSA PreCheck is currently available in 26 airports and operational with five airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and US Airways.
Terrorist threats of radiological/nuclear attacks continue to raise concern at all levels of government. To assist state and local responders during "surge" events, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office maintains detection units that can be deployed, along with laboratory personnel, to supplement the jurisdictions' existing radiological and nuclear detection capabilities and resources.
If a nuclear device were to be detonated within any of the nations major metropolitan areas, the healthcare system both inside and outside the blast-damage zones would be seriously affected. Predicting the "what ifs" and planning for such scenarios can help hospitals and responder agencies cope with and manage the numerous deaths and injuries that may certainly occur.
As a result of severe weather events such as the 2010 "Snowmaggedon" and an increasing number of other natural disasters, the nation's public health sector is increasing and expanding its professional capabilities and playing a greater role in responding to such events. In doing so, public health is using an all-hazards approach to preparing for and responding to natural and manmade events.
"We now provide a complete portfolio of services to help schools identify what grants are available to them and the specifics for obtaining that grant," stresses April Dalton-Noblitt, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, director-vertical marketing. "It is part of our commitment to the nation's schools that when it comes to safety and security, Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies will continue to be their best partner in helping locate the money they need."
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is one of many policy documents focused on the Homeland Security initiatives implemented after the September 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States. NIMS guidelines do not prescribe in detail how such attacks must be managed but, with the help of the National Guard and various responder agencies, can be extremely useful in coping with a broad range of incidents.
The Emergency Film Group has released a new DVD-based training program, Professional Security Officer: Roles & Responsibilities, for security guards. The program describes how security professionals support a safe workplace and a secure facility, while remaining professional, open, and friendly.
Whether responding to mass casualties from a nuclear blast or an attack by a single "Lone Wolf" shooter, hospital preparedness requires careful planning, effective coordination, and collaboration in the sharing of critical resources. Inter-hospital cooperation and training will almost always result in a better outcome than would be possible through single-facility planning efforts.
Terrorists are seeking nuclear materials more actively today than ever before. Unfortunately, the security of these materials varies widely from one country to another, and in many nations there is little or no reliable accountability. Today there is a real and growing threat that Al-Qaida or another terrorist organization will obtain enough materials to produce a weapon of mass destruction.
Everbridge has announced that it recently launched a first-of-its-type social and critical communications solutions suite designed to give organizations the ability, as part of their communications strategy, to gather and evaluate the real-time intelligence data available from the social media.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently joined forces in a demonstration of the standards needed to allow sensitive health information to be shared responsibly while also complying with confidentiality laws and the regulations governing the use among providers of electronic health records by healthcare providers.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the allocation of nearly $11 million in grants to eight universities through the agency's innovative STAR (Science to Achieve Results) program. These grants are intended to help the universities develop fast and effective methods to test the toxicity, to humans and the environment, of potentially dangerous chemicals.
NextgenID, the global leader in Biometric Intelligence Solutions, has announced that the State of West Virginia has selected the company's Multi-modal Biometric Enrollment (MBE) KIOSK to expedite the secure enterprise enrollment of employees, contractors, and other citizens statewide as a vital component of the new West Virginia Identity Management Service.
The pilot program - carried out at the Churchill light-rail transit station in Edmonton, Canada - involved the CLEAR-USE radiological and explosives detection system developed by Cubic Security Systems and prime contractor Mobile Detect Inc. of Ontario.
A new collaboration between two federal agencies to strengthen the nation's disaster-response capabilities was recently launched when the first 240 FEMA Corps members were sworn into service at an induction ceremony in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The FEMA Corps is an innovative partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Corporation for National and Community Service designed to enhance disaster-response and recovery capabilities while also expanding career opportunities for younger Americans.
The Great ShakeOut earthquake drills help U.S. citizens everywhere - in homes, schools, and businesses - learn and practice how to be safe during major earthquakes and other disasters, and provide an opportunity for all Americans to improve their overall preparedness. Readers are invited to join thousands of their neighbors who are planning to "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" on 18 October 2012.
The higher likelihood of a chemical or biological terrorist attack makes such incidents the focus of many education and training exercises. Preparing for a Fukushima-like nuclear incident, whether accidental or deliberate, must be addressed by educating the public, understanding how to best detect radioactive material, and protecting the population before an actual threat emerges.
Law enforcement officers secure the scene, hazmat teams enter the hot zone, emergency medical technicians transport victims, and emergency room doctors and nurses receive patients following a radiological incident. Each responder plays an important role, but each requires a different level of protection, which is dictated by different standards. Resources are available to help determine the best protection.
The terrorist attacks on the United States in September 2001 emphasized the need to better protect the nation against future threats. New government agencies were formed while existing agencies expanded their roles in preventing, responding to, and recovering from a variety of natural disasters and other emergencies. The Environmental Protection Agency is one such agency that is taking steps to improve operational readiness at the national level.
Ingersoll Rand has announced that Sielox Pinnacle server customers can now seamlessly integrate Schlage wireless AD-Series electronic locks to create a cost-effective, scalable access control solution that meets todays needs as well as provides an easy pathway to future upgrades.
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has announced its partnership with the National Coordinating Center (NCC), a program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for coordinating disaster response and recovery efforts involving the telecommunications industry.
Whether it is a hurricane, an earthquake, or a house fire that threatens, families need a disaster plan first to make sure they are ready when emergencies happen. "Just like no coach would bring a team onto a field without a game plan, every family needs their own game plan for emergencies," said Russ Paulsen, executive director of Community Preparedness and Resilience at the American Red Cross.
"We are honored that Kay C. Goss, CEM has chosen to join our board," said Dr. Roger H. Sublett, president of Union Institute & University (UI&U). "Kay has distinguished herself in her field and brings a focused perspective that will serve the university and its students well particularly in the areas of innovative and practical degree solutions for adults."
On 9 August 1945, the Japanese port city of Nagasaki experienced a devastating nuclear attack that not only led to the end of World War II but also had long-lasting effects. Preparing for a nuclear blast and the radiological dangers that follow requires careful planning to ensure effective personal protective equipment, proper isolation procedures, and optimum decontamination processes.
Significant concern was raised when Iran reported an increased number of centrifuges at its uranium enrichment facilities. In addition, nuclear power vulnerabilities were exposed during and after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan. As nuclear programs and nuclear power usage increase, effective countermeasures must be in place to prepare for any deliberate or accidental radioactive threat.
During National Preparedness Month, citizens renew their commitment to promoting emergency preparedness in homes, businesses, and communities nationwide, and to building an America more ready and resilient than ever before.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced Kelly Hoggan as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Global Strategies. In this role, Hoggan will oversee TSA's engagement with foreign governments and international industry stakeholders as TSA continues to grow as a risk-based, intelligence-driven counterterrorism agency.
According to Instrument Business Outlook, the NXT's innovative industrial design clearly distinguished it by creating an appealing visual appearance and enhanced end-user experience. Lightweight and rugged, Fido NXT delivers fast, accurate, and consistent explosives detection capabilities for combat, physical security, and anti-terrorism operations around the world.
