Preparedness

Command Profile: Strengthening the U.S. Army's Helping-Hand Agency

by Brent Bankus -

The U.S. Army's warfighting record speaks for itself - numerous victories and too many heroes to count. The service's peacetime contributions are just as glorious and have contributed significantly to the common good.

FIPS 201 Compliance for State and Local Agencies

by Joseph Watson -

NIMS has spoken, and must be obeyed: A new "common identification standard" for federal employees and contractors is now required. State and local agencies would be well advised to adopt the same standard.

Interview with Dr. Stephen Flynn: The Current State of U.S. Port Security

by Joseph DiRenzo III and Christopher Doane -

Terrorism/counterterrorism expert Dr. Stephen Flynn provides a chilling pre-publication preview of some of the continuing preparedness deficiencies highlighted in his new book, Edge of Disaster.

The Whys and Wherefores of NIMS-Compliant Training

by Stephen Grainer -

The National Incident Management System training guidelines provide an unprecedented opportunity to improve and expand first-responder and emergency-responder capabilities - but some confusion continues about exactly what is required.

Decontamination Considerations in Dealing With A Chemical Agent Mass-Casualty Incident

by Theodore Jarboe -

Decontamination operations are a business-as-usual task for most hazmat teams and other first responders. But not when there are hundreds or perhaps thousands of victims and the responders themselves are in danger of being contaminated.

The National Information Exchange Model

by Thomas O'Reilly -

The new NIEM standard provides a much-needed solution to the problems caused when many agencies at all levels of government respond to the same incident, but do not speak the same language.

First National Security Cutter Christened; Bertholf Honors First Coast Guard Commandant

by Gordon I. Peterson -

Pascagoula ceremonies celebrate a major upgrading of the USCG's ability to carry out its homeland-defense and national-security missions both on the high seas and in the waters close to the U.S. mainland.

Can U.S. Defeat the Suicide/Homicide-Bomber Threat?

by Joseph Steger -

U.S. law-enforcement agencies at all levels of government are gearing up to deal with a possibly nationwide outbreak of terrorist attacks similar to those that have already terrified London, Madrid, Bali, Mumbai, and - most of all - Baghdad.

CBRNE: Beyond the Coast Guard Strike Teams

by Christopher Doane and Joseph DiRenzo III -

The Coast Guard men and women on the scene 24/7 throughout the U.S. maritime domain are the service's true front-line forces in the prevention of CBRNE attacks. They need more and better equipment, though, and a lot more training. Starting yesterday.

CBRNE Incidents - The Role of the Firefighter

by Theodore Jarboe -

From Nero's time to the present, the firefighter's primary mission has been to put out the fire. When weapons of mass destruction are added to the matrix, that mission becomes much more difficult and, not incidentally, much more lethal as well.