In this report, the Pandemic Prediction and Forecasting Science and Technology Working Group of the National Science and Technology Council aims to advance the science and application of outbreak predictions. The report identifies key challenges and recommends Federal actions to surmount them.
The Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense released its report, A National Blueprint for Biodefense: Leadership and Major Reform Needed to Optimize Efforts, in October 2015. This is the one-year follow-up of that report.
The Biological Defense Research and Development (BDRD) Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Homeland and National Security conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the Nation's biological defense capabilities, identified homeland biodefense science and technology needs, and prioritized them. The most important needs are presented in this report.
The Action Plan, released concurrently with the Joint United States-Canada Electric Grid Security and Resilience Strategy, details the activities, deliverables, and timelines that will be undertaken primarily by U S Federal agencies for the United States to make progress toward the Strategy’s goals.
The Joint United States-Canada Electric Grid Security and Resilience Strategy, released concurrently with the National Electric Grid Security and Resilience Action Plan, details bilateral goals to address the vulnerabilities of the respective and shared electric grid infrastructure of the United States and Canada, not only as an energy security concern, but for reasons of national security.
After nearly a year of intense work, House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) released a comprehensive review of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) use of intelligence to counter terrorist threats. The report provides an in-depth analysis of DHS’ intelligence structure and functions, offering more than 30 recommendations with regard to streamlining and enhancing DHS intelligence efforts.
The Ebola outbreak revealed weaknesses in global health and humanitarian responses that must be fixed. This report details an investigation conducted by the United States to determine how the response from intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations may change, or even cease, if an Ebola outbreak is determined to be intentional.
The U.S. Fire Administration and National Volunteer Fire Council have partnered to re-evaluate known issues, discover new or emerging concerns, and provide tools and resources to overcome health and safety concerns plaguing the volunteer fire service. This report identifies resources, provides references, suggests tools, illustrates best practices, and establishes goals and objectives to improve firefighter safety, well being, and survival.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office was asked to report on the sustainability of the radiation portal monitors (RPM) fleet. This report provides information on: (a) Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) assessment of the condition of its RPM fleet and how, if at all, that assessment has changed over time; and (b) DHS’s plans for meeting detection requirements in the future.
This report examines: (a) what emergency response information is carried on trains by selected railroads transporting hazardous materials and how responders use it; and (b) how selected railroads’ supplemental emergency response information compares to information in the Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).
