Although no longer monopolizing the headlines, the wildfires, floods, and tornadoes of recent months are still affecting people's lives across the country. The American Red Cross remains on the job, though, providing shelter, food, and emotional support in areas where help is still needed.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announces the selection of 16 new members to its National Advisory Council (NAC). The 35-member council provides FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate with diverse perspectives and advice from a broad cross section of the nation's overall emergency management community.
RealView LLC, a Microsoft® Partner providing mobile inspection and emergency pre-plan programs for office buildings, fire departments, hospitality, education, and other customers, has announced the implementation of its CommandScope Emergency Pre-Plan for the Henderson, Nevada, fire department, enabling it to benefit from real-time, electronic building intelligence both before and during emergency situations.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the availability of up to $175 million in livability grants to help urban, suburban, and rural communities develop transit options to better connect people to where they live, work, and play. Local transit agencies will be able to compete for livability dollars from this very large pool of additional funds.
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has awarded FLIR Systems a $1.1 million contract for Phase II of a multi-year, multi-phase research and development contract to develop a mobile, ruggedized, stand-off radiation detection system with identification capabilities. The goal of this new system is to improve the detection of radioactive sources at stand-off distances.
The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases has been given the 2011 Gates Award for Global Health. With help from researchers from all over the world, this program has worked to find improved health solutions for people in poor countries.
The 2011 hurricane season has begun and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has started a blog to inform citizens about ways to get prepared for the hazards associated with severe tropical weather.
The Federal Experts Security Advisory Panel recommended that 11 agents and toxins, including anthrax, ebola and foot-and-mouth disease virus, be designated tier 1 in the National Select Agent Program, and that this tier require specific personnel and physical security measures for facilities possessing those agents and toxins. The National Select Agent Program regulates the possession, use, and transfer of biological select agents and toxins.
Hurricane season serves as a reminder that any type of disaster can affect the health of individuals and entire communities. A new toolkit of prepared cell phone text messages advising people how to protect their health after a disaster is available now through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
RAE Systems Inc. has introduced the world's first wireless portable multi-threat monitors, which reliably give safety professionals unprecedented visibility and control of chemical and radiation threat data. The MultiRAE Wireless Portable Multi-Threat Monitors are the only instruments to detect and monitor more than 300 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gamma radiation, 55 combustible gases and vapors, and 25 specific toxic gases - up to six threats at a time - all in a single, highly versatile monitor.
