The U.S Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) established the System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER) Program to assist emergency responders making procurement decisions. Managed by S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory, the SAVER Program conducts operationally oriented assessments and validations on commercial equipment and systems, and provides those results along with other relevant information to the emergency response community.
Juvare, previously the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division of Intermedix, formally unveiled its new brand at their 2018 Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. Juvare will continue to strengthen its emergency management solutions, such as WebEOC®, EMResource, eICS, and others, while also developing a framework for enterprise resilience.
During the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took new steps to advance the availability of investigational medical countermeasures, including drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests. The FDA is building on these lessons learned to assist in the global response to the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and help mitigate the threat by making medical products available as part of critical response efforts.
FLIR Systems Inc. has been awarded a $2.6 million order from the United States Army to deliver FLIR Black Hornet® Personal Reconnaissance Systems. The units delivered under this contract support squad-level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in the Army’s first batch order for the Soldier Borne Sensor program.
Although emergency medical services (EMS), hospitals, emergency management, and public health all are fundamental components of disaster health response, none responds alone. EMS can contribute to planning and response for medical surge; assess risks and resources; bring their unique experience to evacuation planning, communications systems integration, and emergency operations plan; and participate in coalition exercises.
FLIR Systems, Inc. announced the availability of three products for use by global militaries and government agencies including border patrol agents. These products include two FLIR Ranger® mid-range panel radars, one with airborne drone and ground target detection, and the Recon® V UltraLite thermal monocular.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced the release of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Notices of Funding Opportunity for eight DHS preparedness grant programs totaling more than $1.6 billion. The grant programs provide funding to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector, to improve the nation’s readiness in preventing, protecting against, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a strategy outlining the Department’s approach to identifying and managing national cybersecurity risk. The DHS strategy details a department-wide approach to address evolving threats to the nation’s cyber and critical infrastructure security.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, and Forest Service Interim Chief Vicki Christiansen briefed members of Congress on what to expect in the coming fire season. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is well prepared to respond to wildfires in what is currently forecast to be another challenging year.
A partnership involving the University of Nebraska and Los Alamos National Laboratory boosts educational opportunities for students seeking careers in the biodefense field. The partnership is specifically looking into the diagnosis and detection of infectious disease agents through the use of biosensors.
