COMMUNICATION & INTEROPERABILITY ARCHIVES
Mass-Casualty/Medical-Surge Capabilities: Closing the Gap
Kay C. Goss
October 28, 2009
The U.S. government, and most major American cities, have worked diligently, and with considerable success, since the 9/11 terrorist attacks to upgrade their homeland-defense capabilities. But “better” is not the same as “enough” – and probably never will be.
Communicating With the Public During a Pandemic Influenza
Amanda Rhyne and Sarah Weiss
October 28, 2009
The United States is home to probably the most ethnically diverse population in the world. That is a blessing in many ways – but it poses major difficulties for emergency-management officials and other leaders in times of crisis, when the responsibility of warning the public becomes a polyglot challenge.
Telemedicine: Funding Increases & Rapid-Paced Development
Diana Hopkins
October 21, 2009
It started with extremely low-tech audio communications, and in recent years telemedicine technology has spawned a spectrum of much more advanced systems and devices that are of literally life-or-death importance to many citizens in distress. But the paperwork – specifically including development and performance standards – has not kept up.
Organophosphates: A Clearly Present Danger
John Temperilli
October 14, 2009
Properly used, chemicals can benefit mankind in many ways. Improperly used – by terrorists, for example – they can be more of a curse than a blessing, and as weapons of mass destruction could be even more dangerous, over a longer period of time, than a nuclear missile.
The Unglamorous Side: Parking Lots, Manhole Covers, and Homeland Security
Neil C. Livingstone
October 7, 2009
The critical infrastructure of the United States is now better protected than it was before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The same cannot be said for the parking lots next to government buildings, power plants, and other possible targets – most of which can be entered through 22 million “access points”
‘Train As You Will Respond’: CDP Hits Half Million Milestone
Kate Rosenblatt
September 23, 2009
FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness has become a world-class model for all-hazards training in a steadily increasing and widely heralded number of courses covering the entire spectrum of the new and still emerging threats in the Brave New World of the 21st century.
Agricultural Incidents and Effective Multi-Agency Coordination
Mark Ghilarducci and Frank Castro
September 16, 2009
An attack on U.S. cities could topple skyscrapers, destroy seaports, and block highways, tunnels, and bridges. Those are all local effects. An attack on the nation’s food supply could sicken the entire nation, so coordinating a response and recovery operation require a different approach.
Team Typing & Other Innovations: The California Way
Jan Dunbar
September 2, 2009
Mutual aid – between emergency responder agencies, and between cities, counties, and other political jurisdictions – is a noble goal, and worth striving for. But all the good will in the world is meaningless if equipment compatibilities are lacking, there are no uniform training rules, and other essential criteria are
Discovery Channel TV Series: The Colony – Week Seven
Adam Montella
September 2, 2009
Another trip (always dangerous) to the L.A. River teaches the Colonists that the challenges they face are psychological and emotional as well as physical. They also know that they need a continuing supply of protein; fortunately, there is a lot of it scurrying about the warehouse.
Responding to Incidents in a Neighboring Port
Corey Ranslem
August 26, 2009
The U.S. port system is huge, complex, and immensely important to the nation’s economy and to homeland security. The 24/7 protection of that system is an extremely difficult task and usually involves a host of different organizations and agencies working in close cooperation with one another.
The Development of National Standards for Credentialing
Diana Hopkins
August 12, 2009
Who goes there? And what are his/her skills, professional qualifications, and other capabilities? The only sure way to answer these and other questions posed in times of crisis is through a national credentialing system that takes into account a long list of practical requirements and possible pitfalls.
Emergency Services Credentialing: FEMA Leads the Way
Kay C. Goss
August 5, 2009
NCR, ANSI, and Commonwealth of Virginia also in the vanguard as states, cities, and even private-sector agencies and organizations pool resources to standardize and upgrade security checks at major events that attract large crowds – including terrorists and other criminals seeking to gain national and global recognition.
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