EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARCHIVES
Implementing the National Health Security Strategy
W. Craig Vanderwagen
March 16, 2011
Question #1: Is the United States prepared to cope with new terrorist attacks in which CBRNE weapons are used to destroy the nation’s critical infrastructure and kill thousands of U.S. citizens at the same time? Answer: Not yet, but policy guidelines have been established and the long-range planning process has
Future Chemical Challenges: Common Operating Picture Needed to Manage Common Problems
Michael E. Forgey
March 9, 2011
Future chemical challenges facing the United States far into the foreseeable future will be both more frequent and more deadly than those encountered in the halcyon years of the 20th century. Which is why the time is NOW to prepare to meet those challenges head-on and, if prevention does not
The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut
Domestic Preparedness
March 7, 2011
All citizens should not only be better prepared for major earthquakes but also practice how to protect themselves if and when earthquakes actually occur. The goal of the Great Central ShakeOut, which is hosted by the Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC), is to help people and organizations meet both
DHS Announces Release of New Training Course: Workplace Security Awareness
Domestic Preparedness
March 5, 2011
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the availability of IS-906, Workplace Security Awareness, a no-cost training course developed by the department’s Office of Infrastructure Protection Sector-Specific Agency Executive Management Office. The online training now available provides guidance to individuals and organizations on how to improve security in the
Tailoring an Emergency Operations Plan
Raphael M. Barishansky and Audrey Mazurek
March 2, 2011
The old tailor’s maxim – “Measure twice; cut once” – is also a suitable approach to the writing of an all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan for a health department. Here is a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to the planning, writing, reviewing, and approval processes necessary to the drafting, development, and dissemination
When High-Tech Fails: Back to Plan B
Joseph Cahill
March 2, 2011
Modern communications systems are a marvel to behold – and to use. And they keep getting better, generation after generation. The only problem, though, is that they sometimes fail, for inexplicable reasons and at the worst possible times. Which is why a backup system (pen and paper, perhaps?) is still
Public Health Emergency Resilience: The Next Challenging Step
Bruce Clements
February 23, 2011
The four keys to maintaining and improving the nation’s public health and emergency preparedness, according to HSPD-21 and other policy directives, are improved capabilities in bio-surveillance, countermeasures distribution, mass-casualty care, and community resilience. Considerable progress has been made in upgrading the first three of those essential “components” – but the
The Missing Leg of a Well Balanced Facility Security Platform
Joseph W. Trindal
February 23, 2011
The protection of high-value sites is one of the principal tasks spelled out in federal, state, local, and private-sector resilience policies and programs – most of which focus primarily on risk assessments, advance planning, and the implementation of effective security measures. A “fourth leg” – functional security testing – is
Private Sector Language: Resilience & the Supply Chain Element
Dennis R. Schrader
February 16, 2011
Bureaucratic Abstractions vs. Private-Sector Certitudes – that is one of the more difficult problems, it says here, behind at least some of the “communications difficulties” between public and private-sector resilience professionals. Merging the two vocabularies would be a common-sense way to remove some current obstacles to achievement of the same
The Three Ts of Terrorism – Finding the Facts in the News
Jordan Nelms
February 16, 2011
The Target hit, the Tactics used, and the Technology involved – all provide a wealth of information that can be used by everyday citizens to find out the “real facts” behind a terrorist incident and/or other mass-casualty event. Also not to be ignored is the telling clue, noticed only by
Air National Guard Resumes Life-Saving CCATT Mission
Ellen Krenke
February 9, 2011
Despite facing some of the most deadly combat environments in the nation’s history, the d”saved rate” of forward-deployed U.S. military units on the frequently shifting battleground in Pakistan and Afghanistan is also at a record high – thanks in large part to the medics/corpsmen, doctors, nurses, and CCATT-enriched aerovac units
Disaster Resilience: An Emergency Manager’s Perspective
Kay C. Goss
February 9, 2011
Like the forward pass in football, “Resilience” was once a vague notion, theoretical concept, and interesting afterthought. In the past several years, though, it has become both the firm foundation for and operational imperative of a truly comprehensive preparedness plan. Here are some relevant comments from one of the nation’s
Follow Us
Get Instant Access
Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.