HAZMAT ARCHIVES
DHR, MEMA, the LEMs & Maryland’s WST Example
Pamela Spring and Rainier C. Harvey, Sr.
May 12, 2010
The 2009 inauguration of President Barack Obama was a truly historic event in many ways – and for many reasons, not least of which is that it provided a “golden standard” opportunity for the State of Maryland and its National Capital Region partners to use, validate, and learn from a
Hospital Expansion Through Alternate Care Sites
Joseph Cahill
May 5, 2010
At a time in U.S. history when mass-casualty events are not only more frequent but also much better publicized, the numerous public and private-sector agencies involved are, correctly, focusing greater attention on their own preparedness to cope with such “when, not if” situations. Hospitals, for example, many of which are
Law Enforcement Pandemic Resilience: Time to Recalibrate
Joseph W. Trindal
April 28, 2010
The global-disaster scenario originally forecast fell far short of the dire predictions. Which is a good reason to celebrate. But not a reason to stop planning and preparing for “what might have been.” Hurricane Katrina taught many lessons worth learning, the most important of which is that states, communities, and
Pandemic Preparedness: Advance Planning Is Mandatory
Jennifer Smither
April 21, 2010
Healthcare workers, first responders, and emergency managers in Louisiana and Missouri used the H1N1 global pandemic to demonstrate how an imminent disaster – combined with information sharing, the early promulgation of preparedness plans, and a modicum of managerial expertise – can provide valuable lessons learned to cope with future disasters
Pandemics Are In The Air
Diana Hopkins
April 7, 2010
Lightning strikes are sudden and spectacular, highly visible, and extremely violent. Not to mention lethal. Bacteria and viruses are just the opposite – totally invisible, in fact. But they kill many more people, in every country in the world, year after year than lightning does. It may be helpful to
H1N1: A Lesson for Healthcare Preparedness
Theodore Tully
April 4, 2010
The numerous mistakes, misunderstandings, and miscalculations made in preparing for the potential loss of perhaps millions of lives during the 2009-10 global pandemic that never happened do not represent a total loss. Just the opposite, in fact – if (a very big if) political decision makers, emergency managers, and healthcare
The Security Checkpoints of Tomorrow
Peter Kant
March 31, 2010
The sometimes intrusive high-tech systems used by most airlines to screen passengers, and their baggage, are extremely sophisticated – but terrorist organizations also are moving forward by devising new types of explosive devices, and new methods of concealment. The end result, in the not-too-distant future, is likely to be a
‘By Far the Greatest Threat to U.S. Civil Aviation’
Neil C. Livingstone
March 24, 2010
Umar Farouk Abdulmutullab was walking, almost literally, in the footsteps of Richard Reid when he tried to detonate an “underwear” bomb aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on Christmas Day 2009. Additional jihadist attacks are inevitable – unless and until the United States changes its supposedly egalitarian screening process in favor
The Need for Situational Awareness in a CBRNE Attack
Jordan Nelms
March 24, 2010
The handling of mass-casualty incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and/or explosive materials requires special training and purpose-built systems and equipment, but the greatest need on-site is continuing awareness by emergency responders of the horrendous threat they, and the innocent victims they are helping, are facing.
The Short- & Long-Term Changes Needed at DHS, TSA
Neil C. Livingstone
March 23, 2010
Contrary to Secretary Napolitano’s rather politicized assertion that “the [U.S. aviation security] system worked,” it definitely did NOT work. But it could be made immensely more effective – less costly as well – if certain common-sense, albeit politically difficult, changes were made. Beginning immediately, and starting at the top.
Responding to CBRNE Attacks: A Quick Primer
Jennifer Smither
March 17, 2010
The dangers posed by IEDs, chemical and biological weapons & devices, and other WMDs has grown exponentially in recent years – to the point that many analysts now use the term “when, not if” in answering questions about the possibility of additional terrorist attacks against the United States. The time
The PPE & Other Basic Needs of Tactical Officers
Richard Schoeberl
March 10, 2010
An alarming report issued by the WMD Commission – combined with the growing need to “protect the protectors” and an increase in other responsibilities – suggests that law-enforcement agencies, specifically including SWAT teams, may soon have to become hazmat experts as well.
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