Most recently published
Emergency Management: An International Focus
Kay C. Goss
July 28, 2010
The International Association of Emergency Managers provides a golden example by demonstrating how global-outreach programs can benefit all members of a specific professional community – and, not incidentally, the varied publics they serve. Here is a must-read insider’s report from a recognized U.S. expert.
International vs. National Standards Development – Sister Processes
Diana Hopkins
July 21, 2010
From the glory days of the Roman empire to the space age the mandatory width of a public road had to be “enough to accommodate two horses pulling a chariot and trotting side by side” – or so the story goes. Today, the setting of minimum widths, sizes, etc. –
Preparedness: Protecting Facilities Against CBRN Threats
David W. Cullin
July 21, 2010
“The year 2013” is the best-guess estimate of a high-level government commission of when the United States “can expect a terrorist attack…[involving] nuclear or biological materials.” Which means there is very little time left to prepare for Armageddon. A senior corporate executive and highly respected scientist offers his views on
Lessons Learned from the Haiti Earthquake
L. Browne-Barbee
July 21, 2010
From the Last Days of Pompeii to the present, great nations and individual citizens have been striving to cope with random acts of nature. In one sense, this striving represents an almost hopeless quest for perfection. But in a larger sense the lessons learned, and the lives saved, not only
Just When Americans Thought the Cold War Was Over
Neil C. Livingstone
July 21, 2010
To many Americans the well publicized apprehension of 10 Russian spies seemed to be a throwback to the Cold War – except for the amateurish bumbling and fumbling involved, which changed a potentially damaging international incident into a quasi-comedy. But the situation was not as funny as it seemed, and
The Order of Saint John: Chivalry Is Not Dead
Joseph Cahill
July 14, 2010
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies are a microcosm of medicine throughout the world. Although there is some variation in the details, EMS units in all industrialized countries are much the same as in the United States. The main variation is the nature of the staff providing care – i.e., some
REPORT FROM SPAIN: The Andalusian Approach
Alvaro Pemartin
July 14, 2010
“To each his own” – four little words with a host of different meanings, depending on the circumstances, but understood (and sometimes even followed) in every nation of the world. Another warning to the wise: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” And, it says here, “When in Andalusia
DomPrep Survey: Evacuation Planning
Domestic Preparedness
July 14, 2010
Drenching rain, incredibly high winds, and bumper-to-bumper 30-mile traffic jams. The first two are unavoidable when a hurricane strikes; but the traffic, and frustration, can be eased considerably if an effective evacuation plan is in place. Please: TAKE THE SURVEY NOW.
Wisconsin Guard Helps Train Civilian Emergency Responders
Domestic Preparedness
June 30, 2010
About 120 personnel from more than 20 law enforcement agencies enhanced their awareness of weapon of mass destruction. The two-day training, spearheaded by the Madison-based 54th Civil Support Team, Wisconsin National Guard, ranged from briefings and equipment displays to hands-on training and tactical demonstrations at the Regional Emergency All-Climate Training
FINAL REPORT: The Use of Social Media in Disaster Response
Joseph C. Becker and John F. Morton
June 30, 2010
The DP40 and DomPrep readers assess their opinions on the use of “social media” (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) in disaster response. The issues are important and may require the setting of policies – particularly in view of the legal ramifications involved with regard to liability.
Needed: A Comprehensive Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act
Vayl S. Oxford
June 30, 2010
U.S. homeland-security capabilities have improved immensely over the past decade. But there are still too many gaps – in funding, in legislative authority, and in the dwindling pool of career-minded nuclear scientists and engineers. A distinguished former DNDO official discusses some important steps the executive and legislative branches of government
Coping with Chaos: The Aftermath of a CBRNE Incident
Richard Schoeberl
June 23, 2010
U.S. emergency managers and worst-case planners have been warning for many years that the possibility of a WMD attack against American cities is a “when, not if” scenario. The nation’s ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from such an attack is much improved. But there are still serious deficiencies,
Evacuation in the United Kingdom: Reshaping Policy
Andy Oppenheimer
July 28, 2010
The “9/11” attacks on the World Trade Center Towers in New York City differed in several respects from the “7/7” bombings of the London transit system. But both of these mass-casualty disasters led to the belated public recognition of terrorism as a clear and present danger – and, from there,
Emergency Management: An International Focus
Kay C. Goss
July 28, 2010
The International Association of Emergency Managers provides a golden example by demonstrating how global-outreach programs can benefit all members of a specific professional community – and, not incidentally, the varied publics they serve. Here is a must-read insider’s report from a recognized U.S. expert.
International vs. National Standards Development – Sister Processes
Diana Hopkins
July 21, 2010
From the glory days of the Roman empire to the space age the mandatory width of a public road had to be “enough to accommodate two horses pulling a chariot and trotting side by side” – or so the story goes. Today, the setting of minimum widths, sizes, etc. –
Preparedness: Protecting Facilities Against CBRN Threats
David W. Cullin
July 21, 2010
“The year 2013” is the best-guess estimate of a high-level government commission of when the United States “can expect a terrorist attack…[involving] nuclear or biological materials.” Which means there is very little time left to prepare for Armageddon. A senior corporate executive and highly respected scientist offers his views on
Lessons Learned from the Haiti Earthquake
L. Browne-Barbee
July 21, 2010
From the Last Days of Pompeii to the present, great nations and individual citizens have been striving to cope with random acts of nature. In one sense, this striving represents an almost hopeless quest for perfection. But in a larger sense the lessons learned, and the lives saved, not only
Just When Americans Thought the Cold War Was Over
Neil C. Livingstone
July 21, 2010
To many Americans the well publicized apprehension of 10 Russian spies seemed to be a throwback to the Cold War – except for the amateurish bumbling and fumbling involved, which changed a potentially damaging international incident into a quasi-comedy. But the situation was not as funny as it seemed, and
The Order of Saint John: Chivalry Is Not Dead
Joseph Cahill
July 14, 2010
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies are a microcosm of medicine throughout the world. Although there is some variation in the details, EMS units in all industrialized countries are much the same as in the United States. The main variation is the nature of the staff providing care – i.e., some
REPORT FROM SPAIN: The Andalusian Approach
Alvaro Pemartin
July 14, 2010
“To each his own” – four little words with a host of different meanings, depending on the circumstances, but understood (and sometimes even followed) in every nation of the world. Another warning to the wise: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” And, it says here, “When in Andalusia
DomPrep Survey: Evacuation Planning
Domestic Preparedness
July 14, 2010
Drenching rain, incredibly high winds, and bumper-to-bumper 30-mile traffic jams. The first two are unavoidable when a hurricane strikes; but the traffic, and frustration, can be eased considerably if an effective evacuation plan is in place. Please: TAKE THE SURVEY NOW.
Wisconsin Guard Helps Train Civilian Emergency Responders
Domestic Preparedness
June 30, 2010
About 120 personnel from more than 20 law enforcement agencies enhanced their awareness of weapon of mass destruction. The two-day training, spearheaded by the Madison-based 54th Civil Support Team, Wisconsin National Guard, ranged from briefings and equipment displays to hands-on training and tactical demonstrations at the Regional Emergency All-Climate Training
FINAL REPORT: The Use of Social Media in Disaster Response
Joseph C. Becker and John F. Morton
June 30, 2010
The DP40 and DomPrep readers assess their opinions on the use of “social media” (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) in disaster response. The issues are important and may require the setting of policies – particularly in view of the legal ramifications involved with regard to liability.
Needed: A Comprehensive Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act
Vayl S. Oxford
June 30, 2010
U.S. homeland-security capabilities have improved immensely over the past decade. But there are still too many gaps – in funding, in legislative authority, and in the dwindling pool of career-minded nuclear scientists and engineers. A distinguished former DNDO official discusses some important steps the executive and legislative branches of government
Lessons Learned From an ‘Almost’ Evacuation
Jennifer Smither
June 23, 2010
In December 2014, an unknown patient zero visited Disneyland in California. Whether that person knew that he or she was carrying a highly contagious infectious disease is not as important as the speed in which the disease spread and the reason behind it. There is a correlation between the resurgence
When Time Stops: Family Support After a Mass-Casualty Incident
Joseph Cahill
June 16, 2010
The rapid growth of mass-casualty incidents in recent years has led to much-needed new rules – now formulated at the federal level – to not only notify victims’ families and friends, and usually the media as well. Implementing those rules requires organizational skills, advance planning, compassion, and an uncommon measure
NIMS/ICS Case Study: Evacuation & State-Managed Shelters
Stephen Grainer and Patricia Snead
June 16, 2010
If a hotel has been overbooked most people go to another hotel just a block or two away. That solution does not work when a mass-casualty incident requires the evacuation of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of citizens. Immediately. Which is why local evacuation plans must anticipate the need for additional sheltering
DomPrep Survey: The Use of Social Media in Disaster Response
Domestic Preparedness
June 16, 2010
This survey focuses attention on use of the “social media” (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) in disaster-response situations. Several of the DP40 views are surprising; others – involving liability issues, for example – are mandates for quick and effective action. DPJ readers are hereby respectfully requested to Take the Survey Now!!
The Times Square Bombing Plot: What It Means For America
Neil C. Livingstone
June 9, 2010
Experts in aviation safety have long recognized that what is described as a “near miss” is actually a “near hit.” The Times Square bombing attempt deserves the same unflinching judgment: Disaster was avoided not because of the superior competence of DHS and TSA, but because of the greater incompetence of
Exercise Boosts Communication Capabilities of Emergency Responders
Domestic Preparedness
June 4, 2010
Nearly 20 federal and regional agencies took part in an exercise on 20 May at Joint Force Headquarters in Madison (WI) to learn, among other things, if they could communicate with one another in the event of a real emergency.
COOP Planning Becomes Major Concern for Healthcare Facilities
Raphael M. Barishansky
June 2, 2010
The best-laid plans of mice and men – not to mention emergency managers and healthcare officials – can oft go awry. That is particularly true, almost guaranteed in fact, when the plans are only on paper, the emergency assets needed have not been secured, and the numerous other actions needed
Meeting the Challenge: Public Health Emergencies & the Special Needs Populations
Bruce Clements
May 26, 2010
Dealing with earthquakes, hurricanes, and/or terrorist attacks is difficult enough for first responders as well as emergency managers. Add to that, though, the need to protect, provide medical care for, and/or possibly transport people suffering from various medical problems makes the challenge exponentially more difficult. Once again, advance planning and
Preparing for Unexpected Hospital Surges
Jennifer Smither
May 26, 2010
Some of the best “solutions” create other problems, as Canada found out during the 2003 SARS outbreak. Once again, the best way to avoid such secondary problems is through advance planning, plus training and exercises, with all stakeholders involved every step of the way.
Hospital Surge Capacity – A Moving Target
Theodore Tully
May 26, 2010
The emergency rooms of most U.S. hospitals are often overcrowded even on a supposedly “slow” day. A mass-casualty incident makes the situation exponentially worse, creating a simultaneous demand for additional space, a larger staff, and more medical supplies. The last resort is usually the use of an alternate-care site –
Leadership and Stewardship in Microeconomic Decision-Making
Dennis R. Schrader
May 19, 2010
Protection of the nation’s “critical infrastructure” has long been one of the highest priorities of senior officials at all levels of government. After 9/11, response and recovery started to receive equal billing. Now comes belated recognition that “resilience” also is needed – and should be built into construction projects at
Electronic Medical Records – Potential Benefits of a ‘Health Cloud’
Rodrigo (Roddy) Moscoso
May 19, 2010
The 21st-century world of high-tech communications – ranging from the transmission of classified information to social texting and junk mail – has not yet, partly because of privacy concerns, significantly improved the forwarding of medical records. What can and should be done about this?
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