Most recently published
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
A U.S. Responder’s View of Israeli Security & Preparedness
Glen Rudner
March 31, 2010
This first-person report by a homeland-security professional compares the U.S. civil-aviation security system with its Israeli counterpart and declares Israel a clear winner – for two reasons: (1) The virtually unanimous Israeli mindset is focused primarily on national survival; and (2) Israeli security sidesteps politics by profiling all passengers through
FINAL REPORT: The Chemical Threat & The State of Chemical Preparedness
Stephen Reeves and John F. Morton
March 30, 2010
The DP40 and DomPrep readers where asked to voice their opinions on how prepared the United States is for a chemical attack and what it might mean for local emergency managers if a chemical warfare agent or TIC/TIM (toxic industrial chemical/toxic industrial material) event occurred.
‘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
Surgically Implanted Death: Human IEDs vs. Full-Body Scanning
Joseph W. Trindal
March 24, 2010
Terrorist patterns of adaptation continue to present challenges for the emergency services community worldwide. In the 1980s the number of terrorist suicide/homicide bombings was rapidly increasing and spreading. Terrorist tactics almost exclusively involved person-borne and vehicle-borne delivery of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Some terrorist groups led the way toward adaptation,
Department of Defense Focuses on IT Innovation
Thomas Payne
March 24, 2010
The same revolution in information technology that has given the U.S. armed services communications, cybersecurity, research, and other advanced capabilities previously deemed impossible can be used by other government agencies, and by the civilian sector, to improve and perfect their own products and services on a continuing basis.
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.
Partners in Preparedness: Close to 2000 Attendees at Public Health Preparedness Summit
Jack Herrmann
March 17, 2010
Those who were fortunate and farsighted enough to attend last month’s Public Health Preparedness Summit in Atlanta not only heard many of the nation’s senior healthcare officials report on recent innovations and achievements but also, of greater importance, were able to network with their peers and colleagues from every state
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
Critical Infrastructure Protection: Another Role for NIMS Plus ICS
Stephen Grainer
March 10, 2010
The numerous presidential directives and policy documents issued since the 9/11 terrorist attacks have focused on various specialized areas of homeland-security and counterterrorism operations and activities. Many of those “specialized areas” are closely interrelated in their separate but complementary goals and objectives, though, and when used in combination can achieve
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.
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
A U.S. Responder’s View of Israeli Security & Preparedness
Glen Rudner
March 31, 2010
This first-person report by a homeland-security professional compares the U.S. civil-aviation security system with its Israeli counterpart and declares Israel a clear winner – for two reasons: (1) The virtually unanimous Israeli mindset is focused primarily on national survival; and (2) Israeli security sidesteps politics by profiling all passengers through
FINAL REPORT: The Chemical Threat & The State of Chemical Preparedness
Stephen Reeves and John F. Morton
March 30, 2010
The DP40 and DomPrep readers where asked to voice their opinions on how prepared the United States is for a chemical attack and what it might mean for local emergency managers if a chemical warfare agent or TIC/TIM (toxic industrial chemical/toxic industrial material) event occurred.
‘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
Surgically Implanted Death: Human IEDs vs. Full-Body Scanning
Joseph W. Trindal
March 24, 2010
Terrorist patterns of adaptation continue to present challenges for the emergency services community worldwide. In the 1980s the number of terrorist suicide/homicide bombings was rapidly increasing and spreading. Terrorist tactics almost exclusively involved person-borne and vehicle-borne delivery of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Some terrorist groups led the way toward adaptation,
Department of Defense Focuses on IT Innovation
Thomas Payne
March 24, 2010
The same revolution in information technology that has given the U.S. armed services communications, cybersecurity, research, and other advanced capabilities previously deemed impossible can be used by other government agencies, and by the civilian sector, to improve and perfect their own products and services on a continuing basis.
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.
Partners in Preparedness: Close to 2000 Attendees at Public Health Preparedness Summit
Jack Herrmann
March 17, 2010
Those who were fortunate and farsighted enough to attend last month’s Public Health Preparedness Summit in Atlanta not only heard many of the nation’s senior healthcare officials report on recent innovations and achievements but also, of greater importance, were able to network with their peers and colleagues from every state
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
Critical Infrastructure Protection: Another Role for NIMS Plus ICS
Stephen Grainer
March 10, 2010
The numerous presidential directives and policy documents issued since the 9/11 terrorist attacks have focused on various specialized areas of homeland-security and counterterrorism operations and activities. Many of those “specialized areas” are closely interrelated in their separate but complementary goals and objectives, though, and when used in combination can achieve
Training Tests State Agency’s Response to Natural & Man-Made Disasters
Domestic Preparedness
March 10, 2010
The Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) & the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted training designed to better prepare Wisconsin’s many state agencies to effectively manage a major disaster. During a four-day training exercise, more than 75 local, state, volunteer, and federal emergency responders tested emergency response and recovery plans to
Missouri C-130s, Crews Divert to Chile
Jim Greenhill
March 9, 2010
Two Missouri Air National Guard C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, with 47 crew members, were diverted to Chile to aid that earthquake-ravaged nation. The C-130 aircraft can fly passengers, and airlift cargo, long distances – in all weather conditions, both day and night, from low to high altitudes – and land
Haiti 2010: When Disaster Is Compounded by Chaos & Confusion
Theodore Tully
March 3, 2010
Within minutes after news of the 12 January earthquake that devastated Haiti was reported to the outside world, U.S. government agencies, and numerous NGOs, swung into action. Here is a lessons-learned report on how New York City’s Mount Sinai Hospital accelerated its pre-planning process, the preparation of healthcare volunteers, the
ICD – Shorthand for a Potentially Ubiquitous Threat
Joseph Cahill
March 3, 2010
Chemicals are a part of the everyday American’s diet. They are used – in carefully measured doses, it is hoped – in manufacturing; in the processing of food, beverages, medicines, and numerous other consumables; and in many other ways in almost every country in the world. Because of their relatively
FINAL REPORT: The Security of National Infrastructure
Dennis R. Schrader
February 28, 2010
The DP40 and DomPrep readers where asked how they view the apparent transition from thinking in terms of critical infrastructure protection to thinking in terms of critical infrastructure resilience.
Lessons Learned for Critical Infrastructure
Andrew Pearsons
February 24, 2010
Most discussions about protection of the U.S. “critical infrastructure” focus on power plants, government buildings, nuclear facilities, and other high-value “things.” It says here that people, U.S. citizens, both government workers and the general public – human assets, in other words – also need protection and, in fact, should be
Local Security: The Forgotten Factor in Relief Operations
Joseph W. Trindal
February 24, 2010
Two Missouri Air National Guard C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, with 47 crew members, were diverted to Chile to aid that earthquake-ravaged nation. The C-130 aircraft can fly passengers, and airlift cargo, long distances – in all weather conditions, both day and night, from low to high altitudes – and land
No Easy Choices When Facing a Nuclear-Armed Gorilla
Neil C. Livingstone
February 24, 2010
As always, the principal topic discussed at the 2010 Herzliya conference was Israeli’s national security. But the most important building block – stumbling block might be a more accurate term – in maintaining that security at a high level was mentioned only in whispers, because no one dared to speak
Port Recovery in Haiti: The Initial Stages
Corey Ranslem
February 17, 2010
The Resolve Marine Group played a key role in helping to clear the shattered harbor area in Port au Prince and make it possible to bring ashore thousands of tons of food, fuel, medicines and medical supplies, and the numerous other life-saving essentials so desperately needed by the Haitian people.
The Principles of Infrastructure Resilience
Scott Jackson
February 17, 2010
“Resilience” used to be an after-thought in preparedness planning. Today it is not only a fundamental principle, an ultimate goal, and an essential guideline, but also the concrete foundation (literally as well as figuratively) of long-range policies, funding decisions, and effective response and recovery operations.
The New Preparedness Challenge: Transitioning Resilience from Theory to Reality
Dennis R. Schrader
February 10, 2010
Prevention, Response, and Recovery used to be the principal objectives of the U.S. homeland-security strategy. That blessed trinity has now expanded to a better balanced quartet, thanks in large part to various studies and official reports that have focused public and political attention on the need for Resilience as well.
Has Resilience Become the New Protection
Leslie-Anne Levy and Monica Giovachino
February 10, 2010
Two CNA officials discuss the once frequently ignored relevance of Resilience – yes, with a capital “R” – as a major component of the U.S. “Grand Strategy” for homeland-security and how it evolved from a passing thought to a sudden realization and eventually to a nationally known buzzword.
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