September is designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as National Preparedness Month –
a time when U.S. agencies and organizations, at all levels, recognize the need for and take steps to
improve their own preparedness efforts.
Recent leaks about government surveillance programs that track U.S. and U.K. phone calls and
internet communications have raised major concerns over the privacy of personal communications. There
may be even greater difficulties, though, if current ties between the federal government and the U.S.
“hacker” community are weakened or, perhaps, severed entirely.
Food safety is a top priority at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As the only agency tasked with tracking human cases of foodborne illness at the national level, the CDC works – in collaboration with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety & Inspection Service (USDA/FSIS) – 24/7 to stop and prevent dangerous outbreaks. Stakeholders involved in the U.S. food system, from farmers to regulators to consumers, rely on the CDC for information to help keep the food supply safe.
The biothreat topic is important not only for the actual risk of attack, but also the perceived
risk. To be sufficiently prepared, a balance must be reached – for security, technology, and situational
awareness. This report addresses various key components of biodefense – the threats, the costs, and the
priorities.
On 22 April 2013, DomesticPreparedness.com hosted an Executive Briefing at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Keynote speaker Major General Stephen Reeves, USA (Ret.), started the discussion, and was followed by subject matter experts – each of whom focused on various key components of biodefense – the threats, the costs, and the priorities. These high-level presentations address the scientific, medical, and government policies required to fully comprehend today’s biothreat challenges.
The International Maritime Bureau has reported that, as of 15 April 2013, there have been 76
attacks and four hijackings on the world’s oceans and other waterways since the start of the year. Three
maritime experts share their collective knowledge of piracy attacks in today’s world and offer some
helpful recommendations for assessing and mitigating such threats.
In response to the 14 December 2012 school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, President Barack Obama has offered a wide range of executive orders and proposals – including several specifically intended […]
When 10,000 or more people gather for a planned special event, there are many things to consider: risks, credentialing, volunteers, standards, training, transportation, and communication. This report addresses each of these topics from the perspectives of practitioners who share their experience with large-scale events.
Identifying and locating the source of noxious odors can be a difficult and time-consuming task.
However, first responders are finding that they can use the advanced “sniffing” capability of their
chemical warfare agent detectors for more than just terrorist attacks.
The former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs
provides his own nonpartisan insights on the current state of U.S. homeland defense, comments on
progress made as well as gaps that still need to be filled, and recommendations for better protecting
the U.S. homeland in the future.
September is designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as National Preparedness Month –
a time when U.S. agencies and organizations, at all levels, recognize the need for and take steps to
improve their own preparedness efforts. 