In the early 1800s, the New Madrid Seismic Zone, centered in the southeast corner of Missouri, was
the site of the largest earthquake in U.S. history. The question is not if another quake will occur in
that area, but when will it happen. Listen to Kay Goss’s roundtable discussion on National Level
Exercise 2011, which will address this pressing concern and help the nation be better prepared for the
next “big one.”
The Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort was pushed into the spotlight last year during its 60-day disaster-relief mission in Haiti following the massive 7.0 earthquake that struck that tortured island on 12 […]
Well, there is really only one buyer – the U.S. government. And the executive and legislative
branches of that government are under extreme pressure to “cut the budget” as much and as quickly as
possible. The only problem is that this year’s easy choices may never be available again. But that
problem, of course, can be left to the next generation. If there is one.
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 Sherlock Holmes,
about the dog that did not bark.
After-action reports are valuable both in establishing precisely what went wrong, and why –
particularly if used to ensure that the same mistakes are not made a second time. They are even more
valuable, though, if used by other political jurisdictions as lessons learned to upgrade their own
preparations and advance-planning policies and procedures.
Not surprisingly, and despite minor differences of opinion on other questions, career homeland-security professionals and DPJ readers agree in general that there will be another terrorist attack against the United States “within the next 10 years.” What to do about it, though – particularly to be better prepared ahead of time – is and will be a topic worthy of much greater attention now and for the foreseeable future.
If not, why not? There are good reasons, both pro and con. And is Assange the only culprit? Also, why are senior U.S. officials hiding behind reassuring comments that provide little or no comfort to U.S. allies throughout the world – and/or to the American people, either. Finally, at a time of maximum peril, why is the question headlined above relegated to the “Too Hard” basket?
In ancient times – more specifically, the late 20th century – the emergency operations center was
often whatever room at police headquarters, or in the Town Hall, happened to be vacant when the tornado
struck. Today it is a well designed and properly equipped almost tailor-made space ready for use 24/7.
And tomorrow’s EOC will be even better – almost futuristic, in fact.
Continuing budget constraints will make it very difficult for agencies at all levels of government
– including the nation’s armed forces and homeland-security departments – to upgrade their “hardware”
inventories during the coming year. For first responders, getting the most protection for the lowest
acceptable cost could be a breathtaking challenge. Literally.
The names of the players, the weekly practices, and the physical skills required may be different,
but the principles are the same: Teamwork, advance preparation, proper coaching, and dedication are
essential to final victory – whether the battle is on the football field, at the scene of a
mass-casualty incident, in an ambulance, or in the hospital emergency room.
In the early 1800s, the New Madrid Seismic Zone, centered in the southeast corner of Missouri, was
the site of the largest earthquake in U.S. history. The question is not if another quake will occur in
that area, but when will it happen. Listen to Kay Goss’s roundtable discussion on National Level
Exercise 2011, which will address this pressing concern and help the nation be better prepared for the
next “big one.” 