Science & Technology Archives

Mass Fatality Research – New York & Beyond

Terry Hastings and Katie Joel December 20, 2017

Low-probability, high-consequence situations, such as mass fatality events, often stress or overwhelm local response capabilities within a very short timeframe. The ability to handle these situations differs greatly depending on the size of the jurisdiction affected and its readily available resources. New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency

The Presidency & Control of Nuclear Weapons

Jerome H. Kahan December 20, 2017

“The whole point of U.S. nuclear weapons control is to make sure that the president – and only the president – can use them if and whenever he decides to do so,” said Alex Wellerstein, a historian of nuclear weapons at the Stevens Institute of Technology, in an article published

Indiana’s Emergency Response Guidelines for School Safety

Robert Quinn December 13, 2017

The 2016 Legislative Session of the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 147 requiring the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) to establish minimum standards and approve best practices no later than 1 July 2017 for a school emergency response system. The new guidelines are helping to improve school

10 Questions for Selecting Business Continuity Software

Erin Valentine December 13, 2017

Being resilient when faced with an emergency or catastrophic event requires preplanning to ensure that operations can continue with minimal interruption throughout the event or restart soon after the event. Business continuity software can help bridge the continuity gap during these times. Answering these 10 questions before purchasing will help

Emerging Threats to Rail Infrastructure: Part I, Freight

Joseph W. Trindal December 6, 2017

There is a desire for some bad actors to target rail systems, especially the hazardous materials freight rail network. This threat underscores the need for the rail transportation industry to maintain and strengthen partnerships with federal, state, and local authorities.

Remember the Past, While Imagining the Future

Catherine L. Feinman December 5, 2017

The imaginations of television and filmmakers are often used to create futuristic worlds, with technologies that can be used as tools or as threats. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are one such technology that is now off the screen and often seen in the sky. Like “The Jetsons” of the early

Biothreats – Advocating Action Through Transition

Robert C. Hutchinson November 29, 2017

On 15 November 2016, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a letter report to the president on “Action Needed to Protect Against Biological Attack.” PCAST urged the president for immediate action to ensure that the nation has the ability to meet these challenges with near-,

Protecting the Homeland From Nefarious Drone Use

Richard Schoeberl and Kendall J. Smith November 22, 2017

So Much More Than Having a Kit & Making a Plan

Catherine L. Feinman November 20, 2017

For years, emergency preparedness professionals have been preaching the message, “Have a Kit, Make a Plan.” As a result, everyone is now ready for the next disaster … of course not. In its latest survey, DomPrep explored levels of preparedness, reasons why people do not plan, as well as possible

Chemical Attack on Public Transport – A Likely Scenario

Zamawang Almemar November 15, 2017

Some experts say that a chemical attack plot on Western public transportation systems such as this one is inevitable: It is 0753 on a Tuesday morning at the busy red line subway station in Washington, D.C. The Islamic State group (IS) just claimed responsibility for a chemical attack that took

Staying “PRIMED” for a Radiation Event

Grant Coffey November 13, 2017

Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) events are low in frequency, but high in consequence, requiring a frequent and more targeted emphasis on the way that responders train and learn. Radiation is often not well understood. It can be intimidating for both the public and for first responders. Radiation

Unmanned Aircraft Systems – On the Way to the Jetsons’ Era

Charles J. Guddemi November 8, 2017

Debuting in 1962, “The Jetsons” depicted the family of the future, with people movers, tube travel, vehicles that folded up into brief cases for parking purposes, home computers, internet, microwave ovens, CT x-ray for medical purposes, cellphones, and speed limits of up to 2,500 miles per hour. Fast-forward to today,

TWITTER

Get Instant Access

Subscribe today to Domestic Preparedness and get real-world insights for safer communities.

Sign up for Updates!