Science & Technology Archives

Decision-Making in Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) Response

Christopher Wrenn August 18, 2010

This is the first of a four-part series on Chemical Detection and Decontamination for Multiple Applications. In response to releases of CWA, there may not be one technology or one “answer” that is correct. The responder must take into account all of the clues to determine the presence or absence

Lessons Learned from EOCs & Their IT Support

Sophia Paros August 11, 2010

The 2009 inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, the nation’s first African-American commander in chief, was the biggest – and, of course, best publicized – national “special event” on the long and growing list of emergency-management best-case/worst-case scenarios. Fortunately, most of the lessons learned two years ago involved relatively minor

Monitoring the Monitor: Additional Breakthroughs Predicted

Joseph Cahill August 4, 2010

More and better clot busters, instant timelines, smarter (maybe even genius level) cellular technology, and open-source software. All are part of the still ongoing revolution in medical monitoring devices that started with the EKG and defibrillator and has already saved untold thousands of lives in almost every country in the

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,

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

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,

TWITTER

Get Instant Access

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

Sign up for Updates!