Critical Infrastructure Archives

National Preparedness: Challenges, Definitions & Jurisdictions

Jordan Nelms and Amanda Faul May 22, 2013

Implementing the guidance provided by Presidential Directive 8 can lead to organizational and procedural challenges – while also working toward greater national preparedness. The first step in implementation is to identify threats and hazards and define the risk as it pertains to a particular jurisdiction. The next step is to

Incident Command for Natural Disasters: A Natural Fit

Stephen Grainer May 15, 2013

In February 2003, President George W. Bush signed Homeland Security Presidential Directive Number 5 (HSPD-5), which directed the establishment of a National Incident Management System (NIMS). That directive mandated, among other things, the adaptation and adoption of an Incident Command System (ICS) as a core component of the NIMS. As

Fortifying the Financial Infrastructure

James Lee Witt and James M. Loy May 15, 2013

There is no way to prevent weather disasters from happening, but advance planning, frequent training drills and exercises, and rapid communications can save lives and reduce damage to infrastructure. Under the “Homeowner” bill, that same combination of managerial tools can also be used to reduce the response and recovery costs

BIODEFENSE – The Threat, The Cost & The Priority PREVIEW

Stephen Reeves May 10, 2013

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

Reauthorizing the Nation’s Preparedness

Raphael M. Barishansky May 8, 2013

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast of the United States. One of the most important lessons learned from that disaster was that the federal government must work with local authorities to support communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from the adverse health effects of major public

Specialized Teams Meet Unique Challenges

Joseph Cahill May 1, 2013

People, weather disasters, terrorist attacks, and other criminal activities are inherently unpredictable. Which does not mean that law-enforcement and healthcare agencies cannot prepare for them by using the “special events” calendar as a training curriculum.

Fusion During Crisis: Aftermath of a Perfect Storm

Christian Schulz and Raymond Guidetti May 1, 2013

In an environment that is constantly changing and increasingly interconnected, many states are finding new ways to use existing assets. In New Jersey, one valuable asset previously used primarily for collecting and analyzing information on terrorist threats played a leading role in the rapid sharing of disaster-response information before, during,

Today’s ‘New’ Maritime World – Threats & Risks

Corey Ranslem April 24, 2013

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

Transportation Requirements for Special Needs Populations

Thomas Russo April 17, 2013

Decision makers, managers, and responders who focus on special needs populations require additional planning to ensure the safe evacuation and well-being, following a major disaster, of those entrusted to their care. Among those populations, there are three distinct groups – those with transportation; those without transportation; and those who cannot

Catastrophic Planning vs. Conventional Disaster Planning

Dennis R. Schrader April 17, 2013

Since 9/11 and Katrina, significant federal funding has been invested in planning for similar incidents and events that may (or may not) happen in the future. Meanwhile, state and local planners must focus their efforts on the incidents most likely to occur within their own jurisdictions. This approach seems eminently

Providing Security for High-Speed Rail

William Rooney April 17, 2013

In a fast-paced world, it makes sense to increase the speed of transportation. However, as plans are being created, there is much more to consider than simply the costs, design, and location of new high-speed rail projects. For one thing, this new mode of transportation will also draw significant attention

Shipping Containers & Hidden Dangers

Richard Schoeberl April 10, 2013

The detonation of a weapon of mass destruction within a U.S. seaport is one of the most frightening scenarios facing the nation’s security and intelligence professionals. Although complying with a 100-percent screening mandate would be very costly, “randomly” selecting a few containers to search may be a huge gamble. The

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