PUBLIC HEALTH ARCHIVES
Unique Dangers Posed by Lone-Wolf Terrorists
Jeffrey D. Simon
March 13, 2013
Members of terrorist organizations such as al-Qaida follow a general, albeit loose, organizational/leadership structure, which includes planning and communicating with other members of their group or cell. The sometimes greater danger posed by lone wolves, on the other hand, is that they are not limited by the views and actions
Staying Ahead of ‘The Big One’
Joseph Cahill
March 6, 2013
When the average citizen is confronted by an emergency situation beyond the routine, he or she is usually overwhelmed and forced to rely on emergency responders to take command and re-establish control. Unfortunately, the first responders themselves do not always have the same option. Their first task, usually, is to
Missing in Action: Private-Sector Situational Awareness
Michael J. Pitts
March 6, 2013
Immediately following an incident, the truly “first” responders usually are private citizens. However, the private sector’s responsibilities really begin by: identifying the warning signs, understanding the roles each citizen plays in the four phases of emergency management, and educating and training individual responders.
Implementing PPD-8: New Opportunities, Greater Challenges
Amanda Faul
February 26, 2013
Improving national resilience is a process that requires developing and promulgating new policies, defining missions and capabilities, and implementing change through training and education. As the two-year anniversary of Presidential Policy Directive 8 approaches, policy makers and responders are learning much more about the planning opportunities, and new challenges, they
Incident Command System: Perishable If Not Practiced
Stephen Grainer
February 17, 2013
Although the basic Incident Command System (ICS) is taught across emergency response disciplines, several shortcomings and constraints could lead to its downfall. Training for ICS is not a one-time occurrence, but should be an ongoing process of expanding knowledge, exercising skills, and passing on these abilities for the benefit of
Preparing Health Professionals & Emergency Managers in 2013
Jack Herrmann
February 13, 2013
National Security Special Events such as the presidential inauguration require dozens of committees working closely together to coordinate efforts to protect the health and security of all visitors and participants. Stationary and mobile medical units were strategically positioned to address any health concern that might arise.
The Timely Art of Declaring a Public Health Emergency
Joseph Cahill
February 6, 2013
Swine flu, bird flu, and pandemic flu have been widely publicized by the news media over the past decade. Public health and emergency management officials walk a tight line, though, between the risk, on the one hand, of sounding an alarm prematurely and, on the other, of missing the pivotal
Protecting Chemical Facilities Against Terrorist Attack
Patrick Coyle
February 6, 2013
The U.S. government’s chemical security program helps to identify high-risk targets for terrorist attacks based on the type of chemical being manufactured or delivered and the physical location of the facility where it is stored.
Understanding Public Health Emergency Declarations
Raphael M. Barishansky
January 23, 2013
Although avian influenza outbreaks occur periodically in poultry flocks, only recently has avian influenza been considered a significant threat to human health and the global economy. The 1997 emergence of H5N1 first brought attention to avian influenza’s ability to cause disease in humans. However, human infection with influenza from avian
Preparing a Region for the Nation’s Inauguration
Craig DeAtley
January 23, 2013
Unlike the sudden release of toxic chemical agents, pathogens often are difficult to detect and prevent. Such threats evolve over time and have the ability to silently spread between communities. Identifying the threat early would help slow or prevent the spread of disease before it overwhelms a community’s response capabilities.
A Continuing Need for Accurate All-Hazard Assessments
Joseph W. Trindal
January 20, 2013
Making plans to avoid a perceived hazard can sometimes create a real hazard when a careful risk assessment is not conducted. Local hazmat and law enforcement experts must be brought in to work with public and private agencies before decisions about sheltering and establishing evacuation routes for those in danger
An Overlooked Factor in Mass Killings
Joseph W. Trindal
January 16, 2013
Violent crime may be decreasing in the United States, but mass killings seem to be on the rise. Although media play a critical role in raising situational awareness, there are associated costs – misinformation, emotionally driven dialogue, and information that not only assists planning for other would-be attackers, but may
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