Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Preparedness
Content related to preparing departments for terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and other major disasters is collected below.
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Study Tracks Natural Disaster Occurrence
A new study by the researchers at the University of South Carolina's Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute determines the likelihood of deadly natural disasters occurring in certain regions of the country, determining which areas have higher rates of occurrence for hazardous incidents, such as severe storms, avalanches or hurricanes....
IAFF Calls for Catastrophe Protection
The International Association of Fire Fighters joined ProtectingAmerica.org to call for state and federal laws to provide comprehensive catastrophe protection....
IAFC Seeks NIMS Comments by April 4
According to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Department of Homeland Security is coordinating a comprehensive review of the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System to assess their effectiveness and identify improvements. DHS has issued a second national comment period for the NIMS document starting this week through April 6. The IAFC is collecting comments until April 4. ...
HHS Releases Mass-Medical Care Guide
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued Providing Mass Medical Care with Scarce Resources: A Community Planning Guide in an effort to provide community planners, as well as planners at the institutional, state and federal levels, with information on planning for and responding to a mass-casualty event. ...
Tested Template
Illinois MABAS has long been an exemplar of large- scale mutual aid, and it’s now a blueprint for federal response. MABAS President Jay Reardon explains why to FIRE CHIEF Editorial Director Janet Wilmoth. ...
Cold Shock
By Robert D. Stephan
Mass decontamination in frigid temperatures can be particularly problematic. Alternative facilities and dry decon are two options. ...
Upgraded USAR
By Kenny Shaw & David Martin
The Dallas region’s needs revealed that a Type I urban search-and-rescue team would be a better fit than the originally planned Type III task force. ...
Best Defense
By Rick Salyers & Troy Lutrick
Arizona’s Terrorism Liaison Officers program gives the fire service a proactive role...
$1.7 Billion Available for Local Homeland Security Programs
The Department of Homeland Security has released FY 2007 grant guidance and application kits for five grant programs that will total roughly $1.7 billion in funding for state and local counterterrorism efforts. With this funding, the department will have invested nearly $20 billion in local planning, organization, equipment, training and exercises. ...
Dress the Part
By Donna Brehm
As the release date of a new NFPA standard approaches, we NFPA standards committee members are filled with a moment-of-truth type of trepidation. We look...
Impetus for Change
By Azarang Mirkhah
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program has provided $2.4 billion to fire departments and first...
Future Force
By Ken Burris
Creating a five-year strategic plan for a single fire and emergency services organization is difficult at best; forecasting the entire fire and emergency...
Atomic Numbers
By Mark L. Maiello, Ph.D.
In an incident involving radioactive materials, both the public and emergency responders will need to be assessed for exposure. To understand the hazards...
Well-Covered
By G. Jake Jaquet
Israel Fire Commissioner Shimon Romach reveals that training and versatility are critical....
America Still Burning
By Randy R. Bruegman
At the President's Conference on Fire Prevention in May 1947, Harry S. Truman wrote the serious losses in life and property resulting annually from fires...
Muscle Memory
By Janet Wilmoth
After 29 years and a broad range of experiences with the Chicago Fire Department, Chief Dennis Gault describes himself as sort of like MacGyver. He has...
Many Cities Lack Preparedness
The findings released July 27 of a survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors indicate that nearly half the 183 cities polled say they either have not created or have not recently updated city evacuation plans, almost three-quarters say they're not prepared to handle a flu pandemic, and 80% say they still don't have adequate emergency communication capabilities....
Rebuilding Year
By Janet Wilmoth
After several months as the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in May R. David Paulison took the reins of the agency that was...
State of Readiness
By Doug Brandes
Oklahoma takes a collaborative approach to building a state-of-the-art regional emergency response system....
Eyes & Ears
By Ernest Mitchell, Stephen Doherty & Bradley G. Hibbard
Because securing the nation begins at the local level, the fire service has the potential to take a more proactive role as “first preventers.”?...
Rush Hour
By Brandon R. Graham
High-impact, mass-casualty hazmat incidents on our highways can easily overextend even the most prepared fire department....
Disasters Mastered
By Joel Gordon
Natural disasters show the need for departments to have a high level of self-sufficiency while revealing the importance of interagency training and cooperation....
Collaborative Response
By Dave Hanneman
Effective Unified Command, from the agencies' leadership down to the individuals, begins with relationship-building....
No Lone Stars
By Jeff Saunders, David Fiero & Jay Peacock
Teamwork is key for the Texas USAR Task Force that was deployed more times last year than it had ever been before. ...
Real Fixer-Upper
By Gary Morris
FEMA faces the hard task of repairing its damaged reputation. It’s time for someone at the agency to listen to the fire service’s voice of experience....
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