Site Map - Contingency Planning \ Disaster Management

10/05/2007 - Mass transit is using training, technology, and K-9 units to secure its routes.

10/05/2007 - The Gulf Coast hurricanes exposed the need for business and government to enhance emergency response. What lessons can be learned?

10/04/2007 - Are the systems that public health agencies have in place to receive and handle reports of suspicious diseases adequate? In an effort to answer that question, the RAND Corporation polled 19 of the 2,800 public health agencies around the United States. The study found inconsistencies in reporting methods that showed a need for national standards. The study also found that staff training needed to be enhanced.

10/04/2007 - Experts disagree on merits of FEMA preparedness function.

10/04/2007 - Two Senate bills have been introduced to address communication issues that arose in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. One bill (S. 1554), introduced by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), would establish a grant program to improve overall communications equipment for first responders. Collins, who is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, said that “This bill takes an important step toward improving emergency communications nationwide so no community experiences the communications failure we saw in parts of the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.” The bill has one cosponsor—ranking minority member on the committee Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)—and has been referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Another bill (S. 1762), introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), would also establish a grant program. However, it would be designed to establish an interoperable communications system for first responders.

10/04/2007 - ARMA International's Web site lists resources that will help businesses protect and recover their critical business records in case of floods.

09/28/2007 - Should a disaster such as a flu pandemic hit the United States, many companies will deploy their work forces remotely so that business can continue without jeopardizing the health and welfare of workers

09/28/2007 - The law requires that mine operators adopt and maintain an accident response plan for when miners are trapped. Under the law, the plan must include redundant local communications systems, emergency air supplies, escapeways, emergency training, and wireless communications systems to allow contact between trapped miners and officials on the surface.

09/27/2007 - Learn how Arizona is using training exercises to prepare for both natural disasters and the possibility of a terrorist attack.

09/27/2007 - 80 Percentage of U.S. cities that say they have not received sufficient federal resources to achieve full communications interoperability during a crisis. That’s according to a 183-city survey on disaster preparedness conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

09/27/2007 - Thwarting spy cameras, security for competitive advantage, pandemic resources, female suicide bombers, and laptop lessons

09/26/2007 - A bill (A.B. 1848) in California would require that state officials provide an annual report to lawmakers on the state’s interoperable public safety communications network. Existing law says that such as system must be established using federally specified frequencies to ensure that first responders can communicate during an emergency.

09/26/2007 - A bill (H.R. 5351) introduced by Rep. David Reichert (R-WA) would establish a Directorate of Emergency Management within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill has been approved by the House Homeland Security Committee. However, it is still under consideration in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.