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• Training of Clinicians for Public Health Events Relevant to Bioterrorism Preparedness

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  Recent terrorist attacks against the United States have increased awareness of the Nation's vulnerability to terrorism. One particularly serious form of terrorism involves the use of biological weapons that could cause devastating epidemics. To minimize the risks of bioterrorism, the United States has made bioterrorism preparedness a priority for government and military agencies, public health advocates, law enforcement, first responders, and health care professionals. Based on the recommendation of a working group led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), preparation efforts are concentrating on smallpox, anthrax, plague, botulism, tularemia, and the viral hemorrhagic fevers. These agents have been chosen as areas of focus due to their ease of dissemination and transmission, high mortality rates, ability to cause public panic, and need for special public health preparedness. Until recently, the public and private health care sectors had been largely excluded from the Nation's bioterrorism preparatory efforts. The very group that would handle the consequences of an attack has yet to receive widespread education on the topic. Fortunately, the value of bioterrorism education has been recently recognized, leading to a significant question: How does one effectively train clinicians for such an unusual public health crisis? The purpose of this evidence report is to identify and review data on the most effective ways to train clinicians to respond to a bioterrorist attack or other public health event posing similar challenges to the health care system.

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services

  2001-12
• Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea: Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council [Volume 63, Number 4]

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  This edition of Coast Guard Journal of Safety at Sea, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council includes several articles on the topic of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Topics covered include: "NIMS/ICS [Incident Command System]"; "NRP [National Response Plan]"; "Preparedness Cycle"; "Exercises and Contingency Preparedness"; and "On Deck".

  United States. Coast Guard

  2006
• Homeland Security: Reforming Federal Grants to Better Meet Outstanding Needs, Statement of Paul L. Posner, Managing Director Federal Budget Issues and Intergovernmental Relations, Strategic Issues, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate

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  "The challenges posed in strengthening homeland security exceed the capacity and authority of any one level of government. Protecting the nation calls for a truly integrated approach bringing together the resources of all levels of government. The Council on Foreign Relations study--Emergency Responders: Drastically Underfunded, Dangerously Unprepared--states that in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the United States must prepare based on the assumption that terrorists will strike again. Although it acknowledges the nation's preparedness has improved, the Council's report highlights gaps in preparedness including shortfalls in personnel, equipment, communications, and other critical capabilities. Given the many needs and high stakes, it is critical that the design of federal grants be geared to fund the highest priority projects with the greatest potential impact for improving homeland security. This testimony discusses possible ways in which the grant system for first responders might be reformed. We do not make recommendations in this testimony; however, if Congress chooses to reform the grant system we have provide options including consolidating grant programs through block grants, establishing performance partnerships, and streamlining planning and administrative requirements."

  United States. General Accounting Office

  2003-09-03
• Safeguarding the Nation's Drinking Water: EPA and Congressional Actions [Updated December 18, 2002]

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  "The events of September 11 raised concerns about the security of the nations drinking water supplies and their vulnerability to attack. Issues include the readiness of water utilities to prevent and respond to attacks on water systems, steps that can be taken to improve preparedness and response capabilities, and the availability of resources to help utilities enhance drinking water security. After a presidential commission on critical infrastructure protection identified vulnerabilities in the water sector in 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with other federal agencies, water utilities, and state and local governments, began taking steps to improve the security of water systems, although these efforts generally were not targeted to current concerns over terrorism. Pursuant to the 1998 Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 63 on protecting the nations critical infrastructure, EPA had provided some research, information, and technical and financial assistance to improve preparedness and increase the security of drinking water systems. However, PDD-63 efforts were focused almost entirely on computer security issues. Following September 11, EPA significantly increased and expedited efforts to help utilities safeguard facilities and supplies from terrorist or other threats. The 107th Congress took significant steps to improve security in the water sector."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2002-12-18
• Applying the THIRA to Special Events: A Framework for Capabilities-Based Planning Adoption in Local Governments

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  From the thesis abstract: "Determining preparedness across the United States' homeland security enterprise (HSE) is a complex task because the nation's overall disaster management capability is an aggregation of the independently developed capabilities of local and state agencies. In 2012, FEMA promulgated a six-step capabilities-based planning (CBP) framework, the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), to standardize how states and major cities assess preparedness. CBP is a non-linear planning process used within the Department of Defense (DoD) to determine how military capabilities should develop to ensure success in future conflicts, despite uncertainty around threats, actors, and theaters. This thesis proposes increasing CBP adoption by state and local governments through incorporating an adapted THIRA methodology into recurring, real-world interagency activities, such as mass-gathering contingency planning. An expanded THIRA framework is synthesized, which completes an initial DoD CBP sequence in the context of local government planning for a special event. Three policy options are developed that evaluate the adapted THIRA framework's implementation in these scenarios: no adoption, use in a local government-planned event, and adoption within a national special security event (NSSE). This thesis recommends implementing a THIRA framework into special-event planning to allow interagency stakeholders to perform and adapt CBP locally in real-world collaborative environments."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Bradley, Daniel J.

  2018-12
• Army National Guard: Transforming while Conducting the Global War on Terrorism

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  "The Army National Guard fulfills a vital role in the nation's defense at home and abroad by providing crucial combat, combat support, and combat service support units to the Combatant Commanders, the Army, and Joint/Combined forces. The Army National Guard provides ready forces capable of augmenting, reinforcing, and expanding the Active Army in time of need. As we enter the fifth year of the Global War on Terrorism, the Army National Guard is well established as a battle hardened and respected fighting force. The Army National Guard also continues to be an important element of the nation's emergency preparedness network with missions both at home and abroad. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Army National Guard has been more relevant and ready than at anytime in its 370 year history. The Guard has proven itself capable of operating across the full spectrum of missions from close quarters combat to stability operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to peacekeeping in the Sinai and Balkans to homeland defense and security and military support to civil disturbance activities in the United States. The Army National Guard has also adapted and enhanced its ability to cross-level personnel as the demands of the Global War on Terrorism have shifted from a focus on individuals to a focus on deployable (modular) units."

  United States. National Guard Bureau

  2006-04-04
• Final After Action Report: Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise, Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant [February 20, 2019]

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  From the Executive Summary: "On February 20, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV, Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program staff evaluated a full participation plume exposure pathway exercise for the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. [...] The Federal Emergency Management Agency's overall objective of the exercise was to assess the level of state and local preparedness in coordinating and responding to an emergency at the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. [...] Officials and representatives from the State of Florida, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, U.S. Coast Guard, Florida National Guard, Homestead Air Reserve Base, U.S. National Park Service, and Florida Power and Light, as well as numerous volunteers and other organizations, participated in this exercise. These organizations demonstrated knowledge of their emergency response plans and procedures and successfully implemented them."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2019-10-02
• Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure Enterprise, Oversight Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, February 27, 2014

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  This hearing compilation is from the February 27, 2014 oversight hearing, "Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure Enterprise" before the Subcommittee on the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies of the House Committee on Appropriations. From the witness testimony of George W. Korch, Jr.: "Over the past ten years, we have made significant advances in the research, development, procurement, and distribution of medical countermeasures (MCMs) to address a wide range of naturally occurring and manmade threats, ranging from accidental releases to terrorism-induced. Congressionally supported initiatives such as the establishment of Project BioShield in 2004, the development of a national strategy to respond to pandemic influenza in 2005, and passage of the Pandemic and All- Hazards Preparedness Act in 2006 and its reauthorization in 2013, have provided valuable guidance and resources to address the potentially devastating consequences of a public health emergency. As a result of our efforts, twelve new, critical MCMs have been developed and delivered to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) including those for anthrax, smallpox, botulism toxin, and radiological and nuclear agents. […] As we look to the future, the PHEMCE continues to explore innovative ways to enhance the MCM pipeline and better serve the American public. The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (P.L. [Public Law] 113-5) requires HHS [Department of Health and Human Services] to develop, and make available to Congress upon request, a five-year budget plan on the medical countermeasure enterprise." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: George W. Korch, Jr., Robin Robinson, Greg Burel, Luciana Borio, and Michael Kurilla.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations

  2014-02-27
• Remarks by the Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff at the National Council on Disability Seminar on the Americans with Disabilities Act [July 26, 2005]

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  In these remarks, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff addresses the National Council on Disability regarding their role in homeland security preparedness. He explains that the Department of Homeland Security has an aggressive project to encourage people with disabilities to seek employment with the agency, and, more importantly, to encourage DHS managers to seriously consider applications from people with disabilities. He briefly reviews the executive order that President Bush signed to ensure that the special needs and talents of people with disabilities in the emergency preparedness effort would be a national priority.

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  Chertoff, Michael, 1953-

  2005-07-26
• Leadership Selection in the Enterprise of Medical Countermeasure Development

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  From the thesis abstract: "The threat of domestic terrorism from a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack is a constant risk that must be managed effectively by those entrusted to protect and prepare our nation. Central to our nation's preparedness are the individuals selected to lead the enterprise of medical countermeasure development. Leaders selected to this post must possess the essential background, skills and experience necessary to achieve success. Equally important, these leaders must be retained in their roles for sufficient time to enact the strategy given to them. Within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response [ASPR] was established with a mission that includes managing the advanced research and development of medical countermeasures through its office of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command [MRMC] manages a similar mission of medical countermeasure development in diverse research laboratories for the Department of Defense. This paper examines the inherent difficulties of managing the unique long-term medical countermeasure programs of the U.S. government by short-term appointed directors in the offices of the ASPR and MRMC."

  Army War College (U.S.)

  Rietcheck, Randall L.

  2011-04-15
• Washington Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized [September 22, 2004]

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  "The governor and the director of the state of Washington's Emergency Management Division are authorized to carry out state programs, coordinate with local governments and serve as liaison with federal and other state governments. The emergency management council conducts an annual state emergency preparedness assessment. Special accounts have been established in the state treasury for natural disasters; in addition, funds in these accounts may be used for national security preparedness. The statutory code contains provisions related to search and rescue and pipeline safety. If the governor is unable to fulfill the duties of the office, legislative leaders are to assume the role, or legislators may elect an acting governor. The location of the capital may be moved if necessary. This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Bea, Keith; Runyon, L. Cheryl; Warnock, Kae M.

  2004-09-22
• Fifth Public Hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States: Statement of Randall Yim, November 19, 2003

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  The fifth public hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States was held on November 19, 2003 at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. The theme of the fifth public hearing was "Private/Public Sector Partnerships for Emergency Preparedness". This testimony was part of a panel entitled "Standards for Emergency Management and Business Continuity". Yim is the director of the National Preparedness Team of the General Accounting Office. In his testimony, Yim discusses measures for determining "success" in achieving homeland security goals.

  National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

  2003-11-19
• State Pandemic Influenza Summits: Building Partnerships for Pandemic Preparedness

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  "All states and territories were asked to hold a pandemic influenza planning summit during the first half of 2006, as part of the national pandemic influenza planning process. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Michael O. Leavitt, requested the summits to inform and involve public health, emergency response, political, economic and community leadership in the pandemic planning process and to facilitate coordination among all of these groups. The summits were planned by the states, with input from federal coordinators. While state governors led the summits, state health agencies were most often the lead agency in planning the event. Each state summit was organized differently-some occurred in the morning, some were afternoon summits, and some states had all-day summits with morning or afternoon break-out sessions. This report captures the general trends, experiences, and outcomes of the summits, and highlights innovative planning mechanisms that may be adapted for other health-related purposes. The information in this report comes from debriefing interviews that the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) conducted with 37 states following their individual summits. ASTHO appreciates the collaborative work being done by HHS, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure the nation is prepared for an influenza pandemic. Their participation in these summits helped raise public, political, and media attention for pandemic preparedness and reinforced on-going planning and preparedness efforts by state and local public health agencies."

  Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (U.S.)

  2006
• Biothreat Response: Local Emergency Response Efforts for Suspicious and Unknown Substances

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  From the Thesis Abstract: "In 2001, the United States faced two attacks that ultimately changed how emergency responders mitigate and recover from terrorism events: the devastating attacks of 9/11 and a case known as Amerithrax, in which letters tainted with anthrax were mailed to media outlets and politicians. While the nation was initially unprepared to take on a biological weapon of mass destruction such as anthrax, government agencies and first responders collaborated to overcome this silent adversary, and the FBI closed its Amerithrax investigation in 2010. This thesis presents a historical analysis of Amerithrax to assess how the federal and state resources that were developed with this case have affected the nation's preparedness for future weapons-of-mass-destruction attacks with a biological nexus. The analysis shows that, as a result of Amerithrax, response agencies adopted laws and procedures to standardize equipment, training, investigative methods, and emergency preparedness and response efforts. Furthermore, the thesis analyzes policies of local law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical response teams, showing that local decision-makers have failed to take the same posture as their state and federal partners, which weakens their response capabilities. Finally, the thesis compares efforts in the United States to efforts of foreign governments and provides recommendations to help local agencies respond more successfully to cases involving suspicious and unknown substances."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Dowdell, Craig S.

  2019-12
• EMR-ISAC: InfoGram 12-09 [March 26, 2009]

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  This document from the Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center is "distributed weekly to provide members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures." This edition includes sections about flood preparedness, a new edition of the Terrorist Recognition Handbook, the National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorist Events, and developments in Johns Hopkins University's study of national preparedness.

  Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)

  2009-03-26
• Caring for Special Needs during Disasters: What's Being Done for Vulnerable Populations?, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, Second Session, June 15, 2010

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  In the words of the Honorable Laura Richardson, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response: "As we approach the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and move into hurricane season, we must heed the lessons of past failures and look to engage in integrated preparedness planning that meets the needs of all of our citizens, including: The mentally ill, physically impaired, the poor, the elderly, children, individuals with limited English proficiency, and culturally diverse communities, to name a few. When it comes to disaster planning, our most vulnerable populations should no longer be left as a secondary consideration or an annex to an Emergency Operations Plan. This hearing provides an opportunity to hear what steps have been taken by FEMA and others to ensure that we keep moving forward." This hearing is comprised of statements from the following Members of Congress: Richardson (CA), Rogers (AL), Thompson (MS) and Bilirakis (FL). Testimony was given by the following: Ms. Marcie Roth, Senior Advisor on Disability Issues, Federal Emergency Management Agency; Mr. Jonathan M. Young, Chairman, National Council on Disability; Mr. Carmen J. Spencer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army--Elimination of Chemical Weapons, United States Army; Mr. James Kish, Director--Technological Hazards Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency; Mr. Jon R. Gundry, Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Los Angeles County Office of Education; Ms. Diana Rothe-Smith, Executive Director, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Fifth Public Hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States: Statement of Richard A. Andrews, November 19, 2003

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  The fifth public hearing of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States was held on November 19, 2003 at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. The theme of the fifth public hearing was "Private/Public Sector Partnerships for Emergency Preparedness". This testimony was part of a panel entitled "Public/Private Initiatives Since 9-11". Andrews is the senior director of the National Center for Crisis and Continuity Coordination. In his testimony, Andrews discusses the importance of information sharing as "a fundamental prerequisite to building the shared understandings of risk, prevention, preparedness and coordinated response that, ultimately, will serve as the cornerstones of effective public/private partnerships." He also addresses the challenges present in many of the new information sharing initiatives: "Federal officials expressed frustration with the level of information they were receiving from state and local authorities; similarly, state and local agencies criticized the flow of information from federal agencies and largely dismissed the concerns of federal officials that information sharing was hampered primarily by the limited security clearances and inadequate document security protocols at the local and state level."

  National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States

  2003-11-19
• NIPP Newsletter: June 23, 2008

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  This edition of the NIPP [National Infrastructure Protection Plan] Newsletter contains the following articles: "IICD [Infrastructure Information Collection Division] Takes Leading Role in Data Coordination Effort"; "DOE [U.S. Department of Energy] Evaluates Preparedness Training Offered to Energy Industry"; "Department of Education Awards $24 Million in Emergency Management Discretionary Grants"; "Defense Critical Infrastructure Program Advances Outreach and Education Effort"; "DHS IP [Department of Homeland Security's Office of Infrastructure Protection] Staff Take Part in National Infrastructure Protection Plan Workshop in Brooklyn, New York"; and "Denver Workshop Assesses Preparedness for Widespread Energy Disruptions".

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Infrastructure Protection

  2008-06-23
• Pandemic Influenza Planning Update

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  This volume discusses the latest on pandemic influenza planning, continuing Katrina response, and the possible development of a national accreditation system. Various national health experts contribute articles. LLIS Core Capability: Community Preparedness; Public Health; Community Preparedness

  Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (U.S.)

  2006-04-01?
• Be a Force of Nature: Severe Weather Preparedness

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  This presentation is meant to support local severe weather education in support of the April 2012 National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The document was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It is designed to encourage the public to understand severe weather risks, and take action and proactive preparedness measures.

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2012-04-22?
• HCTT Contingency Plan 2020 for Climate-Related Disasters in the COVID-19 Pandemic Context

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  From the Executive Summary: "The objective of this document is to help the humanitarian community to complement preparedness and response efforts undertaken by Bangladesh's national authorities in relation to climate-related disasters. It reflects the increased level of preparation of national authorities as well as the accumulated experience of the humanitarian community in supporting their efforts. The primary assumption of this plan is the fact that climate-related events to which Bangladesh is highly exposed to will not vanish due to the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. Therefore, adapting preparedness and response interventions in a way that factors in this new reality is key. The second basic assumption is related to the fact that out of the 64 districts that comprises Bangladesh, 25 are most vulnerable to the socio-economic impact of the pandemic mitigation measures and most of those the ones most exposed and vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Therefore, the resilience of the most vulnerable population to climate-related disasters is already negatively impacted prior the occurrence of such disasters in 2020."

  United Nations Bangladesh

  2020-05-17
• United States-India Strategic Dialogue on Biosecurity: Report from the Seventh Dialogue Session, Focused on COVID-19 Responses in India and the United States: Lessons Learned and Path Forward

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  From the Executive Summary: "On January 26 and 27, 2021, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a virtual dialogue discussion, focused on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) responses in India and the United States. The session explored lessons learned thus far and the path forward for both nations in responding to the pandemic. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Biotechnology of the Department of Biotechnology in the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology. The dialogue focused on a range of emerging issues related to COVID-19, including national response efforts, security implications of COVID-19 with respect to bioterrorism/biodefense preparedness, biosafety and biosecurity, vaccine and therapeutics development and use, diagnostic and surveillance approaches, use of nonpharmaceutical interventions, health misinformation in the context of the pandemic, and political influence in response operations and policies. Through the discussion, participants gained an increased understanding of shared challenges in the responses of both the United States and India to COVID-19, which may be addressed to increase future preparedness. The meeting convened senior thought leaders, scientists, public health practitioners, and medical experts from the United States and India. In accordance with the dialogue format, participants offered insights based on personal expertise and did not represent the government of either country in an official capacity."

  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Center for Health Security

  Gronvall, Gigi Kwik; Trotochaud, Marc; Hosangadi, Divya . . .

  2021-03
• COVID-19: Forewarned, But Not Forearmed [video]

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  From the Webpage: "The ongoing novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a real-time stress test of the Nation's preparedness and ability to respond to emerging infectious diseases. On May 8, 2020, the Commission held a virtual meeting of the Commission- COVID-19: Forewarned But Not Forearmed- to better understand the ongoing response to novel coronavirus 2019, national readiness to address possible large-scale spread of the disease in the United States and throughout the world, and implications for improving preparedness for the next biological threat. Speakers shared their perspectives, experiences, challenges, and recommended solutions with regard to the federal and non-federal responses to COVID-19."

  Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense

  2020-05-08
• Hurricane Katrina Lessons Learned: Stakeholder Summit, March 10, 2006, Executive Summary of Facilitator's Summary

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  "On March 10, 2006 the Under Secretary for Preparedness of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), George Foresman, hosted a meeting that involved over sixty representatives from state Governor's offices, state offices of homeland security and emergency management, tribal associations, intergovernmental, law enforcement and first responder national associations with significant interest in disaster preparedness and response. The meeting also included select DHS and White House staff. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the White House Report, The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned (Report) and solicit input from the participants on implementing the recommendations." Key issues that were highlighted during the day-long meeting include: Partner Actively with State, Local, and Tribal Partners at Every Step; Clarify Roles, Responsibility, and Authority At All Levels, particularly the PFO and FCO; Focus on Unified Command for all Levels of Government Leadership; Revise the NRP as Little as Possible; Improve Training and Exercising To Increase Awareness and Utility Of The Plan.; Do Not Federalize Emergency Response; Re-Establish Regional Focus; Focus on Planning that is Relevant to Each State or Region; Improve and Harmonize the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC); Utilize Funding Incentives; and Solidify and Improve the Process for Disaster Assistance Coordination and Reimbursements.

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2006-04-07
• Bioterrorism: Information Technology Strategy Could Strengthen Federal Agencies' Abilities to Respond to Public Health Emergencies, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  "The October 2001 anthrax attacks, the recent outbreak of the virulent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and increased awareness that terrorist groups may be capable of releasing life threatening biological agents have prompted efforts to improve our nation's preparedness for, and response to, public health emergencies--including bioterrorism. GAO was asked, among other things, to identify federal agencies' information technology (IT) initiatives to support our nation's readiness to deal with bioterrorism. Specifically, GAO compiled an inventory of such activities, determined the range of these coordination activities with other agencies, and identified the use of health care standards in these efforts. In order to enhance American preparedness for public health emergencies--especially those involving bioterrorism--GAO recommends that the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), in coordination with other key stakeholders, develop a strategy that includes setting priorities for IT initiatives and coordinating the development of IT standards for the health care industry."

  United States. General Accounting Office

  2003-05
• Private Sector Resources Catalog [May 2012]

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  "Two years after its original debut, I am pleased to release the newly updated Private Sector Resources Catalog. The breadth and depth of resources created by DHS to support our private sector partners is truly amazing, and we have created this catalog to make your access to those resources easier. This update features many completely new resources, along with a more comprehensive index that not only organizes resources by critical infrastructure sector but that also reflects some of the new preparedness terminology under Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness. […] From the borders to the boardroom, creating a safe, secure, and resilient nation where the American way of life can thrive will take every single one of us, both inside government and out. Simply put, homeland security is a shared responsibility and the private sector plays a key role. This document provides the resources necessary to fulfill that role."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2012-05
• Community Perspectives on Coronavirus Preparedness and Response, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, March 10, 2020

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  This is the March 10, 2020 hearing on "Community Perspectives on Coronavirus Preparedness and Response," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Donald M. Payne, Jr.: "We are here today to discuss the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. We are at a critical point in responding to the coronavirus crisis that is facing our Nation. Americans are concerned. Hundreds of Americans are sick. Sadly, their families mourning the loss of loved ones from the coronavirus, and our hearts are with them. The Nation is seeing cases on the rise, and experts say the outbreak is getting worse." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ronald A. Klain, Christopher Neuwirth, J. Nadine Gracia, and Thomas Dobbs.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Fiscal Year 2009 Urban Areas Security Initiative Nonprofit Security Grant Program: Guidance and Application Kit

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  "The Governor of each State and territory with an eligible FY 2009 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Urban Area is required to designate a State Administrative Agency (SAA) to apply for and administer the funds awarded under the NSGP [Nonprofit Security Grant Program]. The SAA is the only entity eligible to formally apply to FEMA for these funds. To be eligible to receive FY 2009 NSGP funding, applicants must meet National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance requirements. The NIMSCAST will be the required means to report FY 2008 NIMS compliance for FY 2009 preparedness award eligibility. All State and territory grantees were required to submit their compliance assessment via the NIMSCAST by September 30, 2008 in order to be eligible for FY 2009 preparedness programs. The State or territory department/agency grantee reserves the right to determine compliance reporting requirements of their sub- awardees (locals) in order to disperse funds at the local level."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2008-11
• Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans: Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101, Version 2.0

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  "Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 provides Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance on the fundamentals of planning and developing emergency operations plans (EOP). CPG 101 shows that EOPs are connected to planning efforts in the areas of prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation. Version 2.0 of this Guide expands on these fundamentals and encourages emergency and homeland security managers to engage the whole community in addressing all risks that might impact their jurisdictions. While CPG 101 maintains its link to previous guidance, it also reflects the reality of the current operational planning environment. This Guide integrates key concepts from national preparedness policies and doctrines, as well as lessons learned from disasters, major incidents, national assessments, and grant programs."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2010-11
• Assessing Resilience: How Plans, Strategies and After Action Reports Can Improve Our Understanding of Organizational Preparedness

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  From the thesis abstract: "Resilience has emerged as a prominent term throughout homeland security and emergency preparedness doctrine. The National Preparedness Goal, the United States Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) guiding strategic document, defines success as 'having a secure and resilient Nation.' The homeland security enterprise is promoting resilience, yet there is little literature on resilience at the organizational level in public safety agencies--organizations that are key to the homeland security enterprise. This thesis sought to answer two questions: First, how can existing public safety doctrine contribute to an understanding of the organizational resilience of public safety agencies? Second, how can after action reports (AARs) and their resultant learning process contribute to an understanding of adaptive capacity? To answer the research questions, this thesis applied New Zealand's resilience management framework to public safety agency doctrine. The research found that public safety agencies are engaged in activities that contribute to understanding their organizational resilience. It also found that the New Zealand framework can provide a working construct for understanding resilience within U.S. public safety agencies. Recommendations include standardizing AARs with federal guidance and making them publicly available to further contribute to understanding organizational resilience."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security

  Nussbaum, Melissa

  2016-09