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• Multi-State Initiatives: Agriculture Security Preparedness

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  To defend American agriculture against foreign or domestic terrorism, it is essential that states build multi-state partnerships to provide for the collaborative plans, programs and operations needed to protect the nation's food security. The National Homeland Security Strategy puts states on the front lines in the war against terrorism---including the struggle to secure the agriculture industry from potentially devastating attack. The issues surrounding agro-terrorism are vast and complex and the resources of the Federal government to address these issues are limited and overextended. If states attempt to address this threat independently, important opportunities to reduce vulnerability and enhance capability will be lost. To achieve the capabilities needed for agro-terrorism detection, mitigation, preparedness and response, states must collaborate to build the partnerships and programs their citizens require. This thesis argues multi-state partnerships are critical to defeating this threat as well as providing a robust response to an attack. Whether intentionally introduced or naturally occurring, infectious diseases can easily cross state borders before an outbreak is even detected. States must be prepared to act quickly to mitigate the effects of any crisis. There is a significant opportunity for states to strengthen their abilities to provide for a stronger agriculture counter terrorism preparedness system. The states can further their ability to combat attacks on agriculture actively by demonstrating leadership in implementing administrative agreements and ultimately adopting compact(s) between states as well as with the private sector.

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

  Gordon, Ellen M.

  2004-06
• MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, September 7, 2018

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  The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Series is prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "[It] is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations. This issue of MMWR contains the following: "National Preparedness Month -- September 2018"; "Assessment of State, Local, and Territorial Zika Planning and Preparedness Activities -- United States, June 2016-July 2017"; "Vital Signs: State-Level Variation in Nonfatal and Fatal Cardiovascular Events Targeted for Prevention by Million Hearts 2022"; "Vital Signs: Prevalence of Key Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors for Million Hearts 2022 -- United States, 2011-2016"; "Progress Toward Poliovirus Containment Implementation -- Worldwide, 2017-2018"; "Notes from the Field: Acquisition of Delamanid Under a Compassionate Use Program for Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis -- United States, 2017"; and "QuickStats: Repeat Birth Rates for Teens, by Urbanization Level of County -- National Vital Statistics System, 2007-2016."

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)

  2018-09-07
• American Civil Defense 1945-1984: The Evolution of Programs and Policies

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  "Many emergency managers - especially those new to the emergency management profession - may not be aware of the dynamics that have affected the evolution of civil defense policies and programs. This monograph explores that evolution from a national defense, and civil defense, policy perspective. Those emergency managers who are not new to the profession may find this monograph particularly informative in that it explains the reasons behind some of the sudden, and often confusing, policy shifts that have occurred during the past 40 years? This monograph provides an opportunity for all emergency management personnel to understand the conflicts surrounding civil defense at the federal level, and the interrelationship of technology, defense policy, and civil defense policy. It is a summary of a doctoral dissertation on the history of post World War II civil defense in the U.S. written in 1980 and updated in 1984 by Dr. William K. Chipman, Chief, Civil Defense Division, Office of Civil Preparedness, National Preparedness Programs, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Recent movies on network and cable television have sparked significant public interest in the subject of civil defense. Similarly, reports in the news media regarding massive civil defense efforts by the Soviet Union have created interest in this Country's state of readiness. Not only does this monograph tell us where we are, but it also explains how we got here."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  Blanchard, B. Wayne

  1986-07
• Before the Next Hurricane Katrina: A Strategic Approach to Enhancing Military Capabilities

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  From the thesis abstract: "In many ways the greatest threat to America‟s national security remains the readiness and resiliency of the homeland. Seven years after Hurricane Katrina, serious questions persist about the roles and readiness of the Department of Defense to respond to a catastrophic natural or manmade disaster. While several advances have been successfully implemented in civil support preparedness, it can be argued that the U.S. military's core doctrine, policies and posture have not significantly changed. Domestic preparedness, planning, and resourcing remain an afterthought well behind the war fight. A collaborative, strategic approach leveraging Total Force principles and experience from the war fight is needed within the Army to enhance available land force capacity. Pre-event planning, requirements identification, unit identification and training, intergovernmental relationships, response design, and component force mix and roles must all be strategically considered. As the nation enters a persistent era of significantly constrained resources, the Department of Defense, and the Army in particular, can no longer afford to rest domestic mission readiness solely on the preparations for war."

  Old Dominion University; Army War College (U.S.)

  Wiltse, John T.

  2012-06-14
• H. Rept. 107-766: How Can the Federal Government Better Assist State and Local Governments in Preparing For a Biological, Chemical or Nuclear Attack? Fifth Report, October 24, 2002

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  "To gain a better understanding of the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal emergency management efforts in assisting State and local governments in their preparation for a major disaster, the Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, Financial Management, and Intergovernmental Relations conducted a series of 11 field hearings in U.S. cities of varying size and demographics. […] The hearings primarily focused on the first responders to an emergency-the firefighters, police officers, medical personnel and local emergency management officials who are responsible for protecting the health and well-being of the citizens in their community. Witnesses also included representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] and the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], two of the more than 40 Federal agencies that have a role in the Nation's homeland security efforts. In addition, the U.S. General Accounting Office, which is evaluating the Nation's overall preparedness to respond to a terrorist attack, testified at each subcommittee hearing. Although many issues were discussed throughout the field hearings, first responders highlighted several significant concerns. They included: the lack of interoperable communications systems, the inability of the health care system to handle a massive influx of victims, the need for fast, reliable intelligence sharing, and the need for Federal emergency planning guidelines, standards and best practices. In addition, first responders said the Federal Government could provide more effective assistance if: Federal funding programs had greater flexibility, the Federal Government had a single point of contact to apply for Federal grants, awards and training programs, and the Federal Government encouraged more fully a regional, all-hazards approach to emergency preparedness."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2002-10-24
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Pandemic Planning Update V, A Report from Secretary Michael O. Leavitt [March 17, 2008]

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  This Department of Health and Human Services report provides an update on pandemic planning for among other challenges as the H5N1 virus. The report also discusses international cooperation, medical countermeasures, vaccines and vaccine production capacity, anti-viral drugs, and state and local preparedness including communications and outreach. "Responding to a pandemic will demand the cooperation of the entire world community. No nation can go it alone. An example of how closely we are connected to the rest of the world came late in 2007. For the first time in Pakistan, local officials identified a cluster of suspect human cases of H5N1. But delayed notification led to the international travel of an individual who had been exposed to H5N1 while in Pakistan. That person then requested medical attention after arriving in New York State and the exposure to H5N1 was discovered. Though the individual was quickly found to be negative to H5N1 and presented no risk to the community, the case underscored the need for close cooperation with our international partners to detect and contain the virus. During 2007, Laos, Myanmar, and Nigeria, along with Pakistan, also reported first-time human cases of avian flu in humans. As in similar past events, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dispatched specialists to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and local public health officials to determine the extent of the problem. Their reports, along with international networks of cooperation, have helped HHS keep close track of developments around the globe. Continued progress in virus and disease detection, enhancement of surveillance systems, and other aspects of pandemic preparedness are critical to our national security."

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services

  2008-03-17
• Prioritization of Critical Infrastructure for a Pandemic Outbreak in the United States Working Group: Final Report and Recommendations by the Council

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  "Though its timing, severity, and ultimate strain remain a mystery, a pandemic promises to test the critical infrastructure of both the United States and the world. Public health officials have long maintained the potential for pandemic influenza is not a matter of if, but rather a matter of when. To avoid an economic and social catastrophe, pandemic preparedness demands full public- and private-sector participation. With that in mind, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff joined Secretary Leavitt in May 2006 to ask the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) to provide them and President Bush with recommendations regarding the prioritization and distribution of pandemic countermeasures to the essential workers in our nation's Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource (CI/KR) sectors. Given the scope and scale of a pandemic, the Federal government has repeatedly asserted it cannot handle all pandemic preparedness, response, and recovery efforts on its own. In their letter to the NIAC, the Secretaries highlighted the necessity for the public and private sectors to prepare for this serious threat. The Secretaries also emphasized their understanding that successful pandemic planning requires coordination across all CI/KR sectors."

  National Infrastructure Advisory Council (U.S.)

  Denlinger, Rebecca F.; Marsh, Martha H.; Bruce, Rohde A.

  2007-01-16
• Safeguarding the Nation's Drinking Water: EPA and Congressional Actions [Updated August 22, 2002]

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  "The events of September 11 raised concerns about the security of the nation's 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 drinking water sector in 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along 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. For several years, EPA has provided some research, information, and technical and financial assistance to improve preparedness and increase the security of drinking water systems and supplies. Some of these activities began pursuant to the 1998 Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 63 on protecting the nation's critical infrastructure, but PDD-63 efforts were focused almost entirely on computer security issues. Since September 11; however, EPA has substantially broadened and expedited its efforts to help drinking water utilities safeguard facilities and supplies from terrorist or other threats. Congress has taken significant steps to improve security in the water sector since September 11. In the emergency supplemental appropriations for FY2002 (P.L. 107- 117, H.R.3338), Congress provided EPA with $175.6 million for several counterterrorism activities, including enhancing drinking water security."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Tiemann, Mary

  2002-08-22
• Building the Case for a Prison Mass-Casualty Planning Framework

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  From the Thesis Abstract: "The corrections enterprise is wholly unprepared for mass casualty incidents (MCI). Prisons regularly experience incidents involving inmate violence; these events can quickly escalate into an MCI that overwhelms the prison's ability to respond and overload local medical systems. Despite numerous prison-related disasters, the corrections enterprise remains disengaged from national emergency preparedness efforts. Further complicating the issue is the lack of corrections-specific emergency management doctrine to guide prison emergency planners toward achieving national preparedness goals. This thesis asks, 'How can a framework be developed that will improve prison mass-casualty planning and response?' The first part of the research involves a gap analysis comparing the prescribed performance outcomes found in emergency management doctrine and MCI planning guides to the actual performance outcomes from several MCI events. In the second part, a panel of correctional and emergency management experts participated in a modified Delphi process to validate the results of the gap analysis using a discussion-based wargaming exercise. The research found that it is possible to create an accurate depiction of the problem space by reframing gap analysis data in the context of the prison operational environment. The resulting MCI framework recommends a series of corrections-specific planning actions, backed by doctrine, which is scalable and applicable to any prison or correctional facility."

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

  Day, Michael D.

  2019-09
• Volpe Center Highlights [September/October 2006]

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  This issue of "Highlights" includes the following sections: Supporting the DoD [Department of Defense] National Airspace System Program; Developing Aircraft Noise Mitigation Standards; Maintaining Emergency Preparedness; Supporting National Airspace System Upgrade; and Hurricane Emergency Preparedness. Also included is a list of papers published and presented.

  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)

  2006-10
• National Guard: Defending the Nation and the States

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  The National Guard, the subject of this report, is a centuries-old institution, with roots going back before the "Minutemen."The Guard plays a vital role in our national defense and emergency preparedness systems. Today, the Guard has emerged as the foremost reserve of the Army and the Air Force, capable, under the Total Force Policy, of providing organized and trained units to engage in missions shoulder to shoulder with elements of the active forces. Recent events have called attention to the role of the Guard in America's defense and emergency preparedness systems and to a range of intergovernmental issues concerning the Guard's control and operation.

  United States. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations

  1993-04
• Integrated Civilian Medical Response to Mass Casualty Incidents

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  "US military and civilian populations have much to accomplish in the effort to enhance preparedness for potential mass casualty incidents. In this effort, CIMERC has partnered with many regional, national, government, and non-government organizations. The proposed projects will benefit from the established, comprehensive network, and the proven success of the respective institutions in integrating diverse interests and expertise into a large scale biodefense initiative. Command and Control Operational Capabilities will be developed to address mitigation and remediation issues inherently critical to mass casualty incident preparedness and response. This work will integrate a wireless network with a set of essential communication tools intended for incident commanders. Biodefense Assessment, Implementation, and Evaluation will be enhanced by means of algorithm development for predictive systems that can automatically identify developing scenarios and alert relevant personnel at critical moments. Readiness and Response Training will be enhanced to further prepare the nation's emergency response workforce. The Forum answers the need for a Web-based educational system that interfaces with existing training modalities and facilitates learning and assessment throughout response communities. The Forum permits the development of highly specific education and training programs for a widely diverse group with a differing knowledge base, while correcting weaknesses through training remediation. CIMERC is well positioned to manage the development of the proposed work. Use of rural-urban test beds provides CIMERC with the unique opportunity to incorporate distinct response elements inherent in each locale. CIMERC will also be able to leverage resources and accomplish project objectives through its extensive network of research professionals."

  United States. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command

  Onaral, Banu

  2005-05
• Privacy Impact Assessment for the Homeland Security Virtual Assistance Center

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  "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Preparedness Directorate (NPD) operates the Homeland Security Virtual Assistance Center (HSVAC). HSVAC is an advanced web-based, technical assistance management solution that supports FEMA in the scheduling, coordination, and management of training provided to First Responders, including state and local government entities and organizations. FEMA has conducted this privacy impact assessment (PIA) because HSVAC will use and maintain personally identifiable information (PII) to authenticate user identities of those individuals requesting access to the application. FEMA's National Preparedness Directorate provides funding to enhance the capacity of state and local jurisdictions to prevent, respond to, and recover from incidents of terrorism involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CBRNE) weapons and cyber attacks. NPD achieves its mission by providing grants to state and local jurisdictions. This provides hands-on training through a number of residential training facilities and in-service training at the local level, funding and working with state and local jurisdictions to plan and execute exercises, and providing technical assistance on-site to state and local jurisdictions."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2008-11-03
• H. Rept. 114-756: Cyber Preparedness Act of 2016, Report to Accompany H.R. 5459, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, September 19, 2016

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  "The purpose of H.R. 5459 is to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance preparedness and response capabilities for cyber-attacks, bolster the dissemination of homeland security information related to cyber threats, and for other purposes. [...] Cybersecurity is a major national security issue and the threat is real and immediate. For instance, a cyber-attack causing widespread power outages could have major cascading consequences on public health and safety. During a joint hearing of the Subcommittees on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications and Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies on May 24, 2016, Members heard from State officials about their best practices and lessons learned in enhancing cybersecurity capabilities and how the Federal Government can help mitigate some of the challenges States face. Among the issues raised by the witnesses was the need for better information sharing between the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) and state and major urban area fusion centers; the need for clarity on the use of homeland security grants to address cybersecurity; and the impact the level of classification of cyber threat information has on States and fusion centers' ability to share that information with relevant stakeholders. This legislation seeks to address these concerns."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2016-09-19
• TOPOFF Exercise Planning Conference Final Report

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  This is the final report of the TOPOFF [Top Officials] Exercise Planning Conference. From the document: "The threat of terrorism involving the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has increasingly attracted the attention of planners and emergency managers in this nation and around the world. The tragic litany -- World Trade Center, Tokyo Subway, Oklahoma City -- is far too familiar, and the potential consequences far too grave, not to command the most urgent efforts of government at all levels. While tremendous progress has been made through initiatives such as the Domestic Preparedness Program, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's WMD Coordinators, and the Public Health Service Metropolitan Medical Response System, more remains to be done. In early 1999, the United States Congress ordered the Department of Justice to conduct an exercise 'with the participation of all key personnel who would participate in the consequence management of [an actual chemical, biological, or cyber] terrorist event.'1 The exercise, to be call TOPOFF (for 'Top Officials') is intended to realistically test the Federal, State and local response and management systems. To achieve that end, the Attorney General directed the Office of Justice Programs, Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support (OSLDPS) to convene a meeting of emergency response planners and practitioners from across the nation to develop objectives for use in designing such an exercise. The participants in the meeting, held May 20-21, 1999 in Chantilly, Virginia, were invited from jurisdictions large and small representing a broad range of responder disciplines."

  United States. Office of Justice Programs. Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support

  1999
• Serial No. 108-112: Combating Terrorism: Assessing Federal Assistance to First Responders: Hearing before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations of the Committee on Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eighth Congress, First Session, September 15, 2003

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  How prepared are we to meet the uncertain, changing threat of terrorism, specifically the dangers posed by chemical, biological, radiological or even nuclear weapons? This hearing hopes to answer that question. Unless efforts to train and equip first responders are sharply focused and aggressively funded, those sworn to protect public health and safety will be asked to confront mortal perils without all the tools they need to survive and prevail. The question of whether first-responder funding goes through the State or directly to localities is not an all-or-nothing proposition, especially in a State like Connecticut where the absence of counties can leave mid-sized cities like Stamford at a disadvantage in national funding formally directed only to large metropolitan areas. Funding, even through the State, must be timely and commensurate with need as calibrated by objective preparedness standards. "This week, the subcommittee will launch a bipartisan call for development of national preparedness standards. We will call on DHS and the relevant congressional committees of Congress to consolidate and coordinate ongoing standard programs to produce measurable norms for equipment and training readiness to meet the terrorist threat. What we see and hear today will be of inestimable value in that effort." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Dan Arenovski, Richard Bergstresser, Richard Bond, John Conte, Bob Duff, Diane Farrell, David Hawreluk, Jim Larkin, E. Michael Latessa, Dannel P. Malloy, Ed McCormack, Robert J. McGrath, Claudia Dolly Powers, Thomas Wuennemann, Christopher Bruhl, Daniel A. Craig, Ted Macklin, and Donald Petri.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2004
• Federal Emergency Management Agency Training Operations: State Sponsored Course Catalog

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  "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Preparedness Directorate (NPD), National Integration Center (NIC), Training and Exercise Integration (TEI), Training Operations (TO) Approved State Sponsored Course Catalog is a listing of State-sponsored courses that fall within the TEI/TO mission scope, and have been approved through the TEI/TO course review and approval process. TEI/TO, formally known as the Office of Grants and Training (G&T), Training Division, encourages States, territories and urban areas to use this catalog with support of Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) funds, to enhance the capabilities of State and local emergency preparedness."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2010-03-09
• Response to the 2011 Joplin, Missouri, Tornado Lessons Learned Study

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  "On Sunday, May 22, 2011, a catastrophic Enhanced Fujita-5 (EF-5) tornado struck the City of Joplin, Jasper County, and Newton County in southwest Missouri in the late afternoon. With winds in excess of 200 miles per hour (mph), the ¾-mile-wide tornado cut a 6-mile path of destruction through central Joplin. The tornado caused 161 fatalities and approximately 1,371 injuries as of May 27, 2011, making it the single deadliest U.S. tornado since 1947. Thousands of structures were destroyed or damaged, from single family homes to apartment buildings to large retail and public buildings, including St. John's Regional Medical Center, the Home Depot, and Wal-Mart. In the aftermath of the tornado, emergency responders and the public began conducting search and rescue operations in damaged buildings and provided medical care and shelter for survivors. The tornado overwhelmed the capabilities of the City of Joplin, Jasper County, and Newton County, requiring a massive response from Federal, State, county, local, private sector, non-profit, and voluntary organizations. Personnel from more than 400 public safety organizations deployed to Joplin to assist with response and recovery operations. […] The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Preparedness Assessment Division (NPAD) of the National Preparedness Directorate contacted Region VII to offer support to identify preliminary findings related to the Whole Community's and FEMA's contributions to the Joplin tornado response. With the approval of Region VII Regional Administrator Beth Freeman, a joint Region VII -- NPAD team conducted in-person interviews, analyzed data, and identified preliminary findings."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2011-12-20
• Opportunities for Expanding and Improving: Climate Information and Services for the Public

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  From the Introduction: "The impacts of climate change are being felt across the United States and around the world, as documented through robust and sustained science and felt through lived experiences. Because the pace of climate change has accelerated and the impacts can be devastating, an unprecedented effort is needed to better inform society's preparedness for, and resilience and response to, current and future changes. Meeting this challenge requires significant new scientific efforts, a whole-of-government approach, collaboration across science and mission agencies, partnerships with the private sector, and sustained engagement with diverse information users to align climate services with decision needs. This report responds to President Biden's January 2021 Executive Order 14008, Section 211(d) part one[.] [...] The report draws on the strengths of NOAA [U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] as an agency that serves as an authoritative provider of climate science and services, FEMA as an agency working to enhance preparedness for, response to, and recovery from climate-related hazards, and OSTP [White House Office of Science and Technology Policy] as the White House office that coordinates broad interagency science and technology initiatives and associated policies. The report also draws on capabilities and examples from across the U.S. Government--from the Federal climate-science agencies that provide valuable information to the agencies who apply this information as they work on the ground with stakeholders to address climate-related threats."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Office of Science and Technology Policy; United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2021-10
• Hospital Based First Responder Mass Prophylaxis Plan

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  From the thesis abstract: "As the United States improves its collective awareness and emergency preparedness in the face of increased terrorist activity, more efforts are being made to create and enhance community readiness for catastrophic events. There have been substantial efforts to improve the nation's bioterrorism preparedness. Better planning, equipment, training, surveillance, and pharmaceutical caches have elevated the nation's readiness for biological attacks. In order to effectively meet the challenges created by a bioterrorism attack, its first lines of defense, the first responders, must be rapidly prophylaxed to allow the continuance of their mission. Many states and localities have tackled the gigantic undertaking of mass prophylaxis plans to provide chemoprophylaxis to civilians should the need arise. Many cities have developed and tested their plans to provide general public mass prophylaxis. It is assumed, or briefly mentioned, that the mass prophylaxis of first responders will occur, but few plans have been developed. The primary objective of this research is to develop, test, and make recommendations for a straightforward, adaptable mass prophylaxis plan to meet the prophylactic requirements of local first responders in the event of a biological attack."

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

  Massey, Mary S.

  2005-03
• 20 Years After 9/11: Examining Emergency Communications, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, October 7, 2021 and November 2, 2021

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  This is the October 7 and November 2, 2021 hearing on "20 Years After 9/11: Examining Emergency Communications," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Val Butler Demings: "Last month, our Nation marked 20 years since the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil. The Committee on Homeland Security joined many of our colleagues from New York and New Jersey to visit the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, and held a roundtable with first responders. We have also conducted several hearings on the evolution of the Department of Homeland Security and heard from our intelligence community regarding the current and emerging threats to our homeland. Today, the Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Subcommittee will examine the progress made in emergency communications since September 11, 2001, and discuss the challenges that may still persist today." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Christopher Rodriguez, Mel Maier, Chris Lombard, H.D. ''Gator'' DeLoach, III, Antwane Johnson, Billy Bob Brown Jr., and Edward Parkinson.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2022
• Serial No. 99: Homeland Security Act of 2002: Hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventh Congress, Second Session on H.R. 5005, June 26, 2002

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  H.R. 5005 would transfer several existing law enforcement agencies, such as the Secret Service, Coast Guard, Customs Service, and Transportation Security Administration into a new department with nearly 170,000 employees. The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over the criminal code and all laws affecting the internal security of the United States. The purpose of this new department is to help secure America's internal security, and this Committee has an important responsibility to ensure the new department's law enforcement and crime prevention functions are realized in an effective, efficient, and affordable manner. The bill also shifts antiterrorism-related prevention and emergency management offices within the Department of Justice to the proposed agency. These include the National Infrastructure Protection Center, the Office for Domestic Preparedness and the National Domestic Preparedness Office. Significantly, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, whose organizational limitations and deficiencies have long been the source of concern, would be absorbed by the proposed department. Statements, letters, and material submitted for the record include those of the following: F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., John Conyers Jr., Tom Ridge, J. Randy Forbes, and Timothy H. Edgar.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2002
• Maintaining Essential Health Services: Operational Guidance for the COVID-19 Context

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  From the Overview: "This document expands on the content of the essential health services and systems pillar of the 'COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] strategic preparedness and response plan: operational planning guidelines to support country preparedness and response'. [...] It supports country implementation of targeted actions at the national, subnational and local levels to reorganize and maintain access to safe and high-quality essential health services. It outlines the adaptations needed to keep people safe and maintain continuity of essential health services during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is intended for decision-makers and managers at the national and subnational levels. Part 1 outlines basic principles and practical recommendations that support decision-making to ensure the continuity of select essential health services, highlighting key actions that countries should consider. Part 2 contains brief sections addressing specific adaptations and considerations for life course and disease programmes in the context of COVID-19. These sections are intended to be used in conjunction with -- and do not replace -- existing WHO [World Health Organization] programme guidance in these area."

  World Health Organization

  2020-06-01
• Exercise PACIFEX 11 Participant Handbook: A Pacific Tsunami Warning Exercise: March 23, 2011

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  "This tsunami exercise is being conducted to assist tsunami preparedness efforts along the U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts. Historical tsunami records from sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) show that approximately 85% of the world's oceanic tsunamis occur in the Pacific Basin and surrounding seas. Tsunamis have impacted U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts several times in the past century with devastating results. Preparing and exercising emergency response plans throughout this region is an important part of tsunami preparedness. The PACIFEX11 exercise simulates an earthquake located in the Cascadia subduction zone off the North American Pacific Northwest coast which generates a major tsunami. The description below provides an overview of the region's tectonics."

  United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  2011-03-23
• Exercise PACIFEX 10 Participant Handbook: A Pacific Tsunami Warning Exercise: March 24, 2010

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  "This tsunami exercise is being conducted to assist tsunami preparedness efforts along the U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts. Historical tsunami records from sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) show that approximately 85% of the world's oceanic tsunamis occur in the Pacific Basin and surrounding seas. Tsunamis have impacted U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts several times in the past century. Exercising emergency response plans in this region is an important part of tsunami preparedness. The Pacifex 10 exercise simulates an earthquake located south of the Alaska Peninsula which generates a major tsunami. This earthquake occurs in the Aleutian trench which is a product of the Pacific 'plate' to the south being gradually forced beneath the North American plate. Many earthquakes result as a consequence, including some of the largest that have ever been recorded."

  National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (U.S.)

  2010-03
• FY 2006 Infrastructure Protection Program: Intercity Passenger Rail Security - Program Guidelines and Application Kit

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  "The FY 2006 Intercity Passenger Rail Security Grant Program (IPRSGP) is an important component of the Administration's larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the security of America's critical infrastructure. This program implements the objectives addressed in a series of laws, strategy documents, plans and Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs) outlined in Figure 1. Of particular significance are the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) and its associated work products, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and the National Strategy for Transportation Security (NSTS). Through its focus on regional planning, infrastructure protection, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other non-conventional methods of attack, as well as training and exercises, the FY 2006 IPRSGP directly addresses six of the seven National Priorities: 1) expanded regional collaboration; 2) implementing the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and National Response Plan (NRP); 3) implementing the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP); 4) strengthening information sharing and collaboration capabilities; 5) enhancing interoperable communications capabilities; and, 6) strengthening chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) detection and response capabilities. In addition, the FY 2006 IPRSGP also supports strengthening emergency operations planning and citizen protection capabilities and assists in addressing security priorities specific to intercity passenger rail service."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2006-07
• 2020 National Emergency Medical Services Assessment

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  From the Executive Summary: "This 'National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Assessment 2020' is the culmination of work begun in October 2018 and completed in March 2020. It updates our knowledge of the state of EMS systems in the United States first established in the '2011 National EMS Assessment'. Publication of this resource is one deliverable of a Cooperative Agreement between the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) and the Office of EMS, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (NHTSA). The '2011 National EMS Assessment' was commissioned by the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) to describe EMS, EMS emergency preparedness, and 911 systems at the state and national levels using existing data sources. Through the current Cooperative Agreement, NASEMSO agreed to work with NHTSA to publish a '2020 National EMS Assessment' using existing data sources. This was an effort to provide the most important or requested updates of the information provided by the 2011 project. Fifty-four of 56 states and territories responded to the 61 question (and multiple sub-question) 'snapshot' survey which produced the data included in this report."

  National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials (U.S.)

  2020-05-27
• Proclamation 8760: Critical Infrastructure Protection Month, 2011

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  "From irrigation to the Internet, our Nation's critical infrastructure supports an incredible array of services and industries that are essential to our continued success and prosperity. Critical infrastructure includes all systems and assets, both physical and virtual, that make vital contributions to our security, economic stability, public health, or safety. This month, we affirm the fundamental importance of our critical infrastructure and recommit to preparing for, responding to, and recovering from hazardous events and emergencies efficiently and effectively. My Administration is resolute in our dedication to a safe, secure future for our Nation. Natural disasters, pandemic diseases, and acts of terrorism can pose serious risks to our critical infrastructure, and it is imperative we are prepared in the event of an emergency. To reduce risks and improve our national preparedness, we are fortifying our partnerships with State, local, territorial, and tribal governments to close gaps in our protection programs and promote collaboration at all levels of government. We are also engaging a wide variety of private stakeholders, including critical infrastructure owners and operators, to expand and reinforce critical infrastructure protection. And, with the If You See Something, Say Something campaign, we are empowering individuals and communities across America to help improve public safety. All of us have a role to play in strengthening our national security, and together, we are taking steps to foster a culture of resilience. […] During Critical Infrastructure Protection Month, we reflect on our responsibility to protect the vital systems and assets that sustain our country and our people. Strengthening our national security and resilience is a task for all of us, and by promoting awareness and partnering with one another, we can make essential progress toward safe, secure, and prosperous horizons for every American. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 2011 as Critical Infrastructure Protection Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the importance of protecting our Nation's critical resources and to observe this month with appropriate events and training to enhance our national security and resilience."

  United States. Office of the Federal Register

  Obama, Barack

  2011-11-30
• Domestic and Expeditionary Readiness in the Twenty-First Century: Maintaining an Operationalized Army National Guard

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  From the thesis abstract: "The Army National Guard formed the basis of America's expeditionary capability until the Congress approved maintaining a standing army following World War II. During the interim period, the Department of Defense classified the Army National Guard as a strategic reserve force. In 2007, the Secretary of Defense issued a directive to change the Army National Guard to an operational force, effectively changing the strategy for how the Army incorporated the Army National Guard into the Total Force. This monograph examined the historical context for the establishment of the Army National Guard and used examples of how the operational environment influenced the integration of the Army National Guard as a component of the Total Force. The methodology included reviews of Congressional reports and testimony, journal articles, and other published works. The findings included the identification of disparities between strategic readiness requirements and operational readiness levels. Findings also included the identification of deficiencies in preparedness for Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) within the Army National Guard and Department of Defense."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. School of Advanced Military Studies

  Jones, Franklin L.

  2012-10-08
• Office of Infrastructure Protection Strategic Plan: 2012-2016

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  "Our Nation's critical infrastructure is essential to the economy, security, and sustainment of the American way of life. From the provision of essential goods and services--including energy, communications, food, and water--to the facilitation of essential commerce such as our transportation networks and critical manufacturing base, the owners and operators of America's critical infrastructure enable the daily activities of our country. Securing our physical and cyber infrastructure, helping to modernize it, and making it more resilient is a crucial part of our homeland security effort. We must continue to prioritize a strategic approach to accomplishing that mission. A major element of accomplishing that mission is the Department of Homeland Security's National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP), which leads the coordinated national effort to manage risks to our Nation's critical infrastructure. IP acts on behalf of the Secretary of Homeland Security, helping execute the national critical infrastructure protection responsibilities set forth in Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7). The vast majority of our Nation's critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, and IP's strategy is based largely on building partnerships, planning for preparedness, and sharing information and tools to ensure the availability, security, and resilience of the Nation's critical infrastructure."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2012-08