Emergency Preparedness News articles from September 2004

Emergency Preparedness News archives from September 2004

Once more with feeling.(maritime security)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2004... Advocates of stepped-up maritime security tried yet again to wring more resources out of Congress, this time before a House maritime subcommittee hearing on the 9/11 Commission's recommendations (see story, p. 133). Acknowledging that the...

Bridge accident spotlights necessity of more widespread warning signals.
September 7, 2004... Alert system technology may have prevented the tragic collision of the towboat Robert Y. Love into the Interstate 40 highway bridge near Webber Falls, Okla., or at least saved the lives of motorists who died driving into the void of the...

PSAP call takers get techno update in APCO training, telematics guides.
September 7, 2004... Call takers are a vital link between responders and those coping with an emergency, and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International has released two documents designed to keep public safety answering point...

Intelligence reform.(bipartisan committee for homeland security)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2004... The 9/11 Commission recommended that Congress reform the way it oversees intelligence and homeland security, noting that DHS alone must appear before 88 Congressional committees (EPN, July 27, p. 106). Senate leadership has dutifully appointed...

Analysts predict 9/11 anniversaries likely to persist as terrorism risks.
September 7, 2004... On September 11th in 2002 and 2003, terrorism experts worried and warned that 9/11 anniversary attacks may be in the works. Although none have occurred, many analysts still believe that the day will always hold a higher risk than other dates on...

Responders' election alert.(terrorist attacks management )(Brief Article)
September 7, 2004... DHS and the FBI recently issued a joint information bulletin to alert the nation that al Qaeda may be interested in conducting terrorist attacks prior to the November 2004 elections. "Recent intelligence suggests al Qaeda may still be planning...

Natl. preparedness month: DHS joins partners to push all-hazards approach.
September 7, 2004... Getting the American public solidly onboard with an all-hazards approach to emergencies is the goal of this year's National Preparedness Month. DHS is joining this September with the America Prepared Campaign, American Red Cross, Department of...

TSA unveils 'secure flight' promising privacy, accuracy, effective screening.
September 7, 2004... Struggling to overcome the embattled reputation of its Computer-Assisted Passenger Screening System (CAPPS II), TSA has announced a new program called Secure Flight under which the agency will take over responsibility for checking airline...

Maritime sector one of "most serious vulnerabilities," warns CFR scholar.
September 7, 2004... "The maritime transportation system remains a very soft target for America's enemies to exploit," according to Stephen Flynn, Jeane Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Flynn...

Balancing terrorism & crime fighting: report on post-9/11 FBI inconclusive.
September 7, 2004... The jury is still out on whether or not the FBI's drug, white collar crime, and violent crime programs have been negatively affected by the bureau's post-9/11 focus on national security, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO)....

Calling all merchant mariners.(mariners training)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2004... The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is encouraging merchant mariners to participate in developing their training requirements at a Sept 20-21 meeting of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC). The panel will discuss training,...

Ammonium nitrate security.(campaign to prevent misuse of ammonium nitrate)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2004... The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has joined with The Fertilizer Institute, the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials, and DHS to launch a campaign to prevent the criminal misuse of ammonium nitrate,...

Explosives security.
September 7, 2004... The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has also joined with The Fertilizer Institute (see preceding item) to launch "BE AWARE" and "BE SECURE" campaigns to assist federal explosives licensees and permitees and federal...

Battening down the hatches.(Port of New York security management)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2004... The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port of New York has issued a notice that through Feb. 1, 2005, certain maritime locations adjacent to the New York City Financial District and the United Nations Headquarters have been designated Maritime...

Anthrax testing ends.
September 7, 2004... U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities involved in the 2001 anthrax attacks need no further testing for anthrax spores, concluded a work group of federal health, safety, and security agencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,...

Dissatisfaction at the border.
September 7, 2004... Sixty-four percent of border protection personnel say they do not have enough tools, training, and support to be effective at stopping potential terrorists from entering the country. So says a survey of 500 federal Border Patrol agents and...

WTC investigation.
September 7, 2004... The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released preliminary test results of the fire resistance of World Trade Center (WTC) floor systems. Shyam Sunder, lead investigator of NIST's evaluation of the WTC collapse, noted...

Cancer risk.
September 7, 2004... A study conducted by the University of North Carolina School of Public Health and the Environmental Protection Agency has found that the mutagenic and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons released into the air as a result of the World...

DHS opens MANPADS R&D, Phase II; military technology poses challenges.(Department of Homeland Security)(Man-Portable Air Defense Systems )
September 7, 2004... DHS has chosen two contract teams to tackle the next phase of adapting military technology to protect commercial aircraft from shoulder-fired missiles. Teams led by BAE Systems and Northrup Grumman will receive $45 million each over 18...

Public Safety Foundation of America.(finance)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2004... PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA (PSFA) has awarded $2.5 million to 37 grantees in 17 states to support and expedite implementation of wireless enhanced 911 (E911). PSFA was founded in January 2002 by the Association of Public-Safety...

DHS.(Department of Homeland Security contracts for weapons)(Brief Article)
September 7, 2004... DHS has awarded two contracts for handguns to supply all organizations within the department, including the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, TSA, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs...

TSA.(Grants & Contracts)
September 7, 2004... TSA has extended to Dec. 31 its contract with the Boeing Co. for the deployment, installation, and maintenance of aviation security equipment. TSA awarded the original contract in June 2002 for one year with four one-year options. Boeing has...

TSA plans over the next several weeks to solicit information from other companies regarding multiple contracts for deploying, installing, and maintaining aviation security equipment when Boeing's contract expires On Dec. 31 (see preceding item).(Grants & Contracts)
September 7, 2004... TSA plans over the next several weeks to solicit information from other companies regarding multiple contracts for deploying, installing, and maintaining aviation security equipment when Boeing's contract expires On Dec. 31 (see preceding...

Calendar.(Calendar)
September 7, 2004... Sept. 11-15: National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) Annual Conference, New York City. The agenda includes public and private sector meetings and a World Trade Center memorial. Contact: NEMA, (859) 244-8000; Web site:...

Port security at ground zero.(Slants & Trends)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... PORT SECURITY AT GROUND ZERO is the aim of a new study that resulted from two high-level homeland security brainstorming sessions at the Stevens Institute in New Jersey. Sixty leaders from business, government, and academia have targeted the...

Transportation security at last.(Slants & Trends)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The 9/11 Commission's final report was judged by many to be sketchy on transportation security details. A new staff report remedies the omission with a set of recommendations and deadlines covering all transit modes (see story, p. 139). Will...

Port security leaders eye N.Y./N.J. as testbed for 'network centric' response.
September 21, 2004... Two high-level workshops attended by security experts and responders from the local, state, and national level have issued a study calling for the military's "network centric operations" principles to be applied to beefing up port security. ...

USCG announces enhanced security as 17 nations fail to meet ISPS code.(International Ship and Port Facility Security)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a Port Security Advisory listing countries that have failed to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code that went into effect July 1 (EPN, Aug. 10, p. 117). The 17...

Securing land, sea, air.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... As port and transit security make headlines once again, DHS has released grants to help secure the modes that have complained of playing second fiddle to the airlines: The Port Security Grant Program has released $49.4 million to 154...

9/11 Commission draws up deadlines for increased transportation security.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The 9/11 Commission has filled in the transportation security gaps that many saw in its final report (EPN, Sept. 7. P. 129), issuing a list of recommendations and deadlines spotlighting land and sea modes as well as air: Jan. 1, 2005:...

Legislators, GAO remain unconvinced that nuclear plant security is adequate.
September 21, 2004... Despite the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) stepped-up post-9/11 security requirements, the agency has not yet done enough to ensure that power plants are adequately protected against terrorist threats, according to Jim Wells, director of...

Anthrax response updates needed, GAO advises postal service, CDC.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CSC) learned critical lessons from handling the anthrax attacks in 2001, but the agencies have yet to complete updates of their emergency plans, according to the...

Open access to germ data outweighs bioterror risks, concludes committee.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The advances in medicine fostered by open access to data about viruses and bacteria outweigh the danger that the information could also be used for bioterrorism, concluded a committee convened by the National Research Council. "The synergy...

Bioterror funds need closer tracking, IG informs health resources agency.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) must take steps to ensure that the $623 million in grants to upgrade health facilities for bioterrorism response are spent effectively, according to the Department of Health and Human...

Analyst says feds' "lack of respect" hampers effective public terror alerts.
September 21, 2004... While the Bush Administration has been winning higher marks lately in providing more practical information during terror alerts (EPN, Aug. 10, p. 113), at least one analyst says DHS Secretary Tom Ridge and his department are failing the...

Survival guide.(Survival at Your Fingertips)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... RAND Corp. has created "Survival at Your Fingertips", a pocket-edition terrorism survival guide that is also downloadable for Palm handhelds and home printers. Order the guide from RAND at (877) 584-8642 or orders@rand.org; Web site:...

Responders inadequately protected, suffering health effects, CDC finds.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The persistent health problems still plaguing responders to the World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attacks demonstrate the need for a greater focus on health in preparedness planning, said the head of the Centers for Disease Control and...

U.S. fire administration.(Grants & Contracts)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION has provided 32 grants totaling $3.6 million to fire departments last week from the fiscal year (FY) 2003 Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) Program. Funds from FY 2003 remain to be distributed even though FY 2004...

FEMA.(Grants & Contracts)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... FEMA has authorized the use of federal funds to help California fight the Pattison Fire in Mariposa County. At the time the state requested assistance, the fire had burned about 1,000 acres and was threatening 1,400 homes. FEMA provides federal...

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.(Grants & Contracts)(Fellowship for Interpretation of Genomes)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES (NIAID) has awarded an $18 million contract to Computation Institute to create a National Microbial Pathogen Data Resource Center to help scientists accelerate research into the biology and...

Siga Technologies, Inc.(Grants & Contracts)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... SIGA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. will receive $12 million over the next two years from the National Institutes of Health for the development of antivirals targeting smallpox and arenaviruses, and drug research targeting hemorrhagic fever viruses such as...

Corporation for national and community service.(Grants & Contracts)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE has awarded grants totaling $8.7 million for homeland security volunteer projects sponsored by 29 national and local organizations. The grants support volunteer recruitment for local disaster...

TSA.(Grants & Contracts)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... TSA has pledged $6.5 million to help offset the cost of installing additional explosives detection equipment at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Contact: TSA, (571) 227-2829; Web site: www.tsa.dot.gov.

National Guard Bureau.(Grants & Contracts)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU has awarded Fairleigh Dickinson University $1 million to offer two Web-based graduate certificate programs--one in global security and terrorism studies and one in emergency management administration. Contact: Ronald...

Radiological preparedness.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has created a Web page with instructions on how to prepare for and react to a radiological emergency. Topics include evacuation and sheltering; emergency classification; federal, state, and local...

Large employer preparedness.(National Business Group on Health)(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The National Business Group on Health teamed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to produce "An Employer Toolkit: Terrorism Preparedness & Planning: A Public/Private Partnership". The toolkit provides large employers with...

Falling short.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... DHS was unprepared for its visa screening duties in Saudi Arabia assigned by Congress after 9/11 "and a strong argument can be made that the deadlines imposed...may not have been realistic," according to the DHS Inspector General. An IG...

WTC data.(World Trade Center )(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has reviewed original source 1960s-era documents and determined that the wind load estimates for the World Trade Center exceeded the New York City building codes in effect at the time....

9/11 Workman's Comp.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The picture is still murky concerning the use of $175 million in federal funds provided to the New York State Workers' Compensation Board to assist with claims filed by 9/11 workers, volunteers, or survivors. The Board told GAO that 90 percent...

Getting carded.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... Federal departments and agencies continue to accelerate the adoption of smart card technology to identify, track, and control access for millions of employees and contractors, GAO has found. Projects range from the Department of Commerce's...

Biometric security.(Brief Article)
September 21, 2004... The State Department is likely to meet its Congressionally-mandated Oct. 26 deadline for issuing visas that include biometric indicators, according to GAO. State has installed the necessary hardware and software at 201 overseas visa issuing...

National laboratory works to perfect portable, wireless WMD sensor system.(weapons of mass destruction)
September 21, 2004... After a successful live demonstration this summer, Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., is about six months from commercializing a practical, easily-deployed sensor system for weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), according to...