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Soteria provides more details of search-and-rescue helicopter capabilities
The Soteria Consortium — consisting of RBS, Thales, and CHC — is competing with the AirKnight consortium for the lucrative contract to provide the U.K. government and localities with search-and-rescue helicopters
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GAO finds major security flaws at federal buildings
Undercover investigators sneaked bombs and detonators past security guards and into federal buildings occupied by DHS, Justice, and State departments; the investigators were able to assembled the bombs, carried them in a briefcase and “walked freely around several floors”
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SAIC acquires Beck Disaster Recovery
SAIC, a government contractor with revenues last year of $10.1 billion, wants a bigger presence in disaster recovery operations; it acquires a Florida-based disaster recovery specialist, changing its name to SAIC’s Homeland Protection & Preparedness business unit
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New type of El Niño may mean more hurricanes make landfall
The form of El Niño may be changing potentially causing not only a greater number of hurricanes than in average years, but also a greater chance of hurricanes making landfall
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Rat-like rescue robot uses whiskers to feel its way through rubble
Researchers developed rat-like robot which can crawl through — and under — rubble in search for victims trapped under collapsed buildings; robot uses long plastic whiskers at the side of its head to detect objects and radio back to a control center
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Soteria chooses Sikorsky
Soteria — a consortium bidding for a U.K. search and rescue helicopter contract — has selected the Sikorsky S-92 as its preferred mission aircraft
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Orsus forms users group in the situation management market
First meeting of users group brings together core users of Situator to share best practices, ideas for product development
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Researchers develop ways for humans to use bat-like sonar vision
A team of Spanish researchers has developed a method of giving humans the power of echolocation or “biosonar” — used by bats for flying at night; first responders, search-and-rescue teams will be able to “see” through smoke, bodies, walls
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New bullet proof vests will be made from cement
University of Leeds researchers say that vests made of cement would offer cost-effective level of protection for many people at risk; it should be good enough for people like security guards, reporters and aid workers who are worried about the odd pot shot being taken at them
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Hiding buildings from earthquakes
The seismic waves of an earthquake fall into two main groups: body waves that propagate through the Earth, and surface waves that travel only across the surface; invisibility cloaks could be used to make buildings invisible to surface waves
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Bangladesh in SMS cyclone alert system trial
Thousands of people in Bangladesh die each year as a result of cyclones; the government is testing am SMS disaster warning system
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Corporate security chiefs say insiders are greatest threat to data
Survey finds that 80 percent of CSIO are more concerned about employees and contractors than they are about external hackers
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Swine flu tally past 52,000
The United States remains the most infected country with 21,449 cases; biggest jump in cases was recorded in Canada
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Schneier: Science fiction writers can help, or hurt, homeland security
If you begin with the assumption that 9/11 was a failure of imagination, then who better than science fiction writers to inject a little imagination into counterterrorism planning? Bruce Schneier says the science fiction writers may contribute to fresh thinking about security — but that an over-reliance on risk analysis and scenario brainstorming can be detrimental
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DHS announces $1.8 billion in federal preparedness grants
Grants to states and localities aim to protect, prevent, respond, and recover from potential calamities this fiscal year
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More headlines
The long view
Proactively Planning for Community Relocation Before and After Climate Disasters
Between 1980 and mid-2023, 232 billion-dollar disasters occurred in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, with the number of disasters doubling annually since 2018. As the frequency, intensity, and destructiveness of climate change-driven disasters increase, accompanied by an increase in recovery costs, more experts are calling for a managed retreat of entire communities from disaster-prone areas to safer ground.
Number of People Affected by Tropical Cyclones Has Increased Sharply Since 2002
The number of people affected by tropical cyclones has nearly doubled from 2002 to 2019, reaching nearly 800 million people in 2019, according to a new study. More people are affected by tropical cyclones in Asia than any other region, but every affected world region saw an increase in the number of people exposed to tropical cyclones, which are expected to become more intense and possibly more frequent as the climate warms.
Coastal Populations Set to Age Sharply in the Face of Climate Migration
As climate change fuels sea level rise, younger people will migrate inland, leaving aging coastal populations — and a host of consequences — in their wake. While destination cities will work to sustainably accommodate swelling populations, aging coastal communities will confront stark new challenges.
Damaging Thunderstorm Winds Increasing in Central U.S.
Destructive winds that flow out of thunderstorms in the central United States are becoming more widespread with warming temperatures. New research shows that the central U.S. experienced a fivefold increase in the geographic area affected by damaging thunderstorm straight line winds in the past 40 years.