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Gates rejects gubernatorial control of Guard forces
Defense secretary accepts most of the recommendations of an independant commission; National Guard chief to get a fourth star?
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DHS asks first responders to suggest needed technologies
Sciene and Technology Directorate sets aside $8 million for its new TechSolutions portal; emergency officials can suggest technologies and solutions and in return receive funding for them
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Washington University makes strides in radiation treatment
Unlike previous efforts, protein-based agents shield cells from damage before and after exposure
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Verizon deploys mobile call centers to Georgia fire emergency
Cells on Wheels program enables emergency response teams to use their cell phones without disrupting commercial traffic
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Researchers use Google Earth to track bird flu
“Supermap” brings together known epidemiological research with an easy-to-use mapping system
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Financial group makes mega-catastrophe recommendations
Panel of banks and insurancce companies recommends stricter building codes and a government plan for WMD coverage
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Emergency response agencies turn to video game training
Virtual simulations can hone skills quickly and at a cheaper cost than live exercises; Aptima leads the way with Red Cape software
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Debate over 700 MHz intensifies
Communication problems during 9/11 and Katrina have prompted calls for dedicating a portion of the 700 MHz spectrum for public-sfatey use; commercial interest have other ideas, and the FCC is caught in the middle
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Public health labs oppose field WMD testing
Without national performance standards and field validation, Association of Public Health Laboratories says the risks of false positives and false negatives are too high
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Israel's Ministry of Transport criticized for wartime transport policy
Government’s failure to declare a state of emergency during Lebanon war resulted in widespread operational failures at the ports
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DHS plans back-up cross-agency data center
Worries about the Eastern Interconnect prompt DHS to build a mirror site in the west; contracts to be awarded this summer
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U.S. and Canada kick off Ardent Sentry exercises
Emergency response drill will last two weeks and feature fifteen maritime, WMD, and air defense scenarios
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Harvard to explore emergency response failures
Acting in Time initiatives will explore the political and financial friction that can impede post-disaster efforts.
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Pharmacies launch emergency prescription database
Emergency Rx History system will serve as a backbone of existing Pharmacy Health Information Exchange
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TRIA likely to be made permanent
TRIA mandates that the U.S. government provide commercial insurers up to $100 billion in reinsurance capacity for claims arising from terrorist events; the program is set to expire in December, but is likely to be made permanent and expanded
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The long view
The Surprising Reasons Floods and Other Disasters Are Deadlier at Night
It’s not just that it’s dark and people are asleep. Urban sprawl, confirmation bias, and other factors can play a role.
Why Flash Flood Warnings Will Continue to Go Unheeded
Experts say local education and community support are key to conveying risk.