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Arsenic-treated lumbar a major post-disaster threat
Researchers at the University of Miami find 1,740 metric tons of arsenic strewn about the Gulf Coast; problem is traced to now-banned practice of treating lumber with chromated copper arsenate to prevent pest infestation
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UC Irvine offers emergency planning course
University extension offers a series of lectures and tabletop exercises in disaster management; Irvine’s emergency management coordinator to provide instruction
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Indonesia adopts GIS to aid humanitarian efforts
Provided by UN, geographic information systems help identify areas of need and allocate resources; ArcCatalog used to create metadata; authorities print maps and privide datasets free of charge to humanitarian agencies
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Hawaii a case study in cross-juristictional emergency cooperation
Earthquake last year offers a model of Hawaii’s can-do attitude; emergency response personell trained to respond to leadership, not rank; power failures doomed radio communications, so planners consider buying backup generators for the island’s radio stations
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Congress takes a serious look at Cyren Call
After an FCC rejection in November, the Commerce committee revisits the idea of creating a national wireless network for first responders; John McCain offers his support; critics, angry about the idea of giving away valuable spectrum, gird for battle
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Kansas City chemical plant fire forces evacuation
A fire destroys a chemical plant located in a Kansas City residential neighborhood; newspaper reports that the fire “draped the city in mushroom-shaped plume of black smoke”
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GSA opens federal contracts to local emergency officials
Under new rule, states and municipalities will be able to order supplies from the Federal Supply Schedule in response to or anticipation of an emergency; 10 million goods and services will eventually be made available, but disaster relief and firefighting equipment will be first
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Incident command systems aid in business continuity
Emergency planning is critical, but a rigid approach can only compound problems; ICSs permit flexible response while ensure a chain of command; predetermining roles and responsibility key to success
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Business continuity should be about thriving, not merely surviving
For too long business continuity has been discussed in the context of dire events such as a terrorist attack or natural disasters; it would be better to discuss the tipic in the context of the company’s over-all performance, paying special attention to the perspectives of the investors in the company
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Iomai wins $128 million HHS contract for patch-based flu vaccine
Innoculation method could be mailed to patients; adjuvant stimulants allow the company to stretch out the nation’s vaccine supply; company looks for distribution partners, but many already see MedImmune as the most promising candidate
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Bell Helicopters takes a look at an Israeli flying rescue vehicle
Helicopter-like machine relies on fans rather than rotor blades, allowing for greater maneuverability in the urban environment; Urban Aeronautics sees a market for first responders and military; craft can sidle up to a building and evacuate residents out of a window
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NSF provides $700,000 for a study on EMS and fire department creativity
The psychology and sociology of emergency responders now a growing academic discipline; researchers seek to learn how firemen improvise on the job; 9/11 and Oklahoma City bombing provide useful datasets
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FEMA solicits proposals for internal 911 service
Agency looks for a way to locate 911 calls within its dispersed office network; ideal system will permit identification of caller, office, and cubicle number; once identified, 911 system should automatically hand off caller to local dispatch office
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Poor oversight hampers National Guard readiness
DoD lacks a system to track movement of equipment from stateside depots to overseas combat; disaster readiness a major concern; planners worry that a $21 billion Guard modernization program will be swallowed up by the war in Iraq
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Sun Microsystems offer shipping containers for secure data storage
Stackable and easily shippable system holds eight server racks, a cooling system, and other critical appurtences; both DoD and FEMA see useful applications; airlifting to war zones a major possibility
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The long view
Risk Assessment with Machine Learning
Researchers utilize geological survey data and machine learning algorithms for accurately predicting liquefaction risk in earthquake-prone areas.