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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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iJet releases study on business impact of avian flu pandemic
Using data drawn from its World Pandemic monitoring system, research firm lays out preparation strategies for business; free report available by contacting company
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DHS announces $10 million in firefighter grants
Assistance to Firefighters Grant program expected to disperse a total of $485 million; awards go to small towns such as Walls, Mississippi and Church Hill, Tennessee; equipment and vehicles top departments’ wish lists
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U.S. Army offers stimulating simulations for emergency responders
Eighteen customizable programs offer a thorough work-out of any agency’s response capabilities; military organziations can learn for free, but cities and states may find the fees reimbursable by DHS
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Ball Aerospace proposes asteroid-busting robots
The collective action problem aside, saving the planet may be more important than saving the homeland; basketball-sized drones would swarm the asteroid, with some exploding while others listen to vibrations; Ball looks for funding and promises a three year delivery date
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Zombie masters move into the 21st century
Oak Ridge scientists identify thirty distinct compounds emitted from rotting bodies; data will help train dogs, but cunning investors may see opportunities for handheld sensor devices; report recalls a fingerscanning device intended for the deceased
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Raytheon launches Quad Cities interoperability pilot
$2 million test project will link up emergency responders in neighboring Illinois and Iowa cities; remote broadband and mobile situational awareness among the capabilities on the menu; Nortel, New Era Wireless, NexPort, DropFire, and EAGLE Project lend a hand
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NYC to allow citizens to upload photos during 911 and 311 calls
Breakthrough concept relies on established technology to help diffuse information; photos of suspicious individuals can be quickly uploaded to dispatch authorities; citizens protect infrastructure by keeping their eyes (and apertures) open
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U.K. to spend £1.7 million on urban flooding projects
Urban flooding caused by limited drainage system and ancient infrastructure; overlapping and conflicting government authorities make the problem difficult to solve; global warming has British government anxious
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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.