Disaster Preparedness | Emergency Response

Featured Video of the Month

Part 2. Professor says government should stop pandering to special interests and start regulating

Carl Safina, conservationist, author and professor at Stony Brook University, argues that we’re drilling for oil a mile down in the ocean because we’ve depleted the easy oil. But if we trust our future to fossil fuels, we will create a security disaster for the country. We need to catch up to other countries that are investing in renewable energy sources such as sun, wind, tides and algae – or we will lose our leadership role and find ourselves dependent on those countries.

News

GAO says Coast Guard should have more fully disclosed its concerns during contract deliberations

Wed, 2010-07-28 09:11 AM

AMEC at work

The Government Accountability Office has sustained a contract award protest lodged by AMEC Earth & Environmental, Inc., a huge design-build construction company headquartered in London, that felt...

State grant funds can be used to maintain previously purchased homeland security equipment

Tue, 2010-07-27 11:06 AM

Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy

The House Committee on Homeland Security has approved legislation that would enable state, local and tribal governments to use a portion of their homeland security grant monies to maintain their...

The U.S. Coast Guard and the challenges ahead

Mon, 2010-07-26 05:01 PM

For over two centuries, the U.S. Coast Guard has safeguarded our nation’s maritime interests at home, in the ports, at sea, and around the globe, and looks to have more responsibilities today than at...

HHS unveils draft plan to implement national health security strategy

Mon, 2010-07-26 09:52 AM

Nicole Lurie

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued its first-ever “Biennial Implementation Plan” to implement the National Health Security Strategy the department unveiled last year, which...

DNDO seeks detailed, advanced research on effects of a nuclear attack

Thu, 2010-07-22 07:55 PM

Nearly nine years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) within DHS is requesting information from government agencies, national labs and commercial businesses...

Coast Guard wants three chemical response trailers for worldwide deployment

Thu, 2010-07-22 07:06 PM

The U.S Coast Guard’s National Strike Force wants to procure three 20-foot box trailers which would serve as chemical response vehicles, carry 6-12 cylinders used with self-contained breathing...

Sandia hopes to commercialize its multiple-tracked robotic vehicle

Tue, 2010-07-20 09:42 AM

Sandia's robotic range

The Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories would like to identify a commercial business – with expertise in decontamination, hazardous materials and explosives detection – that could...

FEMA advisory panel to meet in Denver on August 4-5

Mon, 2010-07-19 10:04 AM

Curtis Hotel

FEMA’s National Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting in Denver, CO, on August 4 and 5 to receive reports from its subcommittees on preparedness and protection, response and recovery, public...

Rep. Jackson Lee wants to strengthen the Federal Air Marshal Service

Mon, 2010-07-19 09:29 AM

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

A bill has been introduced in the House to increase the number of federal air marshals by 1,750 positions, train new recruits in criminal investigative techniques and establish an ombudsman...

Rangel’s proposed two-year ‘national service’ obligation would include ‘homeland security’ work

Mon, 2010-07-19 08:50 AM

Rep. Charles Rangel

Rep. Charles Rangel, the longtime New York City Democrat, has introduced legislation that during wartime would require all citizens and permanent residents of the U.S., aged 18 to 42, both male and...

First-in-the-nation Disaster Corps launched in California

Thu, 2010-07-15 03:36 PM

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger launched the first-in-the-nation Disaster Corps in California to professionalize, standardize and coordinate highly trained disaster volunteers statewide. Disaster...

Senate appropriations panel boosts homeland security spending by 2.4 percent

Thu, 2010-07-15 10:25 AM

The Senate Appropriations homeland security subcommittee on July 14 completed its markup of the fiscal year 2011 spending program for homeland security by adding just over $1 billion to last year’s...

Commentary and Opinions

Bush's post-Katrina FEMA chief cites lessons learned

Natural disasters provide a visible reminder of the horrendous consequences that can occur when we underestimate the awesome force of Mother Nature.

By any measure, Hurricane Katrina was a national catastrophe -- affecting millions of people, the environment, the economy, regional and national infrastructure and our national pride.

So what went wrong? What lessons did we learn? What actions did we take? Did we learn our lesson? And will a catastrophe such as this not be repeated?

A system of sequential failure

Cyber Self-Defense

Recently, I was asked the most interesting questions I have been asked for over a decade. The complex question came in two parts. One, is the right to bear ‘cyber arms’ covered under the Second Amendment; and two, if an individual or an organization has the right to cyber self defense, also known as the right to return cyber fire.

The case for “all hazards” education

By Jonathan M. Walsh

Far too often, the concept of “homeland security” is understood through a filter designed to capture only the meaning imparted to it by 9/11. That is, “homeland security” is looked upon as a way to secure the homeland from terrorist attacks.

Chemical weapons pose a grave threat

By Jerome Hauer

President Obama should be commended for making nuclear nonproliferation a priority of his administration. At the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC, in April, the president was right to urge global cooperation on isolating non-secure nuclear materials that could be used to make a weapon.

The NYC terrorist threat and how video analytics could have prompted a faster response

By Mark Gally

The recent bomb scare in New York City served as a wake-up call, highlighting that the U.S. is still vulnerable to an attack within our country. Though investigators say the bomb they found inside a parked car was not very sophisticated, it’s clear that terrorists with the determination and deadly materials could cause serious harm.

Company News

Brite-Strike Active Illumination traffic safety gloves

From 2000 through 2009, 154 officers were killed by a motorist while the officer was standing on the side of the road or directing traffic. This accounts for one quarter of all deaths in the line of duty.
The basic problem is that drivers today are inattentive due to texting, blaring their vehicle’s 12 speaker audio systems or talking on a cell phone.

Advanced airborne video solution successfully demonstrated, says Hughes

Hughes Network Systems, LLC, of Germantown, MD, a provider of broadband satellite networks and services, announced on July 26 it has completed a successful demonstration of its advanced airborne video solution to a key government agency, confirming full D-1 video resolution at air-to-ground user data rates of over 2 Mbps.

SimplexGrinnell enters into mentor- protégé agreement with Emergency Planning Management, Inc.

SimplexGrinnell, based in Boca Raton, FL, which makes fire and life-safety systems, has entered into an agreement under the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Mentor-Protégé Program with Emergency Planning Management, Inc. (EPM), based in Stafford, VA, a certified 8(a) service-disabled, veteran-owned general contractor that specializes in fire, life safety and critical infrastructure protection.

DeSantis Gunhide debuts new holsters

DeSantis Gunhide, a division of HELGEN Industries, Inc., has introduced its Thumb Break Scabbard, Speed Scabbard, Mini Scabbard and Apache Ankle Rig holsters for the all-new Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38 caliber 2-inch, with Insight laser.

The Thumb Break Scabbard is a high-ride design and the firearm is presented at an optimum draw angle. Its thumb break and exact molding, together with a tension device, allows for a secure and highly concealable carry.

Link Systems releases TCB-iP4 radio interoperability system with P-25 radios

Link Communications, of Billings, MT has unveiled its TCB-iP4 radio interoperability system, which is VoIP integrated, local and computer controllable.

The system includes a built-in 5w VHF, UHF and 800 mhz secure APCO P-25 radios, a full dispatch interface and support for Nextel, Verizon push-to-talk phones on the Verizon Wireless nationwide network.

American Science and Engineering, Inc. receives $3 million order for ZBV Military Trailers

American Science and Engineering, Inc., of Billerica, MA, a worldwide supplier of innovative X-ray detection systems, has announced the receipt of a $3 million order for multiple ZBV Military Trailers from an international government agency it did not identify.

The ZBV Mil Trailer is a ruggedized version of the company’s patented Z Backscatter Van system which is used for screening vehicles for car and truck bombs.

G4S resolves budget crisis issues for law enforcement

G4S of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, a provider of comprehensive security solutions, is showcasing their law enforcement support services at this year's National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) conference and exhibition show to help local agencies by providing significant costs savings for Sheriffs and taxpayers. Attendees represent law enforcement agencies from across the country, many facing an unprecedented need to slash budgets and work within limited resources.

New bio-decontamination technology Webinar on July 8 from Tri-Air Developments

The latest biological decontamination technology for homeland security will be the focus of a Webinar scheduled for July 8, 2010 at 11:00 AM (EST) and 4 PM (London time).

The on-line event will explain how enclosed spaces -- from homes and offices, to laboratories and public buildings -- can be protected in minutes from airborne and surface pathogenic viruses and bacteria.

Registration for the CBRN event is free at: www.tri-airdevelopments.com

Recent Disaster Preparedness Videos

Part 1. Professor Calls BP Oil Spill “Big Oil’s Chernobyl”

In part one of this GSN exclusive interview with Carl Safina, prominent author, marine conservationist, university professor and founder of the Blue Ocean Institute at Stony Brook University, Dr.

AES Corporation

AES is at ISW West to introduce its new Intellinet Data Nework, says Mike Sherman, company president. This intelligent wireless data network enables the security industry to report fire alarms, burglar alarms or other security breaches, triggering an immediate response. The product is incredibly reliable, according to Sherman, and that is why it was named #1 in its category in the ISC West New Product Showcase.

Recent Webinars

A Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity Using Dynamic Traffic Intelligence

Webinar Air Date: Thu, 06/10/2010 - 1:00pm

GSN Webinar - A Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity Using Dynamic Traffic Intelligence

No vendor can solve the entire problem. Learn how to use...

Five Ways to Maximize Perimeter Security

Webinar Air Date: Wed, 06/09/2010 - 11:00am

Date: Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Time: 11 A.M. Eastern Time

An Educational Webinar Sponsored by BIGBOOTH.COM and GSN Magazine

Budgets...

An Effective Approach to Continuous Monitoring Requirements under FISMA

Webinar Air Date: Tue, 04/27/2010 (All day)

Recently, the OMB established a task force to develop new metrics to measure the performance of information security at Federal Agencies. Among other things, the new metrics...

More Recent Webinars

Upcoming Events

Event Details	Dates of Event
Crisis and Opportunities for Latin American Security Companies	Jul 21 - 22
Border Management Summit North 2010	Jul 26 - 28
Intelligent Perimeter Solutions Seminar	Jul 27 - 27
National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibtion	Aug 2 - 4
Digital Summit International (DSI-Vegas)	Aug 17 - 19
2nd Annual Identity Management for DoD and Government	Aug 23 - 25
Security Leadership: Reducing Costs Without Sacrificing Value	Sep 14 - 14
3rd Annual San Diego Regional Security Conference (formerly "C4ISR, CyberSecurity, Robot Platforms & Sensors Conference)	Sep 14 - 15
ArcSight Protect ’10	Sep 19 - 22
Water Security Congress	Sep 19 - 22
Homeland Security for Networked Industries (HSNI) 2010 Conference and Expo	Sep 20 - 21
Fall 2010 Telework Exchange Town Hall Meeting	Oct 7 - 7

New Products

IDenta says explosives ID kits identify underwear bomber’s PETN

Add Jerusalem-based Identa Corp. to the handful of companies that issued statements in the wake of the failed...

Introducing the ‘In Case of Emergency’ iPhone app

Legalzoom.com, an online legal service, and Donate Life America (DLA), a non-profit organization, have created and are offering ICE App, intended to help users input the compreh...