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.

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News

Pipeline safety agency warns about risks from using PEDs on the job
Tue, 2010-08-03 09:57 AM
The federal agency responsible for the safety of pipelines has issued new warnings about the dangers inherent in maintenance and operating personnel working on natural gas and hazardous liquid...
DOE panel to examine ‘back end’ of nuclear fuel cycle
Tue, 2010-08-03 09:14 AM
A Department of Energy advisory panel will meet in a public session in Washington, DC, on August 19 to discuss the ways in which used nuclear fuel and high level waste are being stored, processed and...
HSIN advisory panel to meet in Maryland on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1
Mon, 2010-08-02 04:33 PM
An advisory panel for the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) will meet in open session in Potomac, MD, on August 31 and September 1 to discuss HSIN NextGen, the DHS portal consolidation...
Dept. of Agriculture might introduce ‘tiering’ to its list of select agents and toxins
Mon, 2010-08-02 04:24 PM
Foot-and-mouth disease
As it begins its biennial review of its list of “select agents and toxins” that could pose a severe threat to the health of animals and plants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering the...
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...

Commentary and Opinions

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.

New flexible and affordable options for emergency communications via satellite

By Jon Douglas

Emergency response planning and Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) initiatives consistently show up at the top of government chief information officers’ priority lists. However, recognizing the need and allocating the resources have proven to be very different for many agencies. This is certainly understandable. No one wants to buy a solution that they desperately hope to never use.

COMMENTARY // Taking the pulse of the government security marketplace

While strolling up and down the aisles at the ASIS New York City Chapter’s security expo at the Javits Center on April 30, I tried to take a quick reading on the current state of the government security marketplace, but frankly the views of half a dozen exhibitors were all over the map.

I wondered whether the economy-wide recession during the past two years was depressing government procurements, or whether the Obama administration’s pump-priming stimulus program had led to an increase in such government purchases.

CASE STUDY -- Minneapolis/St. Paul implementing Verint’s video intelligence solutions on regional fleet

Verint Systems Inc. has announced that the Metropolitan Council in Minneapolis/St. Paul is implementing its Nextiva Transit video solution from Verint Video Intelligence Solutions.

CASE STUDY -- When the unthinkable happens, Delaware SWAT teams don’t miss a beat

Day to day, most citizens do not think twice about the routine activities that their local law enforcement agencies complete in order to ensure their safety. Things like issuing citations for minor offenses or patrolling the neighborhood to prevent vandalism simply equate to another “day in the life” for law enforcement officers. Ideally, these routine activities keep neighborhoods all over the country relatively safe and quiet.   

But what if the unthinkable happens?

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

 

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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.

Upcoming Webinars

Diebold Leveraging FICAM to Modernize Your Physical and Logical Access Control
Wed, 10/06/2010 - 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Leveraging FICAM to Modernize Your Physical and Logical Access Control

Is your agency prepared to meet the government''s Federal Identity, Credential and...

Recent Webinars

Centrify
SIMPLIFY MAC SMART CARD SUPPORT
Mon, 08/16/2010 - 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Use the resources you already have to easily deploy MACS with CAC and...

A Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity Using Dynamic Traffic Intelligence
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
Wed, 06/09/2010 - 11:00am

 This webinar is available to you at any time--on any day.

...

More Recent Webinars

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...

MetaCarta releases version 4.5 of geographic search software

Cambridge, MA-based MetaCarta, Inc., a provider of geographic search solutions, has announced the launch...

Magnasphere rolls out high-security sensor

Waukesha, WI-based Magnasphere reports that its new high-security sensor, HSS, has completed its UL inspections and is r...

ICx introduces ClearPoint bottled liquid screener

Arlington, VA-based ICx T...

More New Products