United States

Report on the Domestic Natural Disaster Health Workforce is officially released

Wed, 2012-02-01 22:54 — Kathy Gilbeaux

The National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - ncdmph.usuhs.edu - February 1, 2012

Greetings NCDMPH Stakeholders,

The NCDMPH is extremely proud to release the Report on the Domestic Natural Disaster Health Workforce, a landscape analysis describing selected aspects of the health professions workforce who would respond to a catastrophic domestic natural disaster.

As the main output of our workforce project, the report analyzes the core Federal departments supporting Emergency Support Function #8 (ESF#8) by examining three key occupational sub-groups (emergency and critical care physicians, emergency and critical care nurses, and paramedics) at the national, state and local levels.

The report offers 14 recommendations on a number of issues, including: double counting of responders, volunteer failure to respond, an aging medical workforce, human capital development, personnel asset visibility, readiness and the deployment of subunits.

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United States

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Disaster Response

Disaster Risk Reduction

Natural Hazard

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Situation Report

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New NRC Hazard Analysis Earthquake Study Released

Tue, 2012-01-31 23:32 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Kay Goss

US NRC study released today on "New Seismic Model Will Refine Hazard Analysis at U.S. Nuclear Plants" and performs studies at many central and eastern U.S. susceptible locations. The Central and Eastern United States Seismic Source Characterization for Nuclear Facilities (CEUS SSC) Project was conducted from April 2008 to December 2011 to develop a new, regional seismic source model for use in conducting and reviewing probabilistic seismic hazard analyses (PSHAs) for nuclear facilities in the CEUS. PSHA is a method for assessing site-specific seismic hazard that includes getting the best estimate of ground motions and a transparent quantitative accounting of uncertainty. The results of PSHA are used in seismic design and in calculating seismic risk.

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Japan

United States

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Disaster Response

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Radiation

Vulnerability

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Solutions

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Video - BP Oil Commercials Cover Up Environmental Distress

Tue, 2012-01-31 22:52 — Kathy Gilbeaux

clickorlando.com - CBS Newspath - January 31, 2012

Scientists say dolphins dying at alarming rate

53,000 barrels of oil each day. Nearly 5 million barrels in all. That's how much oil poured into the Gulf of Mexico because of the BP oil disaster.

It's easily the worst marine oil spill in history and 10 times that of the Exxon Valdez disaster.

But BP's most recent television commercials seem to indicate all is well with the Gulf of Mexico.

Scientists say it is not, because dolphins are dying at an alarming rate.

(VIEW THE VIDEO AND READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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FEMA Urges Greater Public-Private Cooperation in Disaster Response

Mon, 2012-01-30 21:49 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Samuel Bendett

Homeland Security News Wire - January 24, 2012

New Orleans, La., Jan. 17, 2012 -- FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, guest speaker for the International Disaster Conference and Expo, emphasizes the Federal Government's initial response to a disaster is to get people to safety, transport the injured and assist in the reestablishment of infrastructure. Restoration of infrastructure is critical and involves getting private sector entities up and running so gas stations, food establishments, hotels and other essential private businesses are operable. This allows volunteers, non government organizations and emergency responders to effectively help the affected community in response and recovery operations. FEMA/Ralph Simcox

Speaking at the International Disaster Conference and Exposition, Craig Fugate, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), urged emergency planners to take a broader view of disaster response and include the private sector.

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FBI Releases Plans to Monitor Social Networks

Sat, 2012-01-28 20:51 — Kathy Gilbeaux

newscientist.com - January 25, 2012

(Image: Patrick George/Ikon Images/Getty)

Jim Giles, consultant

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has quietly released details of plans to continuously monitor the global output of Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, offering a rare glimpse into an activity that the FBI and other government agencies are reluctant to discuss publicly. The plans show that the bureau believes it can use information pulled from social media sites to better respond to crises, and maybe even to foresee them.

The information comes from a document released on 19 January looking for companies who might want to build a monitoring system for the FBI. It spells out what the bureau wants from such a system and invites potential contractors to reply by 10 February.

(READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE)

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Google Announces Privacy Changes Across Products; Users Can’t Opt Out

Thu, 2012-01-26 16:03 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Stuart Leiderman

by Cecilia Kang - The Washington Post - January 24, 2012

Google will soon know far more about who you are and what you do on the Web.

The Web giant announced Tuesday that it plans to follow the activities of users across nearly all of its ubiquitous sites, including YouTube, Gmail and its leading search engine.

Google has already been collecting some of this information. But for the first time, it is combining data across its Web sites to stitch together a fuller portrait of users.

(READ COMPLETE ARTICLE)

(GOOGLE PREVIEW: PRIVACY POLICY - EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2012)

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National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security

Wed, 2012-01-25 23:58 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Luis Kun

dhs.gov - Release Date: January 25, 2012

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

DAVOS, Switzerland—Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today unveiled the Obama administrations National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The Department of Homeland Security is committed to facilitating legitimate trade and travel, while preventing terrorists from exploiting supply chains, protecting transportation systems from attacks and disruptions, and increasing the resilience of global supply chains.

We must continue to strengthen global supply chains to ensure that they operate effectively in time of crisis; recover quickly from disruptions; and facilitate international trade and travel, said Secretary Napolitano. As a part of this effort, we look forward to working closely with our international partners in the public and private sector to build a more resilient global supply chain.

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Smart911 Technology Improves 9-1-1- Response

Wed, 2012-01-25 17:22 — Kathy Gilbeaux

submitted by Mike Kraft

Homeland Security News Wire - January 25, 2012

Municipalities improve 9-1-1 response with Smart911; the technology allows individuals to use a Web site to enter emergency-relevant information they want emergency personnel answering a 9-1-1 call to have, including children’s photos, medical conditions, disabilities, home addresses of cellphone callers, or other rescue-related information

Farmingham, Massachusetts-based Rave Mobile Safety, a provider of safety software solutions, said its Smart911 technology has seen increasing adoption in 2011. Smart911 allows citizens to create a safety profile with critical information, which is then automatically displayed at participating public safety answering points (PSAPs), when a 9-1-1 call is placed.

The company said that Smart911 is now available to more than five million citizens.

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