Know What to Do about H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Plan First Webcast: Aug. 3 @ 3:00 pm E.T.

City, County and Local Officials are invited to join HHS Secretary Sebelius, DHS
Secretary Napolitano and Education Secretary Duncan for an important: Know What to
Do about H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Plan First Webcast

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
August 4, 2009 www.flu.gov

City, County and Local officials are invited to join us for a live discussion about the latest planning efforts for the upcoming flu season. Participants will have a unique opportunity to learn more about: the latest information on vaccine development; vaccine planning and preparedness efforts; federal funding support for state efforts and; progress on planning and preparedness for schools, child care centers businesses and communities. Senior officials working on health, education and emergency preparedness are also encouraged to tune in to the Webcast.

Prior to the Webcast, officials may submit questions to the Secretaries about the role of local communities and governments in flu preparedness efforts.

Aid Station Staffing Request

DMM student, Erik Glassman has been tasked by the Navy with staffing and standing up an aid station for the upcoming Marine Corps Marathon on 10/25/09. Staffing for the event comes from across the country and ranges from general medical volunteers who will do whatever you ask (he's made them go and buy coffee for everyone before) to military physicians with eagles and stars on their collars. Time you will need to be available is 0500 to 1700 on that day. To work, you just need certification or licensure somewhere. As you will be federalized for the day, there is no requirement to have a license in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. He needs people ranging from EMTs to RNs, to MD/DOs. If interested, please contact him at erik.glassman@gmail.com.

Erik S. Glassman, BS, CCEMT-P, FP-C, EMT-T
202-391-3725(p)
703-271-0420(f)

Calling All First Responders...

Recently I was discussing with some of our fellow members who were having trouble convincing their fellow first responder emergency management students as to the benefits of joining IAEM. If you are a first responder student member who would be willing to write a short response as to some of the benefits you have received, please email it back to me at the email below. Thank you in advance for your help!

"This is your IAEM!"

Brian Silva, MPA, EMT
President, Student Council (IAEM-SC)
President, USA Student Region (IAEM-USA SR)
International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)
(562) 897.6677
www.iaem.com
www.iaem.com/students
www.tinyurl.com/usrp-orl

Preparing for the Psychological Consequences of Terrorism: A Public Health Strategy

The Oklahoma City bombing, intentional crashing of airliners on September 11, 2001, and anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001 have made Americans acutely aware of the impacts of terrorism. These events and continued threats of terrorism have raised questions about the impact on the psychological health of the nation and how well the public health infrastructure is able to meet the psychological needs that will likely result. Preparing for the Psychological Consequences of Terrorism highlights some of the critical issues in responding to the psychological needs that result from terrorism and provides possible options for intervention. The committee offers an example for a public health strategy that may serve as a base from which plans to prevent and respond to the psychological consequences of a variety of terrorism events can be formulated. The report includes recommendations for the training and education of service providers, ensuring appropriate guidelines for the protection of service providers, and developing public health surveillance for preevent, event, and postevent factors related to psychological consequences.

Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management -- New Articles

bepress Journals

July 28, 2009

Berkeley Electronic Press is pleased to announce the following new articles recently published in Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Research Articles Local Emergency Management Funding: An Evaluation of County Budgets Skip Krueger, Eliot Jennings, and James M. Kendra Do State Written Pandemic Plans Include Federal Recommendations? A National Study Tamar A. Klaiman, Jennifer Ibrahim, and Alice Hausman Interorganizational Coordination in Complex Environments of Disasters: The Evolution of Intergovernmental Disaster Response Systems Naim Kapucu Evacuation Decision Support System for Road Incident Detection and Characterization Gary P. Moynihan, Daniel J. Fonseca, Terry Brumback, and Huston Fernandes Book Reviews Review of The Phoenix of Natural Disasters: Community Resilience Kathleen M. Kowalski-Trakofler Opinions Long Term Recovery from Disasters -- The Neglected Component of Emergency Management Claire B. Rubin Featured Article "Disaster Management: The Structure, Function, and Significance of Network-Centric Operations", reveals how poor information flow both within and among the organizations/agencies involved in the preparation for, and management of, disasters is among the principal source of failures whose cost often reaches millions of dollars and thousands of unnecessarily lost lives. The authors show how the use of a network-centric approach to disaster management has several advantages in handling information/knowledge and tasks associated with complex, multi-domain operations. About this journal Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (JHSEM) is the primary source of new, peer-reviewed research and information in the fields of homeland security and emergency management. JHSEM features original, innovative, and timely articles and other information on research and practice from a broad array of professions including: emergency management, engineering, political science, public policy, decision science, and health and medicine. The electronic nature of the journal allows timeliness and responsiveness unparalleled among academic publications. JHSEM publishes peer-reviewed articles, news and communiqués from researchers and practitioners, and book/media reviews. The lead editors are John R. Harrald, Research Professor at the Virginia Tech Center for Technology, Security, and Policy; Claire B. Rubin, President of Claire B. Rubin & Associates, in Arlington, VA; and Jane Kushma, Associate Professor, Jacksonville State University. Authors have included prominent researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Harvard University, Carnegie Mellon University, the Environmental Protection Agency, George Mason University, George Washington University, RAND, and Vanderbilt University. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is indexed in Current Contents/Social and Behavioral Sciences, Health and Safety Sciences, IBSS, Intute, PAIS International, Risk Abstracts, Scopus, Social Science Citation Index (Thomson/ISI), Sociological Abstracts, Technology Research Database (CSA), and Worldwide Political Science Abstracts.

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NFPA and DRI International partner to offer auditor certifications

IAEM Discussion Group:
NFPA and DRI International partner to offer auditor certifications

Certification available for professionals responsible for preparedness programs

July 23, 2009 - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI) have joined forces to create an education and certification program that will qualify participants to audit disaster/emergency management and business continuity programs against existing standards and regulations. Certification levels currently include Certified Business Continuity Auditor (CBCA) or Certified Business Continuity Lead Auditor (CBCLA).

NFPA, the authority on fire and life safety, and DRI, the leading certification and education body in business continuity planning, announced today a new interactive certification program that provides training, tools, and hands-on experience. Through the program, participants will be able to apply the key components of disaster/emergency management and business continuity; the relevant standards, laws, and regulations; and the process of risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, loss prevention, and risk mitigation. Participants will also develop, implement, test, and maintain their plans and procedures.

"Professionals dealing with the growing need for disaster management and business continuity planning have been clamoring for a turnkey solution to help them measure the level of their organization's preparedness against appropriate standards and regulations, and this certification program answers that call," said NFPA's Bob Vondrasek, vice president for technical projects. "This unique interactive program uses tools that allow novice and experienced corporate planners, internal and external auditors, and those interested in self-assessing their programs, or their clients' programs, to perform an audit to better measure their state of preparedness."

Course materials delve into existing legal and regulatory requirements by industry and country, as well as emerging requirements including: NFPA 1600, Standard for Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity; DRI International's professional practices, financial services, insurance, healthcare, utilities, and public sector guidelines; and many others. In
addition, careful attention is given to the processes by which disaster/emergency management and business continuity programs are initiated, with an eye toward corporate governance, policy, and procedures.

"Education is the key to success for professionals working in environments where they are expected to be well versed in the ever-growing set of regulatory requirements, laws, and standards," said DRI International's Executive Director, Al Berman. "This certification gives participants the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and experience in helping entities assess their preparedness programs, which is something that is increasingly needed."

At the end of the course, a new and unique qualifying examination is conducted, and individuals who pass will be eligible to apply for certification as a CBCA or CBCLA. The certification level (CBCA or CBCLA) will be granted based upon the amount of demonstrated audit experience of
the applicant. Those seeking the CBCLA designation will be required to provide references to verify that they have at least five years of active audit experience. The certification will be granted by DRI International, the largest business continuity certification organization in the world. DRI International has certified over 12,000 applicants in over 90 countries in
its more than 20-year history.

DRI International

DRI International (a non-profit organization) has been the premier certification and education body in Business Continuity since 1988 with over 7,500 currently active certified business continuity professionals worldwide. DRI International offers education in BCM at major industry
events and through the corporate training program.

NFPA

NFPA has been a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education

For more information and links, please go to:
http://www.nfpa.org/newsReleaseDetails.asp?categoryid=488
http://www.nfpa.org/newsReleaseDetails.asp?categoryid=488&itemId=44355&rss=
http://iaem.com/listserve/listagreement.htm

Book Reviewers wanted for JHSEM

IAEM Discussion Group:

As Book Review Editor for the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (www.bepress.com/jhsem, I am looking for some practitioners and consultants to serve as book reviewers of new text and reference books.

Benefits: you get a byline for your review and you get to keep the new book.

Details: the suggested length and format of the review are posted on the journal's homepage, noted above. (We provide copy editing assistance.) We like to get reviews back 6-8 weeks after you receive the book you choose.

Send me a short note about your background and areas of interest, and I will send you the list of books available. Presently, I have close to 20 new books on hand that are available for review.

Synchronous Communication Technologies and the First Responder

Dear Colleague,

I am inviting you to participate in a research project to identify the needs of the field responder and the use of new information and communication technologies as part of my master’s thesis titled: “Synchronous Communication Technologies and the First Responder”.

At the end of this letter is a web link to a short questionnaire that asks a variety of questions regarding your feelings relating to the amount of information available to you in the field. If you choose to participate simply complete the online survey. Upon completion only your responses will be automatically collected and sent back to me via the online survey tools. The survey should only take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The majority is multiple choices and there are a few open ended questions, it is optional to answer any portion of the survey. The survey can be found here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=J6ea9OQ1ITnWFsQ6Ku9SwQ_3d_3d

Through your participation I hope to better understand the needs of individuals in the field and better tailor my technologies to these feelings. Upon completion of this study, I hope to share my results by publishing them in a journal.

Since this is an anonymous survey, I do not know of any risks if you decide to participate. Information collected will be used for categorical purposes and I guarantee that your responses will not be identified with you personally. To insure your status as anonymous, you should not put your name anywhere in the survey. If you chose, however, to release your information you may be contacted for an additional interview by me.

Your participation is both voluntary and confidential. If you have any questions or concerns about completing the questionnaire or about being part of this study you may contact me directly at my Philadelphia University email at mohrj@philau.edu or my thesis advisor, Aaron Richman, at richmana@philau.edu or by phone at 215.951.2700.

Philadelphia University’s IRB has approved solicitation of participants for this study until 8/1/2009. Protection of human subjects’ questions can be directed to the IRB Chairperson of Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 215.951.2700.

I thank you in advance for both your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Johnathon A. Mohr
Master’s of Science Candidate
Philadelphia University

Settrac's 6th Annual Emergency & Trauma Care Conference

Early Bird Registration Ends July 25th.

The SouthEast Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council (SETTRAC) is hosting our Sixth Annual Emergency and Trauma Care Conference, August 6th and August 7th, 2009. This year's conference will be hosted at the Humble Civic Center just north of Houston. 2-Day Early Bird Registration is $75, 1-Day is $50 and our student price of $25/day.

Registration information can be obtained from www.regonline.com/settrac2009 or emsandtraumacare@yahoo.com

Please make plans to join your colleagues for this event on Thursday August 6th & August 7th, 2009


Sarah Beth Abbott
Emergency and Trauma Care Conference
Committee Chair-2009

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IAEM-USA Student Region 2009 Student Academic Poster Competition

The 2009 IAEM-USA Student Region Poster Competition is open to all IAEM Student Members who attend the IAEM Annual Conference. The poster viewing will be open to all conference attendees in the EMEX Hall.

The IAEM Annual Conference provides an opportunity for IAEM Student Members to showcase their academic work by entering the IAEM Student Poster Competition. Any IAEM Student Member may submit a research poster for consideration; non-members may submit their work for a $30.00 student membership fee. There are separate categories for undergraduate and raduate/postgraduate students, with monetary prizes for the winners.

Abstracts are due Oct. 19, 2009, 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, with the final poster due at the IAEM Conference in Orlando.

FMI & Rules:
Informational Conference Calls: Anyone wishing to participate in the academic poster competition is encouraged to attend one of the following informational conference calls.

July 20, 2009 - 12:00 noon ET

July 27, 2009 - 7:00 pm ET

Call-In Information:

Toll Free Access Number: 1-877-643-6951

Canadian Access Number: 1-877-722-6536

International Access Number: 1-302-607-2017

Skype: 1-877-643-6951

Participant Passcode: 21082304#

Anyone with additional questions can email Paul Gorczyca, IAEM-USA Student Region First Vice President at Gork315@gmail.com.

http://www.iaem.com/events/Annual/USRP-ORL.htm

PhilaU Connect - July 21, 2009

PhilaU Connect: Professional International Presentations

Will be presenting

“What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate”

– Communications 101 for EMS Providers and Managers

July 21, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

The PhilaU Connect Professional International Presentations is proud to present Raphael M. Barishansky who is currently the Chief of Public Health Emergency Preparedness for the Prince George’s (MD) County Health Department. Prior to establishing himself in this position, he served as Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council based in Newburgh, New York.

Mr. Barishansky holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Touro College of Liberal Arts and Sciences as well as a Master's Degree in Public Health (Health Care Policy and Management) from New York Medical College. His dissertation examined the impact of race and socio-economic status on early defibrillation save rates in six New Jersey municipalities.

Mr. Barishansky currently serves as a site reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) and has served as a reviewer for the Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services (CECBEMS). He also sits on the editorial advisory boards for Emergency Medical Services Magazine and the EMS Insider and serves as a peer reviewer for both Pre-hospital Emergency Care (PEC) and Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness and has served on the EMS Advisory Board for the Fire and Emergency Television Network (FETN). Mr. Barishansky is also current serving on the Board of Directors of the National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA). In 2004, Mr. Barishansky was awarded the Anthony S. Maniscalco Memorial Scholarship from NAEMT for outstanding public service and he attended the program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 2006 in a fellowship provided by the same organization.

Mr. Barishansky has written and lectured extensively on various facets of EMS, including leadership profiles, management realities and clinical aspects. His articles have been featured in EMS Magazine, the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), the EMS Insider, EMS Manager and Supervisor as well as other publications and he is a regularly featured speaker at various Regional, State and National EMS Conferences.

Instructions outlining how to join the PhilaU Connect will be sent via email prior to the event. Each PhilaU Connect presentation will include a certificate of attendance emailed to the attendee.

Questions or to register, please contact Annette Solarski at solarskia@philau.edu.

Hurricane-calming technology? Bill Gates has a plan

Hurricane-calming technology? Bill Gates has a plan

By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY Good news, folks. Microsoft founder Bill Gates has turned his attention to controlling the weather. Five U.S. Patent and Trade Office patent applications, made public on July 9, propose slowing hurricanes by pumping cold, deep-ocean water in their paths from barges. If issued, the patents offer 18 years of legal rights to the idea for Gates and co-inventors, including climate scientist Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Hurricanes, most famously demonstrated by the deadly intensification of Hurricane Katrina before its landfall in 2005, draw strength from warm waters on the ocean's surface. The patents describe a system for strategically placing turbine-equipped barges in the path of storms to chill sea surfaces with cold water pumped from the depths. First requested by Gates and colleagues last year, the patents describe methods "not limited to atmospheric management, weather management, hurricane suppression, hurricane prevention, hurricane intensity modulation, hurricane deflection" to manage storms. Given the scope of the applications, "I suspect these will have a lengthy stay in the examiner's office. They are talking about some interesting issues here," says patent expert Gene Quinn of IPWatchdog.com. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Caldeira declined to comment on the patents. "The bottom line here is that if enough pumps are deployed, it is reasonable to expect some diminution of hurricane power," says hurricane expert Kerry Emanuel of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is not part of the patent effort. Cutting sea surface temperature by 4.5 degrees under the eye of a hurricane would actually kill a storm, he adds. "This would have to be done on a massive scale, but is still probably within the realm of feasibility." Says climate scientist Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University in State College: "Needless to say, there is a whole lot of skepticism about this among tropical meteorologists. But it's not so ridiculous that I would actually dismiss it out of hand. There is certainly an important role of upper ocean mixing on tropical cyclone behavior." Ocean water quickly grows colder with depth, reaching temperatures of 28 to 37 degrees (salty ocean water doesn't freeze at 32 degrees) about 500 feet down. The patents envision sail-maneuvered barges, with conduits 500 feet long, pumping warm water down to the depths and bringing cold water up. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,300 feet. "By cooling a region in the path of a hurricane (over 60 square miles), models suggest we could knock a half- a-category in wind speed out," says Philip Kithil of Atmocean in Santa Fe, an ocean-pumping firm mentioned in Gates' applications. "All the models indicate the path of the storm would be unaffected." In the average year, six hurricanes develop in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico in a season that officially extends from June 1 to Nov. 30. Over the past century, the annual cost of hurricanes to the USA has averaged about $10 billion, according to a 2008 Natural Hazards Review study. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina killed at least 1,800 people and caused at least $81 billion in damage. "From a scientific and political standpoint, (the Gates plan) looks fanciful," Quinn says. "But the physics is real and like a lot of things, the question is whether the damage you prevent is worth the money you would spend to develop something so massive."

Background on Terrorism and Public Opinion in Indonesia***

In the wake of the coordinated bombings at the J.W. Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton in Jakarta, Indonesia, START has assembled relevant background information on terrorism and views of terrorism in Indonesia, drawn from ongoing START research projects.

For full press release, see attached or go to
http://www.start.umd.edu/start/media/Background_on_Terrorism_Public_Opinion_Indonesia.pdf.

San Fran Light rail crash updates

San Fran Light rail crash Video from scene shows one train car with substantial damage to front end..KTVU reporting several severely injured. 60 injured - looks like multiple c-spine precautions - EMS using buses for walking wounded... Crash occurred at West Portal Station on outbound platform.http://www.ktvu.com/news/20101959/detail.html KTVU A triage area has been set up at Claremont Blvd. and Ulloa St. CBS 5 reporting 60 injured in light rail crash - 3 seriously injured... http://cbs5.com/local/muni.crash.collision.2.1091623.html

Be well. Practice big medicine.

Hal

FlashNet Event

Jul 18, 2009 20:31 Afghanistan: Taliban releases 28min video showing US soldier being held hostage

The First Israeli International Conference on Healthcare System Preparedness & Response to Emergencies & Disasters

The First Israeli International Conference on Healthcare System Preparedness & Response to Emergencies & Disasters (IPRED)

11-14 January 2010

Tel Aviv, Israel

The Israeli Ministry of Health and the Israel Home Front Command will be hosting the First Israeli International Conference on Healthcare System Preparedness and Response to Emergencies and Disasters. The meeting will provide an opportunity for professionals from around the world to share the latest findings and new experience regarding health system readiness for disasters and emergencies of all types.

Conference Aims:

1. To provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, experience and lessons learned for
practitioners and researchers involved in the field of preparedness and response to
emergencies and disasters.

2. To promote international networking between health care professionals in the fields of
preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters.

3. To enhance international research collaboration in the field of emergency and disaster
medicine and public health preparedness.

The IPRED scientific committee invites professionals interested in the various aspects of preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters to submit abstracts of papers for presentation at the conference. Proposals for oral or poster presentations are welcome. Please submit your abstracts through the IPRED web-site.

Arlington Cty AAR

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/Fire/Documents/after_report.pdf

Jakarta attacks FOX NEWS

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Homicide bombers who checked in as guests smuggled explosives into American luxury hotels in Indonesia's capital and set off a pair of heavy blasts that killed eight people and wounded more than 50, investigators said Friday.

The near-simultaneous bombings ended a four-year lull in terror attacks in the world's most populous Muslim nation. At least 18 foreigners were among the dead and wounded.

The blasts at the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, located side-by-side in an upscale business district in Jakarta, blew out windows and scattered debris and glass across the street, kicking up a thick plume of smoke. Facades of both hotels were reduced to twisted metal. An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw bodies being shuttled away in police trucks.

Alex Asmasubrata, who was jogging nearby, said he walked into the Marriott before emergency services arrived and "there were bodies on the ground, one of them had no stomach," he said. "It was terrible."

Click here to view photos.

Two Australians and a New Zealander were believed to have been killed, but there was confusion about the exact number of victims.

"I have grave concerns for three Australians following the terrorist bombings in Jakarta earlier today," Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters late Friday. "One of these Australians is an Australian Embassy official. These figures may be the subject of further change."

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the attack was carried out by a "terrorist group" and vowed to arrest the perpetrators. He also suggested a possible link to the national election last week that is expected to hand him another five-year term as president, but he provided no details.

Suspicion will fall on the Southeast Asian Islamist militant group Jemaah Islamiyah or its allies. The network is blamed for past attacks in Indonesia, including a 2003 bombing at the Marriott when 12 people died.

"Those who carried out this attack and those who planned it will be arrested and tried according to the law," a somber-looking Yudhoyono told a news conference.

Manchester United football team canceled a planned visit to Indonesia. The team had been scheduled to stay at the Ritz on Saturday and Sunday nights for a friendly match against the Indonesian All Stars, the Indonesian Football association said.

Jakarta police chief Maj. Gen. Wahyono said two homicide bombers carried out the attacks at the hotels. The suspects of the Marriott bombing stayed on the 18th floor, where un-detonated explosives were found after Friday's twin explosions.

"There were several perpetrators," he told reporters. "They were disguised as guests and stayed in room 1808."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton condemned the bombings as reflecting "the viciousness of violent extremists" and said they "remind us that the threat of terrorism remains very real." She said the United States was prepared to provide assistance if requested by the Indonesian government.

The European Union condemned the blasts as "brutal."

The Marriott was hit first, followed by the blast at the Ritz two minutes later.

Security Minister Widodo Adi Sucipto told reporters at the scene the hotel blasts happened at 7:45 a.m. and 7:47 a.m. (0045 GMT, 8:45 p.m. EDT) and that "high explosives were used." He said eight people were killed and 50 wounded.

Anti-terrorist forces with automatic weapons were rushed to the site, and authorities blocked access to the hotels in a district also home to foreign embassies.

"This destroys our conducive situation," Sucipto said, referring to the nearly four years since a major terrorist attack in Indonesia — a triple homicide bombing at restaurants at the resort island of Bali that killed 20 people.

The security minister and police said a New Zealander was among those killed, and that 17 other foreigners were among the wounded, including nationals from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, South Korea the U.S. and Britain.

The dead New Zealander was identified by his employer as Timothy David Mackay, 62, who worked for cement products manufacturer PT Holcim Indonesia. He was reportedly attending a business meeting at the Marriott Hotel when the explosions occurred.

Noel Clay, a U.S. State Department spokesman in Washington, said that several American citizens were among the injured. Three Americans were listed as patients at the Metropolitan Medical Center hospital.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, but terrorism analyst Rohan Gunaratna said the likely perpetrators were from the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah.

"The only group with the intention and capability to mount attacks upon Western targets is Jemaah Islamiyah. I have no doubt Jemaah Islamiyah was responsible for this attack," he said.

There has been a massive crackdown in recent years by anti-terrorist officials in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation of 235 million, but Gunaratna said the group was "still a very capable terrorist organization."

Police have detained most of the key figures in the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah and rounded up hundreds of other sympathizers and lesser figures.

But Gunaratna said radical ideologues sympathetic to the group were still able to preach extremism in Indonesia, helping provide an infrastructure that could support terrorism.

In October 2002 two Bali nightclubs were attacked killing 202 people, many of them foreign tourists. Jemaah Islamiyah was accused of responsibility.

Stop the Spread! A Toolkit for Preventing the Spread of Germs in Clinics and Office Settings

Stop the Spread! A Toolkit for Preventing the Spread of Germs in Clinics and Office Settings

This tool focuses on infection control measures clinics and office settings can take to prevent the spread of germs, including influenza. It was developed to engage the medical community in pandemic flu preparedness. It has been reviewed by infection control professionals as well as those who work in offices and medical clinics. It includes office and clinic information, patient education materials, and an audio presentation on infection control measures. It is available in a CD-ROM format and materials are customizable to your local public health department. Download a copy of the toolkit here! Once you have downloaded the zip file to your C:\ drive, extract the files to your C:\ drive and then please click on the DHHS.exe file to activate the program.

The Colony

Announcing the Discovery Channel’s new ten-part TV series: The Colony.

Ten episodes will follow the lives of volunteers living in a simulated post-catastrophic environment. One of DomPrep’s featured writers, Adam Montella, serves as the series "catastrophe expert" and homeland-security advisor.

Montella and other psychology and engineering experts assisted the show’s production company – Thom Beers’ Original Productions (Deadliest Catch, Pitchmen) – in creating the catastrophic environment for the Colonists. Throughout the series, Montella and the other experts will provide commentary on the participants’ progress and offer advice to viewers on the tactics necessary for survival.

The Colony premieres on the Discovery Channel at 10:00 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, 21 July.

Each Wednesday throughout the series, DomesticPreparedness.com and the DPJ Weekly Brief will feature a short article on the show’s central theme – i.e., the one shown on the previous night. The goal of the articles is to explore the very real consequences of a catastrophic disaster and to provide a forum for discussion in hopes of improved planning, response, and recovery operations before, during, and after a major catastrophic event.

Aviation exercise

Lehigh Valley Intl. Airport is having a drill with a simulated plane crash.

We will be using a real Boeing 727 aircraft as the prop. and victims will be in or around the aircraft.

Victims will be transported to local hospitals in an ambulance or flown in a medical helicopter.

We will need people to be the victims for this drill, 70 plus.

There will be food provided, breakfast and lunch.

Times are from 730 am to about 1 pm.

September 12, 2009

This is an excellent opportunity to take part in HSEEP standard exercises. For additional information, contact Aaron.

Assistant Director/Emergency Manager

Assistant Director/Emergency Manager

(Environmental Health & Safety Professional- Advanced Level)

Serves as the focal point of the emergency management business continuity and disaster resistance program for the UNCW campus.

Under the supervision of the Director of EH&S, works independently and as part of a team to support the development and implementation of the university's emergency management and business continuity programs and other EH&S training and communication efforts. Responsibilities include the coordination of all emergency management activities including development, implementation and review of emergency and disaster plans, procedures, communications and training. Supervises one employee who will assist with emergency management and business continuity programs. This position is heavily involved with all four phases of emergency management including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. This position is 'on-call' on a 24/7 basis and is required to respond to a variety of emergencies/disasters as needed.

Must demonstrate a firm understanding of emergency management including the principles of planning, mitigation, response and recovery. Must be able to develop and maintain excellent relationships with partners both within and outside the UNCW community, on a local, state, and national level. Must demonstrate the ability to prepare written plans with little administrative support and guide exercises and drills. Must demonstrate excellent written and verbal communications skills. Must demonstrate the ability to prepare reports, plans and presentations for a wide audience from staff members to senior administration. Must demonstrate a willingness to be flexible. Must demonstrate the ability to remain calm and make appropriate decisions in potentially stressful situations.

Requires a four year degree from an appropriately accredited institution; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Completed training in ICS (Incident Command System) and NIMS (National Incident Management System) through NIMS Level 400 strongly preferred. Prefer CEM (Certified Emergency Manager) certification or intent to pursue this certification within the next 12 months. Prefer NIMS (National Incident Management System) 400, HAZWOPER and HSEEP (Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program) training.

To receive consideration: You must apply online at https://jobs.uncw.edu by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, July 27, 2009. You will be required to attach a cover letter and a resume to successfully apply for this position. Mailed, e-mailed faxed and/or hand-delivered materials will not be accepted. If you have questions regarding the online application process, please contact Human Resources at 910-962-3160.

UNC Wilmington actively fosters a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment and is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified men and women from all racial, ethnic, or other minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Gordon Deno, CEM

Wilson County Emergency Management

Wilson, NC

(252)399-2830

Homeland Security Television Returns–HSTV

Thanks Scott,

Homeland Security Television Returns–HSTV

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) confirmed that the Homeland Security Television is back online. The Homeland Security Television Channel (HSTV) is the world’s first online, on-demand television dedicated to homeland security and global development. It features broadcast-quality video programs that focus on all aspects of homeland security and the role of global development in fighting terrorism.

Viewers can watch a select group of programs that run 24/7 with the daily group of shows looping every 24 hours for free. (There is a minor monthly fee to access all the titles available in their archives.) HSTV in coming months will add new titles and programs, including a training capability featuring some of the nation’s leading authorities in homeland security, counterterrorism, information sharing, and disaster response. Titles that might interest first responders include “IEDs in America, Standing Strong, The Resilient Community, and “Ridge on Risk Management.”

According to president of HSTV, it is also dedicated to facilitating rapid awareness of new technologies and services, and assisting in the transfer of those technology solutions to the government and critical infrastructure marketplace. The online and on-demand television program contains an interactive component that features a blogging and social networking platform to enable community discussions of security challenges on a global scale.

Web Page for First Responders

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) found that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a web page dedicated to first responders. As seen at this web page for First Responders, DHS is committed to helping responders nationwide by ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared, equipped, and trained for any situation, and by bringing together information and resources to prepare for and respond to a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency.

Updated on an as-needed basis, the information on the web page includes resources from across DHS, as well as quick links developed to address some of the most frequently asked questions by emergency personnel. The web page also has information regarding standards and guidelines, grants, training and exercises, and local resources. Some of the quick links include National Exercise Schedule (NEXS), Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov), and Target Capabilities List (TCL).

7th Annual International Emergency Preparedness Symposium

Downtown Hospital Announces Emergency Preparedness Symposium

New York Downtown Hospital is pleased to announce that the 7^th Annual International Emergency Preparedness Symposium will be conducted on Thursday, September 10, 2009, at the Goldman Sachs Training Center at 32 Old Slip in Lower Manhattan. The Symposium will run from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and will focus on Influenza Pandemic.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Staying safe relies on good planning and preparation.”

Featured speakers will discuss and review the medical, governmental, corporate and social responses to an Influenza Pandemic and the actions planned to protect the public. Each year, the Hospital brings together emergency preparedness specialists from all over the world to share their expertise with health care professionals, emergency response personnel, and community leaders.

Space is limited, therefore early registration is encouraged. To register, please send your name and title, institution, address, daytime phone number, and email address to Symposium@DowntownHospital.org. Once your request is received, you will receive an email confirmation within ten days if space is available.

This Symposium is offered at no charge through the generous support of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

Various articles of interest

Hope all is well. I have linked three interesting documents to the class resource room. Enjoy. Two of the documents address adversary targeting and successes and failures of such attacks. The third document is about critical thinking in the field of emergency management.
1. http://www.rand.org/pubs/occasional_papers/2009/RAND_OP256.pdf
2. http://www.homelandsecurity.org/hsireports/Reasons_for_Terrorist_Success_Failure.pdf
3. http://www.bepress.com/jhsem/vol6/iss1/36/

Pakistan: Taliban buying children for suicide attacks - CNN.com

Pakistan: Taliban buying children for suicide attacks - CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/07/pakistan.child.bombers/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

You Might Find This "Of Interest"

Hi Aaron:

Thought that you might find this to be "of interest" to you and your students.

This was filmed in the Bekka Valley, Syria which is the seat of a lot of terrorist training for attacks against Israel and other countries.

The musical score is a bit trying.

Great working for you. Hope we can do it again.

Stay safe,
Jack

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) is the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict.

http://www.iiss.org/

(Free) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Planning course Garden Grove CA

California Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the California Health and Human Services Agency

Presents

Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Planning (24 hour) course

Delivered by the Center for Domestic Preparedness Noble Training Center

This course is Free

August 4-6, 2009 in Garden Grove, CA

Open Position

POSITION VACANCY

TITLE OF POSITION:
Communications Specialist

STATUS:
Full-time

DEPARTMENT:
Safety and Security

QUALIFICATIONS:
Comprehensive knowledge of communications equipment and technology resources.
Proven understanding of Philadelphia police and fire rescue communication protocols
Effective written and verbal communication skills
Valid drivers license and clean driving record

EDUCATION REQUIRED:
Bachelors degree in related field or the equivalent experience in a security technology field

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Ensure state and federal compliance with crime reporting regulations utilizing a comprehensive records managemnt system as well as interacting with Philadelphia Police Records and all state and federal resources. Manage system to collect scheduling/event information to facilitate access control, departmental operations and customer service to callers. Maintain all appropriatesafety and regulatory information for communications center operation.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
Philadelphia University provides a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Please submit a cover-letter, resume and contact information for three professional references to: Assistant Director of Safety and Security, Philadelphia University, School House Lane and Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144 or email humanresources@philau.edu.

STARTING DATE:
Immediately

POSTING DATE:
June 2009

Philadelphia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Mumbai transcripts

'Prestige of Islam'
The transcripts, translated into English by Indian authorities, were obtained by the newspaper The Hindu. They showed that the terrorists were in constant contact with their leaders back home and received ongoing encouragement, guidance and support throughout the three-day siege. The attackers were told their actions, and their deaths, would uphold the "prestige of Islam."

The two terrorists who manned the siege at the Nariman Chabad House were coached through the process by telephone while their handlers watched the events unfold on television, according to the first folder of the dossier:

"Throughout the operations, the terrorists received instructions over telephone from their controllers. The controllers warned the terrorists about the use of helicopters and about the landing of commandos on the terrace…. The police recovered two Kalashnikov rifles, four magazines, three pistols, about 250 live rounds of ammunition, four mobile phones and one GPS instrument."

The transcripts of the phone conversations picked up by Indian authorities during the terror attack, as published in The Hindu, follow. All were recorded on November 27, 2008.

Taj Mahal Hotel
0108 hours
Pakistan caller: How many hostages do you have?
Mumbai terrorist: We have one from Belgium. We have killed him. There was one chap from Bangalore. He could be controlled only with a lot of effort.
Pakistan caller: I hope there is no Muslim amongst them?
Mumbai terrorist: No, none.

0126 hours
Pakistan caller: Are you setting the fire or not?
Mumbai terrorist: Not yet. I am getting a mattress ready for burning.
Pakistan caller: What did you do with the dead body [on the boat]?
Mumbai terrorist: Left it behind.
Pakistan caller: Did you not open the locks for the water below? [Thought to be a pre-arranged plan to sink the vessel.]
Mumbai terrorist: No, they did not open the locks. We left it like that because of being in a hurry. We made a big mistake.
Pakistan caller: What big mistake?
Mumbai terrorist: When we were getting into the boat, the waves were quite high. Another boat came. Everyone raised an alarm that the Navy had come. Everyone jumped quickly. In this confusion, the satellite phone of Ismail got left behind.

0137 hours
Pakistan caller: The ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad) chief has been killed. Your work is very important. Allah is helping you. The Vazir (Minister) should not escape. Try to set the place on fire.
Mumbai terrorist: We have set fire in four rooms.
Pakistan caller: People shall run helter skelter when they see the flames. Keep throwing a grenade every 15 minutes or so. It will terrorize.

0310 hours
Mumbai terrorist: Greetings!
Pakistan caller: Greetings! There are three ministers and one secretary of the cabinet in your hotel. We don't know in which room.
Mumbai terrorist: Oh! That is good news! It is the icing on the cake.
Pakistan caller: Find those three, four persons and then get whatever you want from India.
Mumbai terrorist: Pray that we find them.
Pakistan caller: Do one thing. Throw one or two grenades on the Navy and police teams, which are outside.
Mumbai terrorist: Sorry. I simply can't make out where they are.

Oberoi Trident Hotel
0353 hours
Pakistan caller 1: Brother Abdul. The media is comparing your action to 9/11. One senior police official has been killed.
Mumbai terrorist 1: We are on the 10th/11th floor. We have five hostages.
Pakistan caller 2: Everything is being recorded by the media. Inflict the maximum damage. Keep fighting. Don't be taken alive.
Pakistan caller 1: Kill all hostages, except the two Muslims. Keep your phone switched on so that we can hear the gunfire.
Mumbai terrorist 2: We have three foreigners, including women. From Singapore and China.
Pakistan caller 1: Kill them.
(Voices of gunmen can be heard directing hostages to stand in a line, and telling two Muslims to stand aside. Sound of gunfire. Sound of cheering voices.)

Nariman House
1945 hours
Mumbai terrorist: Greetings! What did the Major-General say?
Pakistan caller: Greetings. The Major-General directed us to do what we like. We should not worry. The operation has to be concluded tomorrow morning. Pray to God. Keep two magazines and three grenades aside, and expend the rest of your ammunition.
Pakistan caller: Keep in mind that the hostages are of use only as long as you do not come under fire because of their safety. If you are still threatened, then don't saddle yourself with the burden of the hostages. Immediately kill them.
Mumbai terrorist: Yes, we shall do accordingly, God willing.
Pakistan caller: The army claims to have done the work without any hostage being harmed. Another thing: Israel has made a request through diplomatic channels to save the hostages. If the hostages are killed, it will spoil relations between India and Israel.
Mumbai terrorist: So be it, God willing.
Pakistan caller: Stay alert.

2226 hours
Pakistan caller: Brother, you have to fight. This is a matter of prestige of Islam. Fight so that your fight becomes a shining example. Be strong in the name of Allah. You may feel tired or sleepy but the Commandos of Islam have left everything behind. Their mothers, their fathers, their homes. Brother, you have to fight for the victory of Islam. Be strong.
Mumbai terrorist: Amen!

Dossier Handed to Islamabad
The transcripts are part of the three-part dossier of evidence handed over by New Delhi to the Pakistani government this week as proof that the siege emanated from within its borders, a claim previously denied by Islamabad.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated Tuesday, as officials had said for months, that the terrorists could not have been acting alone.

Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman acknowledged Wednesday in response that Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the single surviving terrorist, was indeed a Pakistani citizen. The admission comes after months of hedging by Islamabad, which claimed it could not locate in its databases the only one of the 10 terrorists not killed by Indian commandos during the siege.

Indian officials recovered a fishing trawler that had been hijacked from its Indian owner by the terrorists, as well as GPS instruments, a satellite phone, an 11-seat dinghy and various other articles, which they documented as evidence in the investigation.

NYPD ENGINEERING SECURITY PLAN

The New York City Police Department today (Wednesday July 1, 2009) released a 100-page book, Engineering Security: Protective Design for High Risk Buildings, to assist the New York City building community in preventing and mitigating the effects of a terrorist attack on a building. The study also creates a three-tier system designed to categorize buildings based on risk.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that the purpose of Engineering Security is to help "those in the business of building make their mark on our City's skyline in a way that is both creative and safe."

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said, "To date, no report has been tailored to meet the specific needs presented by New York City's unique risk environment. The NYPD authored Engineering Security to fill that void."

Buildings in New York City require varying levels of security: the vast majority warrant no special precautions, while a mere handful necessitate heightened security. Engineering Security's recommendations address the specific security challenges facing the highest risk buildings in New York. It also recommends that stairwells in new buildings be wider to accommodate evacuation and rescue.

Engineering Security presents an innovative risk-tiering system that categorizes buildings into three tiers – Low, Medium, and High – based on assessed threat, vulnerability, and impact levels. The study includes a worksheet that allows developers to calculate the level of risk their buildings face. A risk calculator that performs the risk-tier calculations based on a few simple inputs, in addition to an online copy of the study, will be available at www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/counterterrorism.shtml

"Recognizing that every building faces unique security concerns, Engineering Security presents not a one-size-fits-all prescriptive approach, but a method for tailoring protective security measures to meet particular needs. Its recommendations are intended as best practices for the building community, not legal requirements," Commissioner Kelly added.

The study's recommendations are organized thematically. They cover perimeter security; building design; access control, screening, and monitoring; emergency preparedness; and air handling and air monitoring systems.

Key recommendations for owners of High Tier buildings include: conduct vehicle threat vector analyses to determine vulnerabilities and develop solutions to mitigate associated threats; orient glass facades away from nearby High Tier buildings; set screening thresholds at levels no higher than the design basis threat level for threats from a contact charge on a structural column; establish control mechanisms to ensure that terrorists do not gain access to documents, such as floor plans and blueprints, containing sensitive security information; ensure that secondary structural elements with direct connection to primary structural elements achieve the traditionally higher fire-resistance ratings set for primary structural elements; and prepare protocols to manage chemical-, biological-, and radiological-release events.

Engineering Security draws from the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau's extensive experience conducting security reviews of high-profile buildings in and around New York City. It is the result of a collaborative effort, led by the NYPD, and informed by the suggestions of the New York City Fire Department, the Department of Buildings, and the Department of City Planning, and by the industry insight of professional associations representing New York City's engineers, architects, and developers.

Established by Commissioner Kelly in 2002, the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau has been at the forefront of local law enforcement efforts to detect and deter terrorism. The mission of the Counterterrorism Bureau is to develop innovative policies and procedures and to implement forward-looking programs to guard against the threat of international and domestic terrorism in New York City.