Emergency Response


Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff

FEMA Readying $3 Billion in FY2009 Preparedness Grants

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, shown here, says the grants program has matured, moving "from capability building to performance-based planning and investment."

GAO Lists Top 'Urgent Issues' for Next Administration

The list is the centerpiece of a new Web site GAO launched that is designed to help make the transition an informed and smooth one across the federal government.

NIOSH Announces NORA Competition Winners

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently announced the winners of the Fiscal Year 2009 Intramural National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) competition. Demonstrating a high level of scientific merit and a focus on translating research into practice, awards were given to 17 projects in diverse areas covering some of the many priority needs in each of the NORA sectors.

Ontario Establishes Safety Team for Health Care Workers

The 17 new health care specialists will improve enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations in health care workplaces for the more than 480,000 workers in Ontario's hospitals, long-term care homes, doctors' offices, medical laboratories and other health care workplaces.

USFA Seeks Students, Instructors for Fire Protection Planning Course

The U.S. Fire Administration is recruiting students and instructor candidates to attend an on-campus pilot class for its new six-day off-campus or state enfranchised course Water-Based Fire Protection System Plan Review.

CPSC Urges Consumers to Replace Batteries in Smoke Alarms

Today is not only the day to change our clocks, it's also the day to replaced smoke alarm batteries, according to an timely reminder from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as Daylight Saving Time ends.

An upclose graphic of the sensor.

Electronic Nose Sniffs Out Unknown Chemical Odors

The great advantage of this system, according to NIST researchers, is that you don't need to expose the array to every chemical it could come in contact with in order to recognize and/or classify them.

AIChE Centennial Celebrates 100 'Modern Era' Engineers

Choosing individuals primarily from the post-World War II era, the Institute's short list of top 100 chemical engineers are categorized for their technical achievements, leadership of the profession, or pioneering work at the frontiers of technology.



Study: Emergency Managers Not Adequately Using Internet for Public Outreach

State emergency management agency Web sites appear to place greater emphasis on reaching first responders than they do citizens of their state or the news outlets. The study urges state emergency planners to recognize that Internet and emerging social media are important public outreach tools.

Nov. 17-18 Symposium Explores Fire Safety in the Next 25 Years

U.S. Fire Administrator Gregory Cade and leaders from a host of agencies and companies are scheduled to speak at the Washington, D.C., event hosted by the Fire Protection Research Foundation.

Applicants Sought for 2009 Harvard Fire Executive Fellowship Program

Application procedures have been announced for the 2009 Harvard program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. The program is once again sponsored through a partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International Fire Service Training Association/Fire Protection Publications (IFSTA/FPP), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Department of Homeland Security - United States Fire Administration (USFA). Each organization will fund the tuition costs of two individuals for a total of eight fellowships.

DHS Setting Up Ammonium Nitrate Regulatory Program

A 2008 appropriations bill directed the agency to "regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate by an ammonium nitrate facility . . . to prevent the misappropriation or use of ammonium nitrate in an act of terrorism." DHS is taking comments until Dec. 19.

photo of London, England

Climate Change Adds UK Flood to Lloyd's Insurance Concerns

The renowned risk insurer has added a major flood to its set of Realistic Disaster Scenarios for 2009. Up to now, Lloyd's has used earthquakes, windstorms, and airlines colliding over large cities to test the strength of individual syndicates and the market as a whole.

AIHA Hires New Executive Director, Renews Alliance with OSHA

Originally signed in 2002, the alliance has resulted in products and resources addressing issues ranging from ergonomics and hazard communication to personal protective equipment and noise and hearing conservation, the groups noted.

More Hispanics Hospitalized for Preventable Hospitalizations

Hispanic adults from both poor and wealthy communities are much more likely than whites to be hospitalized for health problems that good quality outpatient care can prevent or control, such as uncontrolled diabetes and heart ailments, according to the latest report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Wealthy communities in this report have average annual household incomes of $62,000 or greater.

Peters Announces $679 million to Repair Damaged Roads, Bridges

The federal government recently announced it is making $679 million available immediately to states across the nation to cover costs incurred to repair roads and bridges damaged by a variety of natural emergencies and catastrophic events.

Six Common Illnesses among Older Americans Cost More Than $196 Billion

Six major illnesses common among Americans age 65 and older cost more than $196 billion in 2007, according to estimates by researchers at RTI International.

NIOSH Recommends PPE to Prevent Hazardous Drugs Exposure

Exposure may occur when a worker handles drug vials; compounds, administers, or disposes of hazardous drugs; cleans spills; or touches contaminated surfaces.

ambulance

Congressional EMS Caucus Grows to 10 Members

Proponents say the new caucus is needed because a variety of committees oversee the issues facing the profession and federal funding for it.

DHS Adopts NFPA Standards for Hazmat/WMD Incidents

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has adopted two additional NFPA standards for first responders: NFPA 472, Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents and NFPA 473, Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents.

Featured

Artificial Intelligence