As the U.S. marks the ninth anniversary of 9/11, I wanted to post some ideas that I think would help raise citizen preparedness and engagement. The recommendations come from discussions that I have had with people involved in all aspects of the issue, my own experiences as a parent and CERT member in New York [...]
As Nation Marks 9/11 Anniversary, 20 Ideas To Improve Citizen Preparedness & Engagement
September 13th, 2010 · 3 Comments
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The New “Biosecurity Blog”
June 12th, 2010 · 2 Comments
I wanted to bring your attention to a brand new blog authored by Col. Randy Larsen (ret.), Biosecurity Blog.
Randy, a friend of this blog, has an illustrious and varied career in the military, homeland security and communications. Most recently, he was the Executive Director of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction [...]
Tags: Biological Terrorism · Nuclear Terrorism · Preparedness 2.0
New Congressional Legislation Would Require Government To Better Inform Public On WMD’s
June 11th, 2010 · No Comments
A bill, co-sponsored by a bi-partisan group of members of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee and introduced yesterday, would require the U.S. government to better inform the public about weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
Those provisions are part of comprehensivelegislation addressing the WMD threat which is based largely on the recommendations of the Commission on the [...]
Tags: Biological Terrorism · Congress · Nuclear Terrorism
Top DHS Official Says U.S. Has “To Start Thinking Very Seriously About What We Would Actually Do The Day After [A Nuclear Or Biological] Attack” — And Explain To Public We Could Recover
June 10th, 2010 · 3 Comments
A top Department of Homeland Security Department official said yesterday that the U.S. has “to start thinking very seriously about what we would actually do the day after [a biological or nuclear] attack” and explain to the public that we could recover from such an incident.
The speech was reported in an article by Martin Matishak [...]
Tags: Biological Terrorism · Congress · Nuclear Terrorism
“We All Have A Role” — WMD Commission Pamphlet Aimed At Getting Public To Prepare, Organize Community & Ask Officials About Local Readiness
June 5th, 2010 · 2 Comments
Last week, the Kennedy School of Government’s Arnold Bogis gave me a copy of a terrific pamphlet, “We All Have A Role: Working With Your Community to Prepare For Natural and Man-Made Disasters.” It was published by the Commission On The Prevention Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction Proliferation And Terrorism when I was in the hospital, and [...]
Tags: Biological Terrorism · Nuclear Terrorism · Preparedness Resources
Was The Times Square Bomb A “Weapon Of Mass Destruction”? A Case For Redefining Term “WMD” So Public Understands Terror Threats Better
May 14th, 2010 · No Comments
U.S Attorney General Eric Holder announced last week that Times Square bombing suspect Faisal Shahzad would likely be charged “with an act of terrorism transcending national borders, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction [my italics], use of a destructive device during the commission of another crime, and explosives charges.”
I probably was not the only one [...]
Tags: Preparedness Ideas
New Video With WMD Commission’s Graham & Talent Asks ‘Why Weren’t H1N1 Vaccines Available For Children Before School Started?’; Urges Public To Push On Improving U.S. Vaccination Capability
October 28th, 2009 · No Comments
In a new video, Bob Graham and Jim Talent of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, ask: “Why weren’t H1N1 vaccines available for children before school started?” and urge the public to pressure government officials to improve the speed and capacity of U.S. vaccine production.
The two-minute video (below) [...]
Tags: Biological Terrorism · Pandemic Flu
As “WMD” Bill Is Introduced And Terror Suspect Is Indicted For Conspiracy To Use “WMD,” Does The Term “WMD” Need To Be Clarified For Public?
September 25th, 2009 · No Comments
U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)Â said earlier this month he agreed with the findings of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism that a biological attack on the nation is more likely than a nuclear attack.
Lieberman and ranking member Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)Â introduced a bill that [...]
Tags: Biological Terrorism · Nuclear Terrorism · Preparedness Ideas
New Bill Would Require U.S. Provide Better WMD Terror Threat/Evacuation Info To Public; Legislation Would Codify Recommendations Of Commission
September 8th, 2009 · 3 Comments
A bill introduced today by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee’s Chairman, Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and its ranking Republican, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), offers several initiatives to improve the government’s information and planning for the public in the event of a terrorist attack from weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
“The Weapons of Mass Destruction Prevention and Preparedness [...]
Tags: Congress · Preparedness Ideas
Leading Homeland Security Public Communications Expert Appointed Executive Director Of WMD Commission
April 17th, 2009 · No Comments
Randy Larsen, a good friend of this blog and the national security advisor to the Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, has just been appointed Executive Director of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism (WMD Commission). It’s a terrific choice for the Commission as [...]
Tags: Preparedness Groups