Biodefense Roundtable, Implementation and Operationalization of The National Biodefense Strategy

2019-06-19

The National Biodefense Strategy highlights President Donald Trump's commitment to protect the American people, “and establishes objectives to effectively counter threats from naturally occurring, accidental, and deliberate biological events.” This strategy is intended to guide innovation and collaboration beyond the federal government. The president is targeting this strategy for action by state, local, territorial, and tribal (SLTT) entities, practitioners, scientists, educators, and industry. 

This report is a meeting readout. It relays the sentiments of the many experts who participated but is not an exhaustive analysis of the recommendations and how they should be implemented. It is meant to lay the groundwork for the next steps, which key leaders and policymakers should consider. The information relayed herein is generally reflective of the opinions voiced at the meeting as well as the survey respondents, though any given statement should not necessarily be viewed as consensus.

Cybersecurity A Way Forward

2017-01-10

In an increasingly interconnected world of cyberthreats and defenses, the greater Pacific Northwest Economic Region of the United States has emerged as a national and international leader in information technology. This report highlights the region’s approach to cybersecurity, which can help other regions navigate the cyberworld’s sprawling dangers and opportunities in a whole-of-community context.

Examining Coastal Resiliency: How Policy, Education, Partnerships, and Data Can Help Change the Future

2017-01-10

This report examines coastal resilience and highlights opportunities to improve planning through effective partnerships and data sharing. By recognizing the magnitude of the challenges related to sea-level rise that coastal communities face in developing resilience measures, communities are better equipped to take actionable steps to change the future.

Optimal Biothreat Preparedness: Impeded by Deficits in Funding, Training & Risk Communication

2015-04-01

There continues to be a rise in emerging infectious disease threats, as well as diseases that are reemerging due to globalization, drug resistance, and declining participation in vaccination programs. The outbreak of Ebola proved that, although the United States had plans in place, much of the nation was still surprised by the effects of this deadly virus. To address this topic, Ellen Carlin, D.V.M., led a discussion with subject matter experts at the Texas State Capital. That discussion and survey results from a nationwide audience of preparedness professionals provided content for this report.

Explosives: Prevent, Detect, Deter 'Left of Boom'

2014-10-16

Staying "left of boom" requires effective prevention, detection, and deterrence of explosives and improvised explosive devices. To address this topic, Charles Guddemi led a discussion with subject matter experts at the United States Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility. That discussion and survey results from a nationwide audience of preparedness professionals and the public provided content for this report.

Support to Local Authorities (When They Are Overwhelmed)

2014-03-21

Local authorities must continue to prepare for disasters, despite cuts in grant funding. To address this topic, LTG H. Steven Blum, (Ret.) USA, led a discussion with subject matter experts at the U.S. Air Force Academy's Falcon Club in Colorado. That discussion and survey results from a nationwide audience of preparedness professionals provided content for this report.

Food Defense

2013-12-01

Food, like water and air, is essential to sustain life. As such, when someone deliberately taints that sustenance at any point in the food supply chain, the result can be devastating. This report addresses the topic of food defense, which is of great importance to the preparedness community, but it often is not widely understood, especially outside the food and agriculture sector.

Resilience 2013

2013-11-01

On 18 November 2013, DomPrep hosted an executive briefing at The National Press Club to present the Resilience 2013 - Survey & Report. The survey outlined in this report is the second of a series that Booz Allen Hamilton has partnered on with DomPrep Journal. The survey drills down into policy challenges for federal programs and understanding impacts at the state and local levels, where the majority of the resilience effort is realized.

Planned Special Events: When Things Go Wrong

2013-10-01

Deadly incidents such as the Boston Marathon bombings have raised many concerns among special event planners, emergency managers, and first responders. When an incident occurs at the site of a planned event, which usually has many moving parts, the challenges can become overwhelming. This report goes beyond special event planning to address the unfortunate times when the orderly sequence planned simply "goes wrong."

BIODEFENSE: The Threat, the Cost & the Priority

2013-06-01

The biothreat topic is important not only for the actual risk of attack, but also the perceived risk. To be sufficiently prepared, a balance must be reached - for security, technology, and situational awareness. This report addresses various key components of biodefense - the threats, the costs, and the priorities.

Planned Special Events

2013-01-01

When 10,000 or more people gather for a planned special event, there are many things to consider: risks, credentialing, volunteers, standards, training, transportation, and communication. This report addresses each of these topics from the perspectives of practitioners who share their experience with large-scale events.

Building Resilient Regions for a Secure and Resilient Nation

2012-11-01

Resilience is about mobilizing human potential, especially at the individual citizen and local government level. Through surveys and discussions, key professional decision makers from local, state, and federal governments, non-governmental organizations, and private-sector partners have provided both qualitative and quantitative feedback for building resilient regions. DomPrep has compiled that feedback into a report that lays out a tactical plan for sustaining a resilient nation.

Advancing Technology in Biological Surveillance and Detection

2012-09-27

On 27 September 2012, DomPrep hosted an Executive Briefing on biological detection, specifically Advancing Technology in Biological Surveillance and Detection, at HarvardUniversity’s Faculty Club in Cambridge Massachusetts.

The briefing was lead by DomPrep40 Advisor Jeffrey W. Runge, MD, Principal of The Chertoff Group, and former Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and the first Chief Medical Officer at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (a position he held from 2005 to 2008).

First Responder Hazmat/CBRN Training

2012-05-21

This report focuses on first responder training for hazmat and CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) incidents. Even in an environment of limited funding, there are solutions that can be explored to coordinate response, train team members, and prepare emergency responders for the next hazmat or CBRN event.

Preparedness Goals Associated with the Nuclear Threat

2012-05-02

In 2011, the world witnessed the devastating effects after Mother Nature triggered an accidental "nuclear attack" on Japan. That incident offers a glimpse of what could happen following a deliberate nuclear attack on U.S. soil. On 2 May 2012, Vayl Oxford led a distinguished panel of experts in New York to discuss a very real threat that faces the nation. View results from the latest DomPrep survey and the final report that spurred this discussion as well as ongoing dialogue among attendees.