White Papers

A vital component in the delivery of community response and recovery from disasters is the reduction of the risks to bridges from hazards, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and ice storms. This handbook provides local, regional, and state governments with suggested mitigation measures that may help to reduce their vulnerability to hazard events that may result […]

With the increase of crude oil transportation in North America, there is an immediate need to improve state and local emergency preparedness and response programs. This paper examines North American crude oil transportation trends and flows to help those states and provinces through which the highest volumes are being transported. This will help states and […]

This paper presents the Mixing Layer Terrain Wind Adjustment Model (MILTWAM) for airflow over complex terrain. MILTWAM is a diagnostic, mass-consistent, wind-field model based on NUATMOS (Ross, 1988). It is specifically designed for use in the D2-Puff dispersion model developed by IEM International, Inc. and it produces realistic estimates of winds, even when only a […]

Policymakers have become increasingly concerned about the possibility of a terrorist attack using a biological agent on a civilian population.  In response to this threat, a federally funded effort has been developed to prepare major U.S. cities and metropolitan areas to respond quickly and effectively to a large-scale bioterrorism event. Points of Dispensing, or PODs, […]

The demand for mission-critical, real-time information is exploding in the Intelligence Community. With sensors becoming increasingly sophisticated, inexpensive, and interconnected, the response to this demand is coming in the form of massive multi-sensor networks. While such systems tantalize us with the ever-increasing potential for analytical omniscience, the reality is that analysts and decision-makers are overwhelmed […]

Say that for any given input value, x, we know how to compute an output value, y. There are many situations in which we know the output value, y, and would like to be able to determine the value of x that produced it. Sometimes this can easily be done using algebra or other math, […]

Every disaster has public health consequences. Having that in the front of our minds as emergency managers can help us be more effective in our jobs and achieve better outcomes for the public. Authored by: Gary W. Scronce, Director of Preparedness Programs, IEM Director of Preparedness ProgramsDate: 04-2015  Download full paper

In a review of Constructing the Suspicious: Data Production, Circulation, and Interpretation by DHS Fusion Centers, Dr. Coffey discusses the role of fusion centers and the importance of the Nationwide SAR Initiative. He explains the significance of liaison officers to the overall success of intelligence and information sharing networks, and proposes a re-examination of intelligence […]

In this article, Dr. Andrew Coffey examines the impacts that the Internet of Things (IoT) could have on domestic intelligence in the United States, as well as the paradox it presents in terms of potential and vulnerability. He discusses the possibility of changing roles and expectations of local agencies, the need for collaboration and coordination […]