Newsroom
Isobutene Leak on I-10 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Early this morning, a tanker truck full of the toxic chemical isobutene was damaged in an accident on Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. You may have noticed diamond-shaped signs, or placards, containing a number on the back of tanker trucks. These placards are required on all trucks carrying hazardous material in the U.S. The […]
Ohio Train Derailment and Ethanol Explosion Illustrates Importance of Planning for Ethanol HazMat Incidents
This week’s Ohio railcar derailment and subsequent ethanol explosion in Ohio is another reminder that ethanol transport poses unique risks for firefighters. Unlike petroleum fires, ethanol fires require special alcohol-resistant foam, or AT-AFFF, to extinguish. However, AT-AFFF foam is still something many fire departments simply do not have on hand. But that is changing. Ethanol […]
A Command Training Center for Multiple Agencies: A Capstone Project
To complete the Masters of Emergency Services Administration program at California State University, Long Beach, Ray Melendrez (Oceanside Fire Department Administration personnel) and I created a capstone project team that embarked on a collaborative undertaking with the Oceanside Fire Department in Oceanside, California. A capstone project is a large project intended to be a tangible […]
“Make No Little Plans; They Stir Not Men’s Blood”, A Tribute to Our Women in Science & Technology
June is National Women in Science and Technology Month. Nationwide only 20% of jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are held by women. As a female CEO of a consulting firm focused on the use of science and technology to improve global safety and security, I’d like to take a moment to recognize […]
6.0 and 5.8 Magnitude Earthquake in Northern Italy: Social Media Resources Guide
Northern Italy has been hit twice in the past 10 days by earthquakes centered in the province of Modena, near Bologna. Tuesday’s (May 28th) 5.8-magnitude quake came nine days after a stronger 6.0 magnitude quake struck the same region in Italy. The quakes have killed at least 16 people and injured 350 more. Estimates are […]
Anthrax Bioterrorism Modeling, an Analysis of Prepositioning Antibiotics and PODS, Part 2
Our continued conversation with Dr. Sid Baccam addresses his basis for determining incubation periods for anthrax and the benefits and challenges of prepositioning antibiotics versus the benefits and challenges of Points of Dispensing (POD) access. If you missed the first part of the interview, click here. Since there has never been a widespread anthrax attack, […]
Anthrax Bioterrorism Modeling, an Analysis of Prepositioning Antibiotics and PODS (Points of Dispensing)
IEM Computational Epidemiologist Dr. Sid Baccam has been working with the Department of Health and Human Services for the past 9 years developing models to analyze response to bioterrorism attacks involving anthrax or other bioterrorism agents. Dr. Baccam has been specifically focused on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) dispensing logistics and its impact on medical consequences. The […]
Conducting Surveys in a Diverse Communications World
In 1999, only 29 percent of U.S. residents used cell phones. Today, more than 91 percent of the U.S. population use cell phones — a 237% increase! Many people, “cord cutters,” as they’re known in the industry, have kicked their landlines to the curb and have only a cell phone number. The number of cord […]
Turkish Rescue Teams Still Looking for Survivors as Death Toll Passes 500
Social Media Resources Guide, Part 5 As the rescue operations continue in Turkey and the death toll surpasses 500, a teenage boy used a rock to dig himself out of a collapsed building and was pulled from the rubble 100 hours after the Turkish quake. See dramatic video below, along with additional social media resources […]
How Social Media Communication During and After Turkey’s Earthquake Is Changing How Emergency Managers Respond
As all emergency managers have heard time and time again, communication is the number one issue discussed during after action reports following an exercise or disaster. By utilizing social media technology day to day, survivors are more prone to use this technology to verify a family member location and safety post disaster. In a blog […]