Emergency Preparedness and Response
Selected Research, Commentary and Congressional Testimony
Racial Profiling Won't Stop Terror — Oct. 11, 2006
At a time when America needs Muslim support to combat terrorism, authorities need to consider the impact of profiling policies carefully. It is perfectly legitimate to subject travelers to additional inspection because of their passport and nationality, or because of their recent international travel indicated by passport stamps, or because of their behavior. But focusing only on young Muslim men will send a message to terrorists that they can evade detection by sending people who do not fit this profile on deadly missions, write K. Jack Riley and Greg Ridgeway.
Speed Low-Risk Travelers Through Increased Security — Sep. 04, 2006
The Transportation Security Administration's ban on carrying liquids and items such as shaving cream and toothpaste onto airplanes is slowing down travel at Los Angeles International Airport and other airports around the United States, and has imposed restrictions that are not sustainable, write K. Jack Riley and Henry H. Willis.
Are We Prepared? Not Quite — Aug. 27, 2006
Nearly five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a year after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Pittsburgh region and the rest of the United States have improved their ability to respond to emergencies. But more can and should be done, writes K. Jack Riley.
Tighten Up Mass-Transit Security — Aug. 22, 2006
While the foiled terrorist plot to use liquid explosives to blow up airliners bound from Britain to the United States has again focused attention on terrorism in the skies, action also is needed to increase security on a far more vulnerable form of mass transit: commuter trains, subways and buses, writes Peter Chalk.
Mississippi Comeback — Aug. 20, 2006
The chief lesson of [Mississippi's] rebuilding experience is that if you have limited funds and other resources, simply spending money on the myriad problems of disaster recovery is not enough. Spending should be guided by research and analysis, not guesswork and politics, write George Penick and K. Jack Riley.
Border Security and the Terrorist Threat — Aug. 08, 2006
Testimony by K. Jack Riley
"[The U.S. has] woefully underinvested in developing, evaluating, and refining a comprehensive and integrated border security strategy. We have invested in numerous border security programs and initiatives but the impacts and costeffectiveness of virtually all of these initiatives is poorly understood."
Analyzing Terrorism Risk — Jul. 25, 2006
Over the last four years, Congress and the Department of Homeland Security have made tremendous progress in maturing homeland security policy... The next step in this process will be to focus on risk reduction and cost effectiveness, but the U.S. Government currently is in the early phases of moving in this direction, writes Henry H. Willis.
Police Personnel Crisis Needs Federal Leadership — May 23, 2006
Communities around the United States are having a hard time recruiting and retaining police officers. They need help from the federal government to meet enormous new challenges that go far beyond traditional local crime-fighting duties, writes Jeremy Wilson.
Information Sharing and Emergency Responder Safety Management — Mar. 30, 2006
Brian A. Jackson gave testimony before the House Government Reform Committee highlighting the processes and capabilities needed to keep responders safe at disaster response operations.
Public Health Preparedness in the 21st Century — Mar. 28, 2006
Nicole Lurie gave testimony before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Subcommittee on Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness on how the United States can best make progress towards a national public health infrastructure with real-time situational awareness.
Security Improvements Needed at Los Angeles International Airport — Feb. 17, 2006
Despite the high level of security at LAX, it may still be viewed by terrorist groups as an attractive target. The airport should reduce the density of people in unsecured areas and add permanent vehicle security checkpoints with bomb-detection capabilities.
Enhancing Emergency Preparedness in California— Jan. 26, 2006
In testimony before the California Little Hoover Commission, Michael Wermuth addressed the role of California and how it should be organized to effectively perform the full range of responses to large scale emergencies – preparedness, response, recovery and prevention, especially in regards to functional integration, chain of command, and management strategies.
Most Los Angeles Residents Unprepared for Terrorist Attack— Jan. 23, 2006
Although most Los Angeles County residents expect the region to be struck by a terrorist attack in the year ahead, only one-third have prepared for the aftermath of an attack, with African Americans and Latinos showing the highest levels of preparedness.
Project Evaluates Public Health Preparedness Exercises— Jan. 19, 2006
The Public Health Preparedness Database is a searchable database designed to help local and state public health departments identify the best exercises to prepare for emergencies, including incidents of bioterrorism.
Health Costs of Katrina — Oct. 10, 2005
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita took a devastating toll on their victims, tragically killing and injuring some and leaving many not only homeless but jobless — deprived of paychecks and employer-sponsored health insurance. Suddenly unable to pay their medical bills, these people — like many others who were poor and lacked health insurance before the hurricanes — now face a health care crisis.
Healing Storm Victims' Mental Health — Oct. 3, 2005
Victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita are now faced with the task of coping with the psychological aftermath of the nightmare storms. Without a major national effort, many may not have the help they need to recover fully, write Kenneth B. Wells and Greer Sullivan.
Natural Disaster Research Could Cut Economic Losses — Jul. 15, 2003
Large property losses from floods, hurricanes, and other natural hazards could be reduced if federally funded research shifted away from weather forecasting and warnings toward better ways to protect people, buildings, and infrastructure.
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Related CommentaryCongressional Testimony
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Energy and Environment Research Area
Prepare for Disaster — Sep. 27, 2005
The glaring lesson in the aftermath of the largest emergency response and relief effort in U.S. history following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is that it is far less painful and expensive to prepare for disasters than to respond to them. We've seen the same lesson following earlier disasters, but have failed to learn its, write Tom LaTourrette and Ed Chan.
Get Proactive with Disasters — Sep. 27, 2005
Imagine if the Army's main strategy for protecting soldiers was to provide more ambulances, hospital beds, and doctors to treat the wounded — instead of relying on defensive measures such as fortifications, tanks, body armor and helmets to protect soldiers from being wounded in the first place. The strategy of responding only after attacks instead of adequately preparing to defend against them sounds absurd. But it is exactly what the federal government, states and localities have done when it comes to protecting people from disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornados and volcanoes, writes Charles Meade.
New Approach Needed to Protect Emergency Responders — Jun. 16, 2004
Better planning, training, coordination and management procedures are needed to protect emergency responders at the scene of terrorist attacks and disasters.
Full DocumentRelated ReportRelated ReportNews ReleaseResearch Brief
Katrina Shows Supply Chain Needs National Attention — Sep. 26, 2005
In its destruction of the Port of South Louisiana, Hurricane Katrina severed an important link in the supply chain that brings products from around the world to America and sends U.S. products abroad. An earthquake, other natural disaster or terrorist attack in Southern California could sever similar links at the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with even more dire consequence, write David Ortiz and Henry H. Willis.
Let Sgt. Friday Fight Terror — Sep. 25, 2005
The suspected Al Qaeda videotape that aired recently and singled out Los Angeles for terror attacks should drive home a point to everyone in Southern California: Local law enforcement agencies need more tools to fight the people who are intent on slaughtering Americans, write Brian Michael Jenkins and Jack Weiss.
Defense Department Unprepared for Domestic Medical Emergencies — Oct. 27, 2004
In the event of a terrorist attack on U.S. soil—or even a naturally occurring incident such as a flu epidemic—the U.S. Department of Defense is limited in its ability to offer medical assistance to state and local authorities.
An Army Strategy for Homeland Security — Oct. 20, 2004
Although responding to terrorist attacks and other domestic emergencies is primarily a civilian responsibility, the U.S. Army has a role in filling gaps in civilian capability. The Army needs to decide whether it should hedge against the risk of not being adequately prepared.
Modeling Climate Change Threat Can Help Improve Policy Decisions — Apr. 7, 2005
Climate change presents decisionmakers with a fundamental quandary: how to address a potentially serious, long-term, and deeply uncertain threat. A project of RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment seeks to address this problem through basic research and computer modeling.
Coping with Stress After Disaster — 2001
As survivors of natural disasters, violent crimes, and war attest, people who are victims or witnesses of a traumatic event often experience symptoms of stress, sometimes for years after. But events in recent years have taught us that individuals need not be present at a catastrophic event to experience stress symptoms.
Public Health Agency Responsiveness Needs Improvement — Aug. 30, 2005
Many local public health agencies around the United States are unprepared to quickly learn about and respond to naturally occurring outbreaks of deadly infectious diseases and to acts of bioterrorism.
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Read the Article at healthaffairs.orgHealth and Health Care Research Area
Criteria for Improving Public Health Preparedness — Jun. 14, 2005
Emergency preparedness exercises are widely used throughout responder communities and critical for success in future public health emergencies. Criteria for evaluating these exercises should ensure their feasibility, reliability, and effectiveness.
Shipping Industry Needs Strategy to Reduce Terrorism Risk — May 24, 2005
The U.S. government should take a stronger role in developing a strategy to prepare the container shipping industry for terrorist attacks and to help the industry recover quickly if attacks occur.
Full DocumentResearch BriefNews ReleaseTransportation and Infrastructure Research Area
Improving Global Health and Public Preparedness — May 12, 2005
Drawing on RAND's expertise in health and foreign policy, the Center for Domestic and International Health Security strives to improve global health, prepare Americans to cope with the psychological effects of terrorism, and strengthen the U.S. public health system.
Twelve Best Practices for Public Health Preparedness — Apr. 20, 2005
U.S. state and local health departments have done much in the past three years to improve their bioterrorism and public health emergency preparedness. Twelve best practices can serve as examples for other communities.
Advance Efforts Can Reduce Damage of Chemical Terrorism — Apr. 1, 2005
Response to a chemical attack could be improved by implementing policies and providing equipment and training to the right individuals. A case study focusing on Los Angeles shows how planning now can save lives and reduce injuries in the future.
Anthrax Attacks Provide Lessons for Future Communication — Feb. 23, 2005
Analysis of communication problems during the anthrax attacks in 2001 suggest that exposed population groups should be enlisted to help public health authorities spread consistent and forthright information about health emergencies.
News ReleaseRead MoreRead the Article at ajph.org (Registration Required)Health and Health Care Research Area
Role of Doctors Critical in Effective Public Health — Jan. 21, 2005
During public health emergencies like the 2001 anthrax attacks, officials must provide clear, accurate information on an ongoing basis and integrate private physicians into the public health response.
Law Enforcement Agencies That Expect Attacks Are Better Prepared — Nov. 17, 2004
State and local law enforcement agencies that believe they are likely to face terrorist attacks are generally better prepared to respond than agencies less concerned about such attacks.
Full DocumentNews ReleaseResearch BriefTerrorism and Homeland Security Research Area
Pocket Guide to Surviving Terrorist Attacks — Sep. 15, 2004
A new pocket guide—available for home printers and Palm handhelds—focuses on simple steps individuals can take to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons.
Pocket GuidesFull DocumentNews ReleaseTerrorism and Homeland Security Research Area
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