The threat of biological weapons and warfare poses particular challenges to government officials charged with devising immediate and longer-term emergency response plans. RAND has developed exercises to train public health agencies to respond to bioterrorism; examined the longer-term psychological consequences of bioterrorism; and created guidelines to improve individual preparedness for chemical, radiological, nuclear, and biological attacks.
RESEARCH BRIEF
Assesses the Department of Defense (DoD) response to three potential anthrax-related incidents at DoD facilities in March 2005 and recommends ways that DoD can improve its incident-response capabilities.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Presents a broad overview of the U.S. public health response system, recent efforts to improve preparedness, challenges faced, and options for moving forward.
NEWS RELEASE
May 9, 2007 news release: RAND Study Finds Terrorist Groups Teach Each Other Deadly Skills.
REPORT
In 2005, three potential anthrax-related incidents occurred at Department of Defense (DoD) mail facilities in and around Washington, D.C. Did DoD respond in line with the National Response Plan (NRP) and National Incident Management System (NIMS)? DoD asked RAND to examine its responses. The authors found overarching issues to be considered and lessons to be learned from all three potential incidents. They saw a need for continued…
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff: Securing America's Ports, in the San Diego Union-Tribune.
REPORT
Individuals can take simple steps to protect themselves from the harmful effects of potential terrorist attacks involving chemical, radiological, nuclear, and biological weapons.
RESEARCH BRIEF
This research brief outlines assistance that RAND provided to the OSAGWI in investigating the health effects of eight areas of possible causes of illness: infectious diseases, pyridostigmine bromide, immunizations, wartime stress, chemical and biological warfare agents, oil well fires, depleted uranium, and pesticides.
REPORT
States and terrorist groups have attempted to recruit and acquire weapons-critical knowledge, skills, and materials from the former Soviet Union. U.S. programs designed to reduce the risk of diversion are outdated and should be adjusted to address the biggest threats.
JOURNAL ARTICLE
The integration of individual components will lead to relatively complicated materials and equipment architectures based on nanotechnology emerging from experiments currently in the laboratory.
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff.
COMMENTARY
Published RAND commentary by RAND staff.
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff.
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff.
REPORT
The 1990-1991 Gulf War made clear the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) need to effectively acquire drugs and biologics, mainly vaccines, as American troops faced the real threat of chemical and biological warfare (CBW) agents being used in combat. More than a decade after the war, DoD still experiences acute obstacles in obtaining CBW defense supplies. In response, the authors look at the department’s relationship…
RESEARCH BRIEF
This research brief describes work documented in Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks (MR-1731-SF).
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff.
REPORT
This issue paper discusses the challenges of measuring preparedness for chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incidents and illustrates the difficulties using detailed, nationally representative data from local response organizations on the existence and exercise of plans to address these types of incidents.
REPORT
The public health and medical communities have long sought to address the threat of biological, chemical, or other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their potential effects on the health and safety of U.S. citizens.
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff.
COMMENTARY
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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