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Emergency Services and Response

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
commentary
A Coronavirus Election? Look to the Bottom of the Ticket
Patrick S. Roberts @RamblingRoberts
Mar 9, 2020
The Washington Post
As the coronavirus spreads in communities, it will be mayors, county judges, and school superintendents—not federal officials—who make the tough calls about whether to declare a state of emergency or shutter public schools and other institutions.
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Emergency Services and Response
blog
RAND Researchers Visit Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria
Dec 19, 2017
A small team of RAND researchers went to Puerto Rico two weeks after the island was struck by Hurricane Maria. They are compiling their observations into a series of studies for the Army, with recommendations to smooth its response to future disasters.
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Arctic Region
commentary
Being Safer in the Arctic
Abbie Tingstad, Timothy William James Smith
Oct 3, 2016
The National Interest
The Arctic is more accessible than it once was, but it's still a formidable place to travel. An emergency involving a cruise ship or a downed plane could stress the search-and-rescue system. But modest investments and planning measures can make a big difference.
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Public Health Preparedness
commentary
Ebola Shows America Needs Better Disaster Preparedness
Mahshid Abir, Richard Serino
Nov 7, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
Crafting an effective, whole-community strategy to respond to Ebola could stop the spread of the disease now and lay groundwork for responses to future outbreaks and other emergencies. In the long run, this could make public preparedness and resilience valuable assets for the U.S.
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Epidemic
q&a
Your Questions on Ebola, Answered
Oct 21, 2014
Melinda Moore, a RAND public health physician and senior researcher, hosted an 'Ask Me Anything' session on Reddit to answer questions about Ebola, including whether a U.S. travel ban would help prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
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Emergency Services and Response
commentary
Declaring War on Ebola
Stephanie Pezard @StephaniePezard, Michael Shurkin
Oct 10, 2014
Modern Healthcare
Operation United Assistance, which includes the deployment of 3,000 U.S. military personnel to West Africa to respond to the Ebola crisis, is a welcome recognition of the range of missions the military is increasingly able to tackle, particularly in disaster-management assistance.
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Global Health
commentary
Ebola Outbreak: Putting the Public Back in Public Health
Melinda Moore
Oct 9, 2014
The Hill
Medical and public health systems are crucial to controlling the transmission of Ebola and treating patients. But the public's role in becoming aware and engaged, both in West Africa and the United States, cannot be overstated.
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Emergency Services and Response
commentary
An Enduring Need for Better Measures of Emergency Preparedness
Brian A. Jackson
Jun 25, 2014
The RAND Blog
In an era of fiscal austerity, the need for measurement and assessment becomes manifold. Tied to good government goals and responsible stewardship of public funds, measurements are also necessary to educate the public about what it should—and should not—reasonably expect when disaster strikes.
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Aircraft
commentary
Fighting Fires From Above
Edward G. Keating, Dulani Woods
May 15, 2014
The RAND Blog
A newly deployed airborne firefighting resource is helping the United States Forest Service (USFS) battle wildfires, while at the same time providing valuable lessons on the utility and cost effectiveness of water-dropping scooper aircraft.
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Transportation Safety
commentary
Death Is Never Far When You Are at Sea
Anthony L. Russell
May 12, 2014
USA Today
The U.S. marine safety record is impressive, arguably the best in the world. Yet, as the heartbreaking example of the Sewol demonstrates, the United States must never become complacent.
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Wildfires
commentary
Investing in Firefighting
Edward G. Keating, Andrew R. Morral @AndrewMorral, Daniel M. Norton, Dulani Woods
Dec 30, 2013
The Orange County Register
While the U.S. Forest Service has not completely agreed with RAND's proposal to transition to a fleet dominated by water-dropping scooper aircraft for fighting fires, they have leased one CL-415 scooper aircraft. It might be more cost-effective for the USFS to simply purchase it outright.
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Wildfires
commentary
The Desirability of 'Free' C-27s for the U.S. Forest Service
Edward G. Keating, Daniel M. Norton
Sep 6, 2013
The RAND Blog
Although we believe that a scooper-centric firefighting aircraft portfolio for initial attack would still be preferred, Air Force-provided 1,850-gallon C-27Js could be a cost-effective component of the retardant-bearing portion of the Forest Service's airborne firefighting arsenal, write Edward G. Keating and Daniel M. Norton.
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Tanker Aircraft
commentary
Firefighting Aircraft: Is Bigger Better?
Carter C. Price @CarterCPrice
May 20, 2013
The RAND Blog
An aircraft's capacity and speed largely determine the rate at which water or retardant can be applied to a fire. Very large air tankers (VLATs) certainly have the capacity to apply large amounts of fluids to a fire, but because of the distances travelled they may not be able to get a second load very quickly.
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Public Health Preparedness
commentary
Tuberculosis Outbreak in LA Reminds Us of Importance of 'Bread and Butter' Public Health Capabilities
Shoshana R. Shelton
Mar 12, 2013
The RAND Blog
In this fiscally uncertain climate, we should continue to leverage the dual-use benefit of bioterrorism investments by building and maintaining those routine (but essential) public health capabilities that can also be used in response to a variety of public health emergencies.
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commentary
Obama, Congress Can Improve FEMA, Homeland Security
Melissa Flournoy
Dec 21, 2008
The Press-Register
In his campaign, President-elect Barack Obama pledged to rebuild the Gulf Coast — one of the country's most wounded, yet economically strategic, regions.To keep this laudable promise, he will need to make a sustained commitment not only to a national disaster recovery plan, but also a comprehensive economic development strategy for the Gulf Coast, writes Melissa Flournoy.
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Emergency Responders
commentary
Katrina Proved We Must Do Better Job of Protecting Our Protectors
Brian A. Jackson
Aug 13, 2007
Clarion-Ledger
Katrina Proved We Must Do Better Job of Protecting Our Protectors, in the Clarion-Ledger
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commentary
Is America Prepared for Disaster?
Brian A. Jackson
May 30, 2007
Washingtonpost.com
Is America Prepared for Disaster?, in Washingtonpost.com.
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commentary
Forum: Are We Prepared? Not Quite
K. Jack Riley @K_Jack_Riley
Aug 27, 2006
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Published commentary by RAND staff: Forum: Are We Prepared? Not Quite, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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commentary
Prepare for Disaster
Tom LaTourrette, Edward W. Chan
Sep 27, 2005
United Press International
Published commentary by RAND staff: Prepare for Disaster in the United Press International.
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commentary
Prepare the Public
Nicole Lurie, Jeffrey Wasserman
Dec 30, 2004
United Press International
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
How Can Individuals Be Better Prepared for Catastrophic Terrorist Attacks?
Lynn E. Davis
Jun 7, 2004
The Connection
Published RAND commentary by RAND staff.
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commentary
Trains, Buses and Terror
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
May 3, 2004
Mercury News
Published commentary by RAND staff.
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