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Emergency Services and Response

First responders—including police, paramedics, firefighters, and public health agencies—must react to all manner of emergencies, from terrorism to natural disasters. RAND research supports private-sector and government agencies at the federal, state, and local levels that are charged with responding to, mitigating the effects of, and recovering from natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other emergencies.

Testimony

Protecting Emergency Responders at Large-Scale Incidents: Lessons Learned from the Response to the Attacks on the World Trade Center

Testimony presented before the House Education and Labor Committee on September 12, 2007.

Sep 12, 2007
Commentary

Katrina Proved We Must Do Better Job of Protecting Our Protectors

Protecting our [emergency] protectors is more than just the right thing to do; it is critical to maintaining America's capability to respond to future disasters, writes Brian A. Jackson.

Aug 13, 2007
News Release

RAND Study Says Hurricane Katrina Response Shows Need to Tailor Some National Guard Units for Disaster Work

The U.S. Army should change the way it plans for domestic emergencies — both natural disasters and terrorist attacks — to better support state and local first responders, according to a RAND Corporation report issued today.

Jun 4, 2007
Commentary

Is America Prepared for Disaster?

Is America Prepared for Disaster?, in Washingtonpost.com.

May 30, 2007
Research Brief

Learning the Lessons of Hurricane Katrina for the U.S. Army

This research brief highlights the efforts undertaken by civilian and military organizations in response to Hurricane Katrina and discusses a number of steps can be taken to enhance future Army and National Guard disaster-response efforts.

May 17, 2007
News Release

RAND Panel Identifies Key Components of Public Health Emergency Preparedness

April 5, 2007 news release: RAND Panel Identifies Key Components of Public Health Emergency Preparedness.

Apr 5, 2007
Journal Article

Mental Health Risks for Residents Displaced by Wildfires

Residents who have been displaced by the wildfires may experience serious mental health problems. Up to one-third of the residents displaced by the San Diego area fires in 2003 showed symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder and major depression three months later.

Jan 1, 2007
Research Brief

When It Comes to Terrorism, How Prepared Are Local and State Agencies?

This research brief presents results of a survey of state and local response organizations to learn what they have done to improve their ability to respond to terrorist incidents since 9/11, how they have improved, and what still needs improvement.

Nov 7, 2006
Report

Combating Terrorism: How Prepared Are State and Local Response Organizations?

Results of a national survey of state and local response organizations' activities following 9/11 to improve preparedness to deal with terrorist incidents and other disasters.

Nov 1, 2006
Commentary

Forum: Are We Prepared? Not Quite

Published commentary by RAND staff: Forum: Are We Prepared? Not Quite, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Aug 27, 2006
Report

Organizing State and Local Health Departments for Public Health Preparedness

Assesses whether there is a link between how state and local public health departments are organized and their level of emergency preparedness.

May 19, 2006
News Release

RAND Study Proposes Guidelines to Better Protect Emergency Responders at Large Building Collapses

April 24, 2006 News Release: RAND Study Proposes Guidelines to Better Protect Emergency Responders at Large Building Collapses

Apr 24, 2006
Report

Protecting Emergency Responders at Large Building Collapses

In an effort to reduce the extent of injuries like those suffered by emergency responders at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, RAND has proposed guidelines to better protect responders from the chemical, biological and physical hazards that exist following the collapse of large buildings.

Apr 7, 2006
Testimony

Enhancing Emergency Preparedness in California

Testimony presented to the California Little Hoover Commission on January 26, 2006.

Jan 17, 2006
Research Brief

How Prepared Are State and Local Law Enforcement for Terrorism?

A national survey of state and local law enforcement agencies one year after 9/11 shows that agencies have bolstered their preparedness efforts, but substantial variation exists in the approach to preparedness and the preparedness needs of local agen...

Nov 25, 2005
Report

Review of Literature Related to Exposures and Health Effects at Structural Collapse Events

Reviews the possible health effects of the substances present following a structural collapse to help develop federal guidelines for personal protective equipment used by emergency responders.

Nov 7, 2005
Commentary

Prepare for Disaster

Published commentary by RAND staff: Prepare for Disaster in the United Press International.

Sep 27, 2005
Report

Bioterrorism Preparedness Training and Assessment Exercises for Local Public Health Agencies

RAND developed the exercises in this manual as templates that local public health agencies (LPHAs) can customize and use to train public health workers in detecting and responding to bioterrorism events and assessing LPHAs' levels of preparedness.

Aug 4, 2005
Report

Criteria for Improving Public Health Preparedness

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.

May 24, 2005
Journal Article

A Review of Instruments Assessing Public Health Preparedness

The purpose of this study was to review instruments that assess the level of preparedness of state and local public health departments to respond to health threats such as bioterrorism.

Jan 1, 2005

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