Surviving Disaster – Shopping Mall Active Shooter

For terrorists intent on making a statement, a shopping mall is a perfect target. Tonight on Spike TV’s Surviving Disaster, Host Cade Courtley shows you how to survive and escape an active shooting by a group of terrorists in a shopping mall.

Watch The Video Preview here.

How To Survive A Home Invasion – Report Delayed

I had hoped to post a special report on how to survive a home invasion today; however as I began to compile the research and I received your emails, questions and suggestions, the scope quickly grew beyond what I had anticipated. As a result, the post will be delayed for 1 week as we gather additional input and information. This is an important subject and I want to take the time needed to present you with the best strategies, ideas and tools available.

I apologize for the delay, however I believe that it will be worth the wait.

Thank you.

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Surviving Disaster – How To Survive A Home Invasion

Home Invasions – A Growing Epidemic

Surviving Disaster – How To Survive A Home Invasion

Home invasions are on the rise. A difficult economy and increased surveillance and security at many businesses is causing criminals to look elsewhere to perpetrate their crimes and sadly they see peoples homes and residences as much easier and less risky targets.

The result… An epidemic of violent home invasions across the country. This is Part 1 of a 2 part Post

Home invasions are among the most insidious of crimes, shattering the sense of safety and security for children and families for many years after the crime, often for a lifetime. With the rise in these types of crimes it’s important to learn what you can do to safeguard your home and family.

In a recent episode of Spike TV’s Surviving Disaster, host Cade Courtley shows how to fight back if escape is not an option. Watching this episode you will learn how to get out of hand restraints, devise a plan for escape in a life-threatening hostage scenario and how to protect your home and your family when you are the one in danger.

Watch this 11 minute clip, or click the the link to watch the full episode online.

Surviving Disaster – How To Survive A Home Invasion.

Related Post Surviving Disaster premieres on Spike TV

AirManager – Filtration System Could Stop Spread of Germs on Planes

A revolutionary new air filter could help reduce the spread of the H1N1 virus and other illnesses among passengers on board commercial airline flights, British researchers say. The aerospace giant BAE Systems has joined forces with Quest International, a small company based in Cheadle, near Manchester, England, to develop a machine that destroys up to 99.9 percent of infectious viruses and bacteria as well as pollutants that can circulate in the confines of an aircraft, especially on long-haul flights.

The device, called AirManager, uses a controlled electric field to filter out and destroy any airborne particles or germs as they pass through an aircraft’s air conditioning system, emitting only clean, sterilized air.

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Great California ShakeOut Earthquake Drill

Many of the world`s foremost scientists and experts on earthquakes are convening at the annual meeting of the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC). They are joined by leaders of the Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA), who are organizing California`s first statewide earthquake drill at 10:15 a.m. on October 15.

ECA and SCEC leaders strongly encourage all California residents and organizations to:

• prepare for earthquakes;
• practice how to protect against earthquake injury (the purpose of the ShakeOut
  on Oct. 15!);
• learn how to recover quickly by safeguarding property and finances in
  advance.

With one month until the 2009 ShakeOut, more than 4.6 million people-in businesses, government offices, neighborhoods, schools, and as individuals-have been registered at www.ShakeOut.org. Last year, 5.4 million people participated in the Great Southern California ShakeOut. The drill is now statewide, and will be an annual opportunity to improve preparedness and practice protective actions.

“We think we can easily surpass last year`s numbers, but only if people, schools, businesses and organizations register on the ShakeOut website,” saidMark Benthien, executive director of the Earthquake Country Alliance and director for communications of SCEC. “Registering allows us to know what people are planning for their drills and how many people are involved. We can also send them updates and preparedness information.”

“September is National Preparedness Month and is a time for individuals and families to prepare for all potential hazards, including earthquakes. In California, Preparedness Month will be followed with an earthquake drill in October to test our readiness-it`s called the Great California ShakeOut,” added Matthew Bettenhausen, California Emergency Management Agency Acting Secretary. So act now to secure contents in your home or office so they won`t fall, organize your emergency supplies, and update your family emergency plan. Then on October 15 practice Drop, Cover and Hold On.”

Drop, Cover and Hold On is the recommended procedure in an earthquake. People should quickly get under a heavy table or desk to avoid being hit by falling objects-or get on the ground next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms. People can learn what to do, no matter where they are when the earthquake strikes, at www.dropcoverholdon.org. Regional information, such as details about earthquake hazards, lists of who is participating, and much more can be accessed using a clickable California map on www.ShakeOut.org.

All areas of California have experienced earthquakes in the past and there are hundreds of faults throughout the state that can have large earthquakes. A 2008 report (www.scec.org/ucerf) estimates that there is a 50% chance of a magnitude 7.5 or greater earthquake somewhere in California anytime in the next 30 years. While some areas are less likely than others to have such earthquakes, residents in those areas may visit more active areas. So everyone should know what to do during strong shaking.

This is a good time, as well, for people to review their financial preparation. Everyone should have cash on hand and copies of account numbers and insurance policies handy. A general homeowners or renters policy does not cover earthquake damage. People should call their own insurance agent, or go to the California Earthquake Authority Web site (www.earthquakeauthority.com), to view a list of participating insurance companies who sell earthquake insurance.

Visit Great California ShakeOut Website

Electric Grid, Emergency Communications Vulnerable To EMP Weapons

Gale Nordling, president and CEO of Emprimus, recently testified before the Congressional Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, Science and Technology about how electromagnetic devices can be used against public infrastructure, specifically the electric grid. Such devices can disable systems controlled by computers and significantly disrupt emergency-response operations from fire protection to homeland security, Nordling said.

“When terrorists intentionally use electromagnetic interference they are able to interfere with security systems, communication systems and operation systems,” Nordling said in an interview with Urgent Communications.

Every year, U.S. infrastructure becomes increasingly dependent on integrated, circuit-based electronic control systems, computers and electronically stored data. As a result, Nordling said a growing use of non-nuclear electromagnetic pulse/intentional electromagnetic interference (EMP/IEMI), including radio-frequency weapons, poses a danger to the national electric grid, manufacturing control and distribution systems, corporate data and emergency-response operations. In addition, communication between first responders would be negligible because the cell and repeater towers would go down because they rely on the energy from the grid.

“It would depend on the kind of facility that would be hooked to the power grid that would determine the degree of harm that would occur, such as if it was a hospital or a 911 communication call center,” he said.

Source

Ready.gov Unveils New PSA – World Upside Down

September is National Preparedness Month. To urge all Americans to be prepared for unexpected emergencies, Cramer-Krasselt/Chicago, in conjunction with its network shops in New York, Milwaukee and Phoenix, has just unveiled a new public service TV commercial called “World Upside Down” that makes its point with pointed ad copy and visuals that are both artful and quite gripping.

The voiceover copy in the 60-second version of the spot asks viewers to imagine what their world would be like if a disaster struck without warning, and their lives were suddenly turned upside down.

The public service announcement depicts a family and its furnishings suddenly being chaotically upended.

As the ad copy asks us to contemplate such a turn of events, the commercial shows a family and the furnishings in their home suddenly being chaotically upended. The chilling effect is intensified by C-K’s decision to visualize the moment in ultra slow-motion, which turns the potential horror of it all into something almost like poetry in motion.

Still, the important and sobering message is not lost. Viewers of “World Upside Down” will surely come away from it with a good reason to visit the Web site www.ready.gov, where there is factual information about preparing oneself and/or one’s family for an emergency.

Source

FCC Releases Report On Emergency Preparedness

The FCC has released a report on its ability to respond in natural disasters, terrorist attacks, public health emergencies, and other events. The report, “FCC’s Preparedness for a Major Public Emergency,” was put together by the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau in response to a 30-day review launched by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

“The FCC has an important role to play in ensuring that our nation’s communications infrastructure serves our public safety needs,” Genachowski said. “The Public Safety Bureau’s thorough review concluded that the agency is ready to respond to emergencies, but there is more work to do to maximize the agency’s readiness. The public safety challenges we face are ongoing, dynamic, and growing. Today’s report outlines concrete steps the FCC can and will take to better support public safety communications and protect our nation.”

The report, while concluding that the FCC is prepared to keep essential communications open in an emergency, found that the commission could improve its planning and response in the areas of education and training, outreach and collaborations, emergency operations and alerts, and network analysis.

Recommendations include a plan for improving the Continuity of Operations and Pandemic plans, and reviews and revisions as needed for emergency procedures in the FCC’s 24/7 operations center. The EAS system is also being reviewed with other agencies to account for “next-generation technologies.”

Source

Report

American Preparedness : Findings From the 2009 FEMA Citizen Corps National Survey

FEMA’s Citizen Corps Surveys offer comprehensive data on the public’s thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors related to preparedness and community safety for multiple types of hazards. Findings from these surveys provide valuable insights for increasing personal preparedness, civic engagement, and community resilience. These findings are particularly relevant as we prepare for a possible pandemic flu outbreak, hurricane season, and other hazards.

Results from this study have important implications for the development of more effective communication and outreach strategies to achieve greater levels of preparedness and participation.

Source

• Personal Preparedness In America: Findings From the 2009 Citizen Corps National Survey– Full Report (PDF, 700K)
• Personal Preparedness In America: Findings From the 2009 Citizen Corps National Survey– Summary Sheet (PDF, 95K)
• Personal Preparedness In America: Findings From the 2009 Citizen Corps National Survey– Power Point Presentation
• FEMA Research Provides New Insights On Personal Preparedness– News Release, Aug 24

9/11 Drill Down For Safety – Getting America Prepared

It has been eight years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington killed some 3,000 innocent people. How soon we forget. Fortunately, there are people like Len Pagano who haven’t forgotten. Pagano is president and CEO of the Safe America Foundation, located in Marietta. On Sept. 11, Safe America rolls out a project called, “9/11 Drill Down for Safety,” a series of emergency drills designed to teach businesses and families how best to respond to emergency situations ranging from natural disasters to terrorist thuggery.

Former Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta is the honorary chairman of the program, which has the backing of the National Association of Emergency Managers, the U.S. Medical Reserve Corps, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a host of corporate sponsors.

In a news conference at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mineta said, “Safe America is championing this project because we believe we need to shift the attention from what government can or can’t do to what individuals and families can do on their own. If individuals are trained, they are just as likely to survive on their own than if they wait for first responders to arrive.”

Pagano estimates there will be as many as 200,000 people involved in the “9/11 Drill Down for Safety Program.” Among the drills will be efforts to test how special needs populations can be evacuated, determining the most effective way to communicate to high school and colleges students through text messages and looking at how to shelter people in a business location.

The drills will be as varied as the locations in which they take place. In Atlanta, UPS will simulate how to protect employees during a potential tornado. The Allstate Insurance office in Marietta will do an employee family preparedness plan. York, Maine will conduct neighborhood preparedness drills. In Washington, D.C., Howard University will carry out student pre-evacuation program planning. San Francisco will focus on day care centers.

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Safe America Foundation

Make The Pledge On Facebook

Twitter Could Help In A Disaster

Text messaging, Twitter and social networking Web sites could help families stay in touch in the wake of a disaster, a national safety group said Tuesday.
The Safe America Foundation announced a campaign to train families about alternate ways of staying in touch if traditional communication methods are not working. The Atlanta-based group is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on this “Drill Down for Safety” program to make people more aware of communication options during an emergency.

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Congressman Pushes Bill To Prepare For EMP Threat

America’s electric grid is vulnerable to attack from electromagnetic weaponry, and building a smart grid might make it worse, says Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD). Bartlett, a former research scientist and engineer, offers his solution for securing U.S. electronics from attack.

“The more sophisticated we become, the more vulnerable we are,” said Bartlett. “There’s a huge concern about cyber-attacks on the grid. Well a really robust nuclear EMP lay-down means microelectronics across the country would be shut down and you have no power…there’s one event that we will not avoid, and that is a solar electromagnetic interference, solar storm. If we have a big one like the one that occurred back in 1859, that would shut down the whole grid for quite a long while. It would cost about $100 million to protect much of the grid, but if the grid went down, it would cost us between $1 trillion and $2 trillion in damages, and the loss of life could be horrendous if in fact you were without electricity for months at a time. There’s a bill in the House, and it’s got to go through the Energy and Commerce Committee.”

Read Full Article WND

Listen To NPR Interview With Congressman Bartlett

Ready Classroom – Free Emergency Preparedness Teaching Materials

Ready Classroom – With school starting in many areas, we want to remind you of a terrific emergency preparedness resource for teachers. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Ad Council have joined with Discovery Education to launch Ready Classroom, an online educational program. Ready Classroom will provide elementary and middle school teachers with resources to integrate natural disaster preparedness information into their curriculum. The program is an extension of Ready Kids, a nationwide effort designed to encourage children and families to take action and prepare for emergencies.

The online resource, provides teachers with activities, lesson plans and multimedia tools that teach students how natural disasters develop and inspires them to build their own emergency preparedness plans with their families. The site features grade-specific lesson plans (K-8), videos, games, puzzles and bulletin board recommendations.

“Engaging with children on the topic of emergency preparedness in conjunction with the science curriculum taught in schools is an effective way to bring home the preparedness message.” said Corey Gruber, Acting Deputy Administrator of FEMA’s National Preparedness Directorate. “This program with Discovery Education will empower children and families to take the important steps necessary to minimize the impact of a disaster and, ultimately, continue our efforts to encourage a culture of preparedness.”

To coincide with the launch of the site, Discovery Education is promoting this new resource online at www.discoveryeducation.com and to elementary and middle school educators nationwide through its professional learning community, the Discovery Educator Network.

“This is a wonderful extension of Ready Kids that will educate teachers, students and families about possible emergencies that may affect their schools and communities,” said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. “Through these interactive tools teachers will help motivate their students to take the steps necessary to be prepared.”

Ready Kids is an extension of the Ready Campaign, which engages Americans in taking three simple steps to be prepared for emergencies: (1) Get an emergency supply kit; (2) Make a family emergency plan; and (3) Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses.

“Discovery Education is pleased to partner with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Ad Council to bring this important information into America’s classrooms,” said Mary Rollins, Discovery Education Vice President of Education Partnerships. “By educating children about the science behind natural disasters through high-quality digital content, Ready Kids helps educators better engage students on emergency preparedness issues.”

By following simple preparedness steps in advance, Americans can reduce the impact of emergencies on themselves, their family and their businesses. Individuals can visit www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY, to access free materials that will help them prepare their families.

Ready Classroom

N.J. Law Would Require Monthly School Homeland Security Drills

Editor’s note - Excellent piece of legislation coming out of New Jersey House & Senate mandating monthly security drills. I encourage you to pass this article along to the legislators in your state. As Assemblyman Frederick Scalera points out, it makes little sense to have a plan and seldom if ever practice it.

A bill that is expected to enter the New Jersey Senate, would mandate that all public and nonpublic schools in the state of New Jersey to conduct monthly school security drills. If passed by the Senate, students and faculty would be required to practice emergency response procedures such as non-fire evacuation, lockdown and active shooter response drills.

Assemblyman Frederick Scalera, a primary sponsor of the bill, said that all schools in the state are currently required to have an emergency security plan in place, but many school staff do not feel comfortable with the procedures. “The problem brought up to me by teachers was that they knew they had a plan, but they don’t have a drill [to practice it], or they only have a drill one time a year,” he said.

This bill would require all schools to conduct one school security drill per month along with one fire drill per month, he said. Currently, all schools are required to conduct two fire drills each month.

Scalera said the primary goal of this bill is to familiarize school staff and students with non-fire evacuation procedures so students and staff would know what to do in case of an emergency. “Kids don’t panic for fire drills. I want to make Homeland Security drills the same thing so kids won’t panic,” he said. “This way everybody knows what they’re supposed to be doing at all times.”

Ken Trump, president of consulting firm National School Safety and Security Services, said that more and more states are adopting similar legislation to require lockdown and other school security drills. “Practicing security drills, like fire drills, saves lives and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be preparing students for that potential threatening situation, just as we do for weather and other natural disasters that can potentially occur,” Trump said.

Trump encourages schools to not only run these drills, but to diversify the time of the day to make it more challenging and complicated for students. “Schools should make students think on their feet and seek alternative routes and strategies,” he said. “An evacuation drill during lunchtime is more challenging and disruptive, but school administrators tend to avoid practicing during that time, but that’s when students are more vulnerable and an incident is more likely to occur.”

House Bill A3002 unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee on May 4 and Scalera said he expects it will pass the Senate.

via Law would require monthly school security drills – Security Director News | The Business Newspaper for Security Practitioners.

Radioactive Canadians A Daily Occurrence At U.S. Border

In an effort to catch “dirty” radioactive bombs and weapons of terrorists, the U.S. government has in recent years installed highly sensitive radiation sensors at all of its land, sea and air points of entry. Ten days ago they caught Don Tracey’s radioactive blood.

In what one U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer says is now “a daily occurrence,” American border agents are pulling aside people who have undergone nuclear medical procedures such as stress tests and radiation treatments. You could say they’re now catching Canadians with glowing hearts.

They’re also catching everything from glazed plates made with naturally radioactive earth to industrial radiation sources used in surveying equipment.

The discoveries come as a result of the U.S. installing “radiation portal monitors” so sensitive that they can detect radiation emanating from the luminescent dial of an old Second World War military compass.

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