Emergency Services: First Line of Defense:Dec 4, 2006 The following are some safety precautions for the consideration of incident commanders and safety officers to protect the personnel infrastructure of responding organizations. These recommendations were abridged from the Emergency Response to Terrorism Job Aid, Edition 2.0, 2003, published jointly by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, and Department of Justice:

Disaster Planning Tip -- Don't Plan On Full Staffing:Apr 21, 2006 Many of your staff will not show up in an emergency, and those that are there may go home according to a survey conducted by the Center for Public Health Preparedness at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. By Stephen A. Frew JD.

Is Your Disaster Plan Consistent With The Community Plan?:Apr 20, 2006 Most hospitals create disaster plans in isolation -- plans that assume all problems will be handled in a few hours to a day, and that they have access to all the ambulances they may need and people to help. WRONG. By Stephen A. Frew JD.

Report From The Hurricane Zone -- It Is Not Over:Apr 19, 2006 My assessment is that this area will need a lot of help for up to 3 years to regain normal function, but what I saw in New Orleans makes me wonder whether my favorite town will ever recover...it certainly won't be for many years. Much of the flavor of the town will be gone, that is certain. By Stephen A. Frew JD.

Help For Hospital Emergency Planning:Apr 4, 2006 Many hospitals attempt to plan internally for community disasters without getting involved with the over-all community plan -- and often this leads to "disasterous disaster plans".

Protecting Your Response Force To Terrorist Incidents:Feb 13, 2006 Three main categories of coordinated terrorist incidents to help ESS departments and agencies plan, train, and organize

ACEP Calls For 10-Point Plan For Disaster Preparedness:Feb 9, 2006 Increase the surge capacity of ED's by ending the practice of "boarding" patients in the ED's and create funding strategies for surge capacity in inpatient and intensive care units.

Louisianna Declined Assistance Prior To Katrina Land-Fall:Feb 6, 2006 A prominent Louisiana health official allegedly declined an offer of federal assistance in moving or evacuating patients and residents just before Hurricane Katrina hit

JCAHO Proposes Standard For Emergency Generator Test -- Comments:Jan 31, 2006 You have until February 20th to make your opinions known on a proposed change in the Evironment of Care standards from JCAHO By Stephen A. Frew JD.

Even Remote Hospitals Have Big Hazards:Jan 30, 2006 If your hospital or EMS system does not really believe a disaster could involve its operations, check this out. By Stephen A. Frew JD.

SAMPLE COUNTY EMS COUNCIL DIVERSION POLICY:Jan 24, 2006 Sample EMS diversion policy language that is intended to be functionally feasible and in compliance with EMTALA standards for hospitals. By Stephen A. Frew JD.

New Website Portal For Storm Imagery Speeds Rescue Operations:Jan 18, 2006 A new Hurricane Crisis Web portal now helps all national and local government agencies coordinate disaster relief, clean-up and re-construction.

Full Text Of Homeland Security "National Response Plan":Jan 13, 2006 This document details the federal emergency response plan and follows the National Incident Management System which is mandatory for all local governmental units. JCAHO requirements for a hospital emergency plan require the plan to be integrated with the local community emergency plan.

Disaster Plans Should Target Latest Terrorist Arrest Themes:Jan 6, 2006 Italian terrorist arrests recently stopped new terrorist attacks on the US -- use their information in your disaster plan scenarios. By Stephen A. Frew JD, Publisher.

LSU Medical School Faces Closure From Katrina Losses:Nov 10, 2005 LSU medical school loses 88 million in revenue during Katrina closure and aftermath.