The National Academy of Sciences recommended that the Department of Homeland Security use methods of qualitative comparative risk assessment as part of its approach to strategic planning.
By Russell Lundberg and Henry Willis
Assessing Homeland Security Risks: A Comparative Risk Assessment of 10 Hazards →
The recent emergence of two separate outbreaks of two new viruses has generated renewed interest in the threat of pandemics. For a significant portion of the total fatalities associated with these infections the cause of death was due to an over-reaction of an infected body’s immune system.
By Daniel P. Mackie and Anke Richter
Transit networks are integral to the economy and to society, but at the same time they could allow terrorists to transport weapons of mass destruction into any city. Road networks are especially vulnerable, because they lack natural checkpoints unlike air networks that have security measures in place at all major airports.
By Daniel M. Watkins, Leticia Cuéllar, Deborah A. Kubicek, Erick Rodriguez, and Phillip D. Stroud
Identifying Security Checkpoint Locations to Protect the Major U.S. Urban Areas →
This short (141 pages) and very readable book is a good introduction to some of the most useful concepts and best practices for terrorism analysis.
Reviewed by Erik J. Dahl
The emergency services community must recognize that the world is constantly changing and adjust accordingly. It will have to be more nimble and proactive with its capabilities if it wants to prepare effectively for future threats and respond to atypical emergencies.
By Michael Marino, John Delaney, Paul Atwater, and Reed Smith
To Save Lives and Property: High Threat Response →
Due to increasing system sophistication and affordability, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are becoming more popular among hobbyists and businesses.
By Alison Yakabe
UAS on Main Street: Policy and Enforcement at the Local Level →
The 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai was characterized by a sense of public confusion and frustration. Throughout the event, the attackers were able to avoid an operationally superior counterterrorism force and for four consecutive days managed to spread terror in India’s most populous city.
By Shahrzad Rizvi and Joshua L. Kelly
This volume of Homeland Security Affairs and the Journal’s new online format is dedicated to its long-time managing editor Alis Gumbiner.
We propose a methodology to analyze the risk of an adversary exploiting the maritime supply chain by smuggling a WMD in a container. We call this risk “WMD transfer risk”.
By Eric Taquechel, Ian Hollan, and Ted Lewis
Qualitative risk ranking systems are often used to assess homeland security threats due to their simplicity and intuitive nature. However, their appropriate use is limited by subtle common underlying difficulties that render them inconsistent with quantitative risk assessments.
By Daniel J. Rozell
A Cautionary Note on Qualitative Risk Ranking of Homeland Security Threats →
