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Publicly-available lessons learned, best practices, and after action reports are provided here. The ultimate goal is to provide, through sharing knowledge, an analytical foundation for future decisions regarding policy, planning, procedures, training, organizational structure and equipment.
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Reports
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1.
Critical Information Flows in the Alfred P. Murrah Building Bombing: A Case Study. 2002.
- This publication is the final product of a case study that identified the information and communication flows affecting the response to the April 1995 bombing of the Murrah building. Not a critique of response efforts during this incident, this case study provides an illustrative example of how information and communication affected the response to a major incident of domestic terrorism.
Source: MIPT (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
Communications including Interoperability :
Emergency Management :
Oklahoma City Bombing
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2.
Oklahoma City - Seven Years Later: Lessons for Other Communities. 2002.
- Intended for a very broad audience, this brief pamphlet examines the lessons learned from the Oklahoma City bombing and offers advice for schools, clergy, first responders, city officials, volunteer organizations and others.
Source: MIPT (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
Building Security :
Emergency Management :
First Responders :
Oklahoma City Bombing :
Schools and Terrorism :
Security for Business and Private Citizens
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3.
I-35W Bridge Collapse and Response. April 2008.
- This report from the United States Fire Admistration discusses the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 1, 2007 and the subsequent response.
Source: United States Fire Administration (All by Source | Source Website). Report Number: USFA-TR-166. Large File: 1.8+ Mb.
See Also -
Emergency Management :
First Responders
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4.
Minnesota Bridge Collapse: Lessons Learned - After Action Report. November 2007.
- This study summarizes the actions taken by first responders and emergency personnel in the wake of the bridge collapse, and the lessons learned from that experience, including several areas where improvement is needed.
Source: MIPT (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
Emergency Management :
First Responders
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5.
Border Security: Security Vulnerabilities at Unmanned and Unmonitored U.S. Border Locations. September 2007.
- The testimony in this report "will address what GAO investigators found during a limited security assessment of seven border areas that were unmanned, unmonitored, or both—four at the U.S.–Canada border and three at the U.S.–Mexico border. In three of the four locations on the U.S.–Canada border, investigators carried a duffel bag across the border to simulate the cross-border movement of radioactive materials or other contraband. Safety considerations prevented GAO investigators from attempting to cross north into the United States from a starting point in Mexico."
Source: Government Accountability Office (All by Source | Source Website). Report Number: GAO-07-884T.
See Also -
Border Security :
Proceedings - Congressional Hearings, Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, etc.
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6.
Department of Homeland Security: Progress Report on Implementation of Mission and Management Functions. September 2007.
- "This testimony is based on [GAO's] August 2007 report evaluating DHS's progress since March 2003. Specifically, it addresses DHS's progress across 14 mission and management areas and key themes that have affected DHS's implementation efforts."
Source: Government Accountability Office (All by Source | Source Website). Report Number: GAO-07-1081T.
See Also -
Federal Funding Information :
Proceedings - Congressional Hearings, Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, etc.
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7.
Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy. June 2007.
- "On April 21, 2007, in response to the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech, President George W. Bush directed Secretaries Michael Leavitt and Margaret Spellings and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to travel to communities across our nation and to meet with educators, mental health experts, law enforcement and state and local officials to discuss the broader issues raised by this tragedy. The President instructed Secretary Leavitt to summarize what they learned from these meetings and report back with recommendations about how the federal government can help avoid such tragedies in the future."
Source: Department of Health and Human Services, United States (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
Presidential Reports and Statements :
Schools and Terrorism
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8.
Military Operations: Actions Needed to Improve DoD's Stability Operations Approach and Enhance Interagency Planning. May 2007.
- “GAO was asked to address (1) DOD's approach to enhance stability operations capabilities, and challenges that have emerged in implementing its approach; (2) DOD planning for stability operations and the extent of interagency involvement; and (3) the extent to which DOD is applying lessons learned in future plans. To address these issues, GAO assessed DOD policy and planning documents, reviewed planning efforts at three combatant commands, and evaluated DOD's use of lessons learned. GAO is also conducting a related study of the Department of State's efforts to lead and coordinate stability operations."
Source: Government Accountability Office (All by Source | Source Website). Report Number: GAO-07-549.
See Also -
Government :
Information Sharing and Analysis :
Military Issues
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9.
Anthrax Detection: DHS Cannot Ensure That Sampling Activities Will Be Validated. March 2007.
- "The anthrax incidents highlighted major gaps in civilian preparedness to detect anthrax contamination in buildings. GAO was asked to describe and assess federal agencies' activities to detect anthrax in postal facilities, assess the results of agencies' testing, and assess whether agencies' detection activities were validated."
Source: Government Accountability Office (All by Source | Source Website). Report Number: GAO-07-687T.
See Also -
Anthrax :
Biological Terrorism, Weapons, Security and Defense :
Proceedings - Congressional Hearings, Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, etc. :
Public Health
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10.
Disaster Preparedness. March 2007.
- "The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for coordinating federal efforts to protect the safety and health of workers involved in the response to large national disasters. Under the Comptroller General's authority, GAO initiated a number of Katrina-related reviews. For this review, GAO examined (1) what is known about the number of response and recovery workers deployed to the Gulf Coast in response to Hurricane Katrina; (2) the extent to which OSHA tracked injuries and illnesses sustained by these workers; and (3) how well OSHA met the safety and health needs of workers. To address these issues, GAO reviewed reports; analyzed data; interviewed federal, state, and local officials; and conducted site visits."
Source: Government Accountability Office (All by Source | Source Website). Report Number: GAO-07-193.
See Also -
Emergency Management :
First Responders :
Public Health
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11.
In a Moment's Notice: Surge Capacity for Terrorist Bombings: Challenges and Proposed Solutions. March 2007.
- "Because many patients self-evacuate after a terrorist attack, and prehospital care may be difficult to coordinate, hospitals near the scene can expect to receive a large influx—or surge—of victims after a terrorist strike. This rapid surge of victims typically occurs within minutes, exemplified by the Madrid bombings where the closest hospital received 272 patients in 2.5 hours. Such a surge differs dramatically from the gradual influx of patients after an outbreak of infectious disease or an environmental emergency such as a heat wave, which can last several days to weeks afterwards."
See Also -
Blast Mitigation :
Critical Infrastructure Protection :
Emergency Management :
London Bombings :
Madrid Bombings
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12.
Operation Iraqi Freedom: DOD Should Apply Lessons Learned Concerning the Need for Security over Conventional Munitions Storage Sites to Future Operations Planning. March 2007.
- "GAO recommends that the Secretary of Defense direct the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to (1) conduct a theaterwide survey and risk assessment on unsecured conventional munitions in Iraq, (2) report related risk mitigation strategies and results to Congress, and (3) incorporate conventional munitions storage site security as a strategic planning factor into all levels of planning policy and guidance."
Source: Government Accountability Office (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
Critical Infrastructure Protection :
Military Issues
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13.
Biological Research Laboratories: Issues Associated with the Expansion of Laboratories Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. February 2007.
- "This report responds to your November 30, 2005, request that we provide information associated with the construction of NBLs and RBLs funded by NIAID in fiscal years 2003 and 2005. Your questions covered requirements and guidance for these laboratories, funding award factors, communication with the public, and research agendas."
Source: Government Accountability Office (All by Source | Source Website). Report Number: GAO-07-333R.
See Also -
Anthrax :
Biological Terrorism, Weapons, Security and Defense :
Public Health
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14.
Subversion and Insurgency. 2007.
- "This paper presents a set of case studies to explore the elements of subversion indepth. It discusses preliminary ideas for combating subversive activities in the context of the war against violent Islamic extremism and concludes with a discussion of how U.S. support for counter subversion within authoritarian regimes can conflict with other important U.S. foreign policy objectives, such as the promotion of human rights."
Source: RAND (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
Insurgency/Counterinsurgency :
National Strategies
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15.
9/11 Five Years Later: Successes and Challenges. September 2006.
- This report discusses the many successes and challenges the United States faces five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Source: White House, United States (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
September 11
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16.
Five Years After 9/11: An Assessment on America's War on Terror. September 2006.
- The report critically analyzes the US military and foreign policy decisions made after 9/11, examining the progress and drawbacks of pursuing certain strategies. The report explores the evolving threat of terrorism, the sweep of jihadist ideology, the spread of democracy and public policy, domestic security, intelligence build-up and organization, and international cooperation and the long-term war on terrorism.
Source: Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
Intelligence and Intelligence Sharing :
September 11
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17.
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Iraq and Afghanistan: Effects and Countermeasures. September 2006.
- "Since October 2001, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs, or roadside bombs) have been responsible for many of the more than 2,000 combat deaths in Iraq, and 178 combat deaths in Afghanistan.1 IEDs are hidden behind signs and guardrails, under roadside debris, or inside animal carcasses, and encounters with these bombs are becoming more numerous and deadly in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The threat includes vehicle-borne IEDs, in which extremists drive cars laden with explosives directly into a target. DOD efforts to counter IEDs have proven only marginally effective, and U.S. forces continue to be exposed to the threat at military checkpoints, or whenever on patrol. IEDs are increasingly being used in Afghanistan, and DOD reportedly is concerned that they might eventually be more widely used by other insurgents and
terrorists worldwide."
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), United States (All by Source).
See Also -
Insurgency/Counterinsurgency :
Proceedings - Congressional Hearings, Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, etc.
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18.
Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents. September 2006.
- "This report discusses the incorporation of DNA identification into a mass fatality disaster plan."
Source: National Institute of Justice, United States (All by Source | Source Website). Report Number: NCJ 214781.
See Also -
September 11 :
Victims Assistance
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19.
Looking Back, Moving Forward - The Multi-Agency Debrief: Lessons identified and Progress Since the Terrorist Events of 7 July 2005. September 2006.
- "Following the bombings, the London Regional Resilience Forum began a comprehensive multi-agency debrief process to ensure that essential lessons were captured and in October 2005 it started a programme of work to address the lessons identified. This report summarises the main findings and lessons. It focuses on the frontline response by London's emergency services and the other key agencies
involved. A separate Government report looks at the response from the national and central government perspective."
Source: United Kingdom Government (All by Source).
See Also -
London Bombings
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20.
Border Security: Continued Weaknesses in Screening Entrants into the United States. August 2006.
- This report is an analysis of GAO agents going undercover and falsifying identification documents in order to attempt entering the U.S. through the northern border with Canada and the southern border with Mexico. Also, this report displays the tactics used by GAO and discusses how successful these agents were in entering the U.S. illegally.
Source: Government Accountability Office (All by Source | Source Website).
See Also -
Border Security :
Homeland Security :
Proceedings - Congressional Hearings, Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, etc.
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The Lessons Learned Information Sharing (www.llis.gov) system is a MIPT- and
DHS-sponsored national knowledge base of lessons learned and best practices serving the
emergency responder community. Users of the system must be authorized members, however,
membership is free. An application can be found on the LLIS website.
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2000 - 2008 Lawson Terrorism Information Center