Homeland Security (DHS) Exam 1- Solved
1971 Federal Civil Defense Act amendment - ANS--allow the federal government to
provide funding for civil emergency preparedness
-50/50 matching funds for personnel and administrative costs for agencies engaged in
civil defense preparedness
-federal funds could now be used for natural disaster planning
1993 Government Accountability Office Report - ANS--FEMA directorates and state and
local programs have not historically worked well together
-Congress: "political dumping ground", "turkey farm"
-should have a seat in the White House and be staffed with more qualified high-ranking
officials
1998 Coordinated bombings of American embassies - ANS--August 7, 1998
-Al-Qa'ida bombed two embassies almost simultaneously
-Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
-224 killed, only 12 Americans
-UBL criticized by other extremists as many killed were Muslims, but he said since they
worked with Americans they deserved it
-both embassies destroyed
3 Hazard Umbrella Groups - ANS--natural hazards
-technological hazards
-terrorist hazards
4 classes of chemical agents - ANS-1.blood agents
2.blister agents
3.choking agents
4.nerve agents
Amerithrax - ANS--letters laced with Anthrax appeared in the US mail
-multiple senators and news outlets received letters
-5 killed and 17 sickened
-worst biological attack in US history
-FBI and partners investigation one of the largest and most complex in history
-Bruce Ivins, a top bio-defense researcher
-prompted a critical review of US preparedness for bio attacks
Blister Agents - ANS-severely burn skin, eye, and organs on contact
-usually meant to incapacitate
-vapor form causes most damage
-ex: mustard gas, lewisite
, Blood Agents - ANS-poison cells by blocking transport of oxygen to tissues, ultimately to
the brain
-typically dispersed in gas or vapor form
-ex: hydrogen cyanide
Bremer Commission (National Commission on Terrorism) - ANS--mandated by
Congress
-addressed the international terrorist threat
-2000: increasing risk to America
-CBRN agent attack would profoundly affect the nation even if it only partially succeeds
--spread fear, create turmoil
Category A Biological Agents - ANS-potential for major public health impact and social
disruption
1. bacteria
-anthrax: deadliest when inhaled, up to 80%
-bubonic plaque: up to 75%
-can be treated with antibiotics
2. toxins
-botulism: can result in death due to respiratory failure
3. viruses
-ebola: up to 90%
-smallpox:up to 30%
-marburg :extremely deadly and no known cure
-vaccines
Category B Biological Agents - ANS-although these agents are fairly easy to
disseminate, they generally cause moderate illness and low death rates
-salmonella
-ricin
-Q fever
-typhus
-glanders
Category C Biological Agents - ANS--are emerging as infectious disease threats that
CDC believes could, in the future, be engineered to produce biological weapons
--hantavirus
--tuberculosis
--yellow fever
Changes since Hurricane Katrina - ANS--FEMA gained authority to "surge" resources
ahead of a disaster
-development of National Disaster Recovery Framework: defined coordination structure,
roles and responsibilities
-established Incident Management Assistance Teams: full time, rapid response teams
1971 Federal Civil Defense Act amendment - ANS--allow the federal government to
provide funding for civil emergency preparedness
-50/50 matching funds for personnel and administrative costs for agencies engaged in
civil defense preparedness
-federal funds could now be used for natural disaster planning
1993 Government Accountability Office Report - ANS--FEMA directorates and state and
local programs have not historically worked well together
-Congress: "political dumping ground", "turkey farm"
-should have a seat in the White House and be staffed with more qualified high-ranking
officials
1998 Coordinated bombings of American embassies - ANS--August 7, 1998
-Al-Qa'ida bombed two embassies almost simultaneously
-Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
-224 killed, only 12 Americans
-UBL criticized by other extremists as many killed were Muslims, but he said since they
worked with Americans they deserved it
-both embassies destroyed
3 Hazard Umbrella Groups - ANS--natural hazards
-technological hazards
-terrorist hazards
4 classes of chemical agents - ANS-1.blood agents
2.blister agents
3.choking agents
4.nerve agents
Amerithrax - ANS--letters laced with Anthrax appeared in the US mail
-multiple senators and news outlets received letters
-5 killed and 17 sickened
-worst biological attack in US history
-FBI and partners investigation one of the largest and most complex in history
-Bruce Ivins, a top bio-defense researcher
-prompted a critical review of US preparedness for bio attacks
Blister Agents - ANS-severely burn skin, eye, and organs on contact
-usually meant to incapacitate
-vapor form causes most damage
-ex: mustard gas, lewisite
, Blood Agents - ANS-poison cells by blocking transport of oxygen to tissues, ultimately to
the brain
-typically dispersed in gas or vapor form
-ex: hydrogen cyanide
Bremer Commission (National Commission on Terrorism) - ANS--mandated by
Congress
-addressed the international terrorist threat
-2000: increasing risk to America
-CBRN agent attack would profoundly affect the nation even if it only partially succeeds
--spread fear, create turmoil
Category A Biological Agents - ANS-potential for major public health impact and social
disruption
1. bacteria
-anthrax: deadliest when inhaled, up to 80%
-bubonic plaque: up to 75%
-can be treated with antibiotics
2. toxins
-botulism: can result in death due to respiratory failure
3. viruses
-ebola: up to 90%
-smallpox:up to 30%
-marburg :extremely deadly and no known cure
-vaccines
Category B Biological Agents - ANS-although these agents are fairly easy to
disseminate, they generally cause moderate illness and low death rates
-salmonella
-ricin
-Q fever
-typhus
-glanders
Category C Biological Agents - ANS--are emerging as infectious disease threats that
CDC believes could, in the future, be engineered to produce biological weapons
--hantavirus
--tuberculosis
--yellow fever
Changes since Hurricane Katrina - ANS--FEMA gained authority to "surge" resources
ahead of a disaster
-development of National Disaster Recovery Framework: defined coordination structure,
roles and responsibilities
-established Incident Management Assistance Teams: full time, rapid response teams
