The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was established in 1979. FEMA's mission is to focus Federal efforts on preparedness for, mitigation of, response to, and recovery from emergencies encompassing the full range of natural and manmade disasters. FEMA's National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Maryland, includes the United States Fire Administration (USFA), its National Fire Academy (NFA), and the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). To achieve the Academy's legislated mandate (under Public Law 93-498, October 29, 1974), "to advance the professional development of fire service...

Edition 2.0. This counterterrorism Job Aid is designed to assist emergency response personnel in identifying a possible terrorist/Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incident and implementing initial actions. It identifies both strategic and tactical considerations that should be assessed within the first hour of an incident, providing clear, step-by-step checklists The Job Aid is designed to assist the first responder from the fire, EMS, Hazmat, CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) and law enforcement disciplines who has already been trained in emergency response...

Throughout the United States, at any given time of year, there are festivals, concerts, fairs, sporting events, and many other large and small events that gather or have the potential to gather large crowds. Under normal conditions, these events go on with few or no problems. When something goes wrong, however, either as a result of a natural hazard or a manmade hazard, then local emergency management becomes involved. These mass gatherings are also potential targets for terrorists. Multiple deaths and injuries at large public events have occurred consistently and over a wide spectrum of...

Water emerging from an outlet works conduit typically requires dissipation of excess kinetic energy to prevent downstream channel erosion. This flow often discharges at a high velocity and must be directed away from the toe of the dam. An energy dissipator is used to retard the fast moving water by creating turbulence and developing a loss through change in the water's momentum. This prevents damage to the channel downstream from the structure. The design of an energy dissipating structure can vary from simple to complex. The selection of the proper structure must consider: The energy content...

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) publication EMS Safety: Techniques & Applications was developed as a comprehensive manual to address the hazards faced by EMS providers and describe ways in which emergency responders can and should deal with these risks. The purpose of the manual is to reduce the number of EMS personnel killed and injured in the line of duty across the country by providing them with the information they need to create an appropriate margin of safety during the performance of their duties. This manual addresses a broad range of safety considerations for...