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The article discusses a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GOA) report that urges the federal government to escalate efforts to assist states bridge gaps in pandemic response planning. The government's "Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza" assigns states and municipalities as primary responders during a pandemic. Congress has allocated $600 million to states and localities via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for planning and exercises.

The article reports that emergency responders in the United States have come together in an effort to improve the safety and speed of clearing vehicle crashes from roadways. Several organizations have launched the National Unified Goal for Traffic Incident Management which aims to improve communication and coordination at crash scenes in order to quickly clear the roadway.

The article reports on the unpreparedness of the U.S. health care system for large-scale disasters. According to the new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC, the American health care system remains ill-prepared for a large-scale natural or man-made disaster. Among several recommendations to improve preparedness were planning for alternate areas to care for patients, improving capacity levels in hospitals, and planning for delivering health care in environmental locations.

The article reports on U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator R. David Paulison's announcement of the membership for the agency's National Advisory Council. It discusses the development of the council from the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006. The proposed members will advise Paulison on all aspects of emergency management and preparedness.

The article focuses on the photographs in the U.S. Government Accountability Office's (GAO) report "Disaster preparedness: Better planning would improve OSHA's efforts to protect workers' safety and health in disasters." The photographs were used to illustrate some of the unsafe work practices observed in the Gulf Coast region after the Hurricane Katrina struck. GAO questioned the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's overall readiness to keep Katrina workers safe.

The article announces the results of an online survey conducted by the American Public Health Association in the U.S. which show that many public health workers who urge Americans to prepare for emergencies are not prepared themselves. More than 60 percent of the respondents said they lacked evacuation plans for their households. Meanwhile, 52 percent of the respondents said they had no emergency plans for their families.

Reports on the success of employees of Parsons Manufacturing Co. in Roanoke, Illinois in surviving a tornado that leveled the company's manufacturing plant on July 13, 2004. Implementation of emergency procedures that they had practiced.

The article reports that the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has updated its National Incident Management System (NIMS). The NIMS standardizes the protocols, processes and procedures used by every level of government to coordinate and conduct responses to an incident. Contact information fora free copy of the NIMS is provided.

The article reports that the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded $33.7 million in funding for first responder equipment and training in small communities. The funding aims to assist law enforcement and emergency responder agencies with needs in various categories, including personal protective equipment and interoperable communications equipment.

The author reflects on the need for Americans to be prepared as severe weather comes, as well as natural disasters or a pandemic. The author cites how Iowa State University pursued and earned the National Weather Service's designation. According to the author, most people who promote readiness as part of their jobs are personally unprepared for disasters, based on a survey conducted by the American Public Health Association in the U.S.

The article reports that the U.S. is woefully unprepared for an influenza pandemic or other mass casualty public health emergency, according to public health research group Trust for America's Health. Half of the states scored six or less on the 10 indicators of readiness. Oklahoma had the highest score of 10, while Maryland and New Jersey had the lowest score of four.

The article focuses on the efforts of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to create a culture of preparedness under Secretary Michael Chertoff. Along with fully integrating the Federal Emergency Management Agency into the department, Chertoff a Preparedness Directorate to lead federal efforts in joining federal, state and local governments in preparing for disasters. Partnerships with other federal government, non-profit and private sector organizations also will be imperative to fulfilling its preparedness mission.

Focuses on the cancellation of the National Safety Council's 92 Annual Congress & Expo on September 14, 2004 due to Hurricane Ivan and comments on the significance of emergency preparedness in handling real life situations and dangers. Action of the Council to close down the Expo following reports of Hurricane Ivan's devastation; Coordination of Council officials with the local government for the evacuation of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana; Preparations made the Council for the management of emergency situations; Schedule and venue of the XVIIth World Safety Congress from September 18-22, 2005.