NCDP 20th Anniversary Reflections and Impacts

Shortly after the 9/11 attacks and the anthrax exposures, centers throughout the United States were set up to prepare for and make our nation more resilient. In 2003, the National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP), Columbia University, was founded to provide an academically based, interdisciplinary center focused on the capacity to prevent, respond to, and …

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Mass Shootings: Reassuring Children After a Traumatic Event

America is reckoning with two new mass shootings, one in Dayton, Ohio, and the other in El Paso, Texas – believed to be the eighth deadliest in modern U.S. history. While processing the constant stream of disturbing media, parents must also anticipate the needs of their children by helping them process the upsetting news. As …

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How to be ready in an age of low-tech terror: How New Yorkers should equip themselves, beyond ‘see something, say something’

This post was originally published on December 12, 2017 in The Hill. Monday’s explosion in the underground corridor at 42nd St., much like the horrific attack in downtown Manhattan in October, reminds us that New York City is always in the crosshairs of terrorists. And as we have seen, terrorist organizations are constantly evolving their tactics. …

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DC’s Metro Calamity: A Lesson in Preparation and Response

Earlier this year, members of Congress voiced their frustration during a recent House Oversight Committee hearing, blasting the subway system of our nation’s capital for an event deemed “entirely predictable” and a major sign of “weakness.” What were they referring to? On Jan. 12, smoke filled the DC Metro tracks, stranding passengers, sending dozens to …

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