Even before the terrorist attacks of 2001, Carnegie Mellon researchers were looking at ways to make critical infrastructures and social services more robust in the face of both natural disasters and terrorist attack. On February 28, 2006, key university researchers presented their latest findings in crisis preparedness and response during a conference titled “Before the Next Crisis: Steps to Secure America’s Essential Services” that was held from 8:30 AM-5:15 PM in Room 911 of the Senate Hart Office Building.

The day was broken into six sessions, each covering a different aspect of securing America’s infrastructure in the face of a terrorist attack or natural disaster. Topics included:

• securing a safe supply of water
• communicating with the public in a crisis situation
• how best to prepare for and mitigate biological attacks
• using risk based scenarios to prepare and react to dirty bombs or small nuclear devices

Contact:
Stacy Pane, EPP DC Office Director
Department of Engineering and Public Policy
Carnegie Mellon University
Washington, DC
202-326-6238 (tel)