News Release

07-25-08

ISS Co-Sponsors 2008 Western Preparedness Conference

UNLV’s Institute for Security Studies partnered with the Area Health Education Center of Southern Nevada to sponsor the 2008 Western Regional Preparedness Conference, entitled “Solutions for Emerging Threats.” ISS’s Director of Training, Ross Bryant, moderated the educational event held July 15-18 at the Renaissance Hotel in Las Vegas.

During the three-day conference, first-responder representatives from a diverse collection of organizations had the opportunity to attend lectures and workshops led by international and national experts in relevant fields such as preparedness basics, disaster mental health, law enforcement, patient care, and business planning. The conference aimed to teach participants about recent trends in hazard preparedness and to equip them with the tools needed to prepare response actions for their organizations during an emergency.

The event kicked-off with a session by Ronald J. Synder, themed “Agroterrorism and the Role of Law Enforcement,” during which Synder tapped his expertise in emergency response and training at the Department of Homeland Security to discuss the latest in law enforcement in the event of a mandated quarantine for the cattle industry.

Bert Tussing, Director of the Homeland Defense and Security Issues Group at the U.S. Army College’s Center for Strategic Leadership, spoke about the definition of a “domestic terrorist.” In his talk he discussed qualified Internet connections, among other cultural outlets, as an unmonitored ground for worldwide terrorist communication that presents challenges for law enforcement.

Another focal point of the conference was the lecture, “What Law Enforcement Needs to Know about Pandemic Flu,” given by Jerilyn White and Kathleen Middleton, both trainers for the DHS/FEMA-certified Pandemic Preparedness Awareness Course. White and Middleton addressed the potential threats to law enforcement and security caused by an influenza pandemic.

Also present was Bob Coullahan, President of the Readiness Resource Group, a small business that helps other small businesses build the necessary infrastructure to ensure resiliency throughout a time of emergency.

ISS Executive Director Scott Smith introduced the final keynote speaker, Chief Superintendent Mervyn Edwards, whose 30-plus years experience with the Thames Valley Police in the U.K. includes time spent protecting the royal family. Edwards offered insights into ways the U.S. can learn from England’s experience with terrorism. He did so by identifying real-life threats his country has faced while protecting the royal family and discussing the methods used to successfully mitigate those threats.

The Conference culminated with eighteen participants receiving certification in National Disaster Life Support’s Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS) by attending eight hours of training on Friday, July 18. The training was led by conference moderator and ISS Director of Training Ross Bryant. The training prepares responders for potential large-scale medical emergencies.

For more information about the Western Regional Preparedness Conference or ISS’s BDLS training, please contact Ross Bryant at (702) 939-4644 or Ross.Bryant@unlv.edu.