Accession Number:

ADA576248

Title:

Scientists Urge DHS to Improve Bioterrorism Risk Assessment

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF OPERATIONS RESEARCH

Personal Author(s):

• Parnell, Gregory S.
• Borio, Luciana L.
• Brown, Gerald G.
• Banks, David
• Wilson, Alyson G.

Report Date:

2008-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

5.0

Abstract:

In 2006, the Department of Homeland Security DHS completed its first Bioterrorism Risk Assessment BTRA, intended to be the foundation for DHS s subsequent biennial risk assessments mandated by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 10 HSPD-10. At the request of DHS, the National Research Council established the Committee on Methodological Improvements to the Department of Homeland Security s Biological Agent Risk Analysis to provide an independent, scientific peer review of the BTRA. The Committee found a number of shortcomings in the BTRA, including a failure to consider terrorists as intelligent adversaries in their models, unnecessary complexity in threat and consequence modeling and simulations, and a lack of focus on risk management. The Committee unanimously concluded that an improved BTRA is needed to provide a more credible foundation for risk-informed decision making.

Descriptors:

• *BIOTERRORISM
• *HOMELAND SECURITY
• *RISK ANALYSIS
• *SCIENTISTS
• DECISION MAKING
• TERRORISTS
• THREATS

Subject Categories:

• Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE