AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Wednesday Briefing: Schools Targeted, Denver Fire Chief Stabbed, Michigan Governor Apologizes Over Flint

Emergency and disaster management Wednesday Briefing for January 20, 2016: More than 25 schools in New Jersey and schools across at least six other states were the targets of bomb or mass shooting threats, the Denver Fire Chief was attacked and stabbed and the Michigan governor apologizes for the Flint water crisis.

  1. More than [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-jersey-threat-idUSKCN0UX21C” title=”25 schools in New Jersey and dozens of other schools across more than 6 states“] were targets of bomb and mass shooting threats Tuesday.  The threats [link url=”http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/19/bomb-threats-lock-down-9-nj-schools-report.html” title=”forced lockdowns or evacuations and affected more than 10,000 students“], but all schools were later deemed safe.
  2. Authorities believe the[link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-new-jersey-threat-idUSKCN0UX21C” title=” calls were routed through Bakersfield, California“] and may be automated.  Reportedly [link url=”http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/New-Jersey-Schools-Evacuated-After-Mass-Shooting-Bomb-Threats-365765931.html” title=”hoaxes, the calls appeared to have used a robotic voice“] and local officials are working to follow all leads.
  3. The threats follow a series of warnings about bombs detonating ‘soon’ in [link url=”https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/01/15/schools-evacuated-following-bomb-threats/ti3PX84qdHqszTMurQjImI/story.html” title=”more than half a dozen schools in Massachusetts on Friday, January 15“] that prompted evacuations or safe modes while authorities conducted investigations.
  4. Authorities believe the threats [link url=”http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/16/us/los-angeles-schools-bomb-threat.html?_r=0″ title=”may be similar to those made in December against the Los Angeles school“] district that prompted the closure of nearly 900 schools.  [link url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/facing-the-same-threat-schools-in-los-angeles-and-new-york-take-different-tacks/2015/12/15/9368a0d0-a367-11e5-9c4e-be37f66848bb_story.html” title=”New York schools received similar threats on the same day“] in December, but chose to remain open .
  5. Eric Tade, [link url=”http://news.yahoo.com/denvers-fire-chief-stabbed-multiple-times-stoplight-013549271.html” title=”Denver’s Fire Chief was stabbed multiple times“] in the arm and leg by a woman who jumped into his unmarked car late Tuesday afternoon while he was at a stoplight.  The Denver Health Medical Center treated the fire chief and later discharged him with expectations of a full recovery.  No additional security measures have been implemented by the department and a [link url=”http://denver.cbslocal.com/2016/01/19/stabbing-reported-at-denver-fire-station/” title=”full investigation is underway“] by the local police.
  6. [link url=”http://www.9news.com/story/news/crime/2016/01/19/firefighter-transported-hospital-after-stabbing/79018776/” title=”Marlene Zacevich-Rodriguez has been arrested“] for allegedly stabbing the fire chief after [link url=”http://www.firehouse.com/news/12160258/firefighter-news-denver-fire-chief-eric-tade-stabbed-at-fire-station” title=”witnesses pointed her out“].  Investigators are trying to [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/police-woman-jumps-suv-stabs-denver-fire-chief-36384929″ title=”determine if there was any type of connection between“] the fire chief and the alleged attacker.
  7. The ongoing [link url=”http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2f23089ca8994016ab36be8c61479a87/michigan-governor-expected-devote-speech-water-crisis” title=”Flint, Michigan water crisis was the major topic during Governor Snyder’s State of the State address“] on Tuesday.  The Governor, who offered a timeline of the crisis, apologized and vowed to fix the situation.
  8. Some people argue that the Governor is trying to do something “too little too late” especially since [link url=”http://www.abc12.com/home/headlines/Documents-show-EPA-knew-about-water-crisis-months-before-warning-Flint-residents-365208621.html” title=”reports reveal that the EPA knew about the high lead levels“] in Flint’s water month before they alerted anyone.
  9. Militants allegedly attacked [link url=”http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35359072″ title=”Bacha Khan University“] in Pakistan early Wednesday morning. Police and soldiers are now surrounding the campus.  It is thought that there [link url=”http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/terror-attack-at-pakistan-university-50-reported-injured-10-developments-1267843″ title=”were at least 3,000 students and 600 visitors inside the buildings“] when the attack occurred around 9:30 am — after the attackers set off an explosion. At least [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-attacks-university-idUSKCN0UY0C4″ title=”19 were killed“] in the attack.

Kimberly Arsenault serves as an intern at the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency where she works on plan revisions and special projects. Previously, Kimberly spent 15 years in commercial and business aviation. Her positions included station manager at the former Midwest Express Airlines, as well as corporate flight attendant, inflight manager, and charter flight coordinator. Kimberly currently holds a master's degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University.

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