A 2009 report released yesterday by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the country’s critical infrastructure a cumulative grade of “D”. Critical infrastructure (CI) includes things like roads, bridges, dams, water and waste treatment plants, energy and aviation, to name just a few of the areas receiving very low marks.
This ASCE report also gives strategies for how the country can raise this score card. This will not come without significant investment in our infrastructure. For me this highlights the very important role of our public safety professionals (homeland security, law enforcement, fire services and emergency management) dealing with the identification and protection of our country’s vital systems, i.e. critical infrastructure. Preventive maintenance of our critical infrastructure is essential and so is preparedness, protection and prevention around those sites.
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Michael M. Brown Says:
I think the political apparatus in this country need to use its leverage to force private industry into a position of working with DHS and FEMA in using insurance companies to penalize the private sector and state, local, and municipalities for allowing CI or more important structures to deteriorate or become vulnerable. This would remove the costs from the taxpayer and make the private (SSAs) more responsible because of $$$$$$.
March 17th, 2009 at 4:54 pm