Understanding the Rising CBRN and Counterterrorism Threat: Why Your Organization Must Act Now
The Increasingly Volatile World Around Us
In today’s increasingly volatile world, the threat landscape is rapidly evolving. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) hazards, once the exclusive concern of military planners, are now squarely in the public and private sectors’ domain. At the same time, non-state actors and terrorist groups continue to pursue unconventional means of attack, raising the stakes for agencies, businesses, and communities alike.
The Expanding Global Threat of CBRN and Asymmetric Terrorism
From chemical and biological agents to radiological and nuclear weapons, the modern CBRN environment is more dynamic and dangerous than ever. In recent years, geopolitical instability, the rise of rogue states, growing terrorist ambitions, and accelerating technological advancements have created a climate where CBRN threats are no longer hypothetical—they are imminent.
The use of chemical agents in Syria, the Novichok poisoning in the U.K., and attempted radiological weapon plots all reinforce this reality. Synthetic biology, gene editing, and poorly secured radiological sources have further lowered the barrier for nefarious actors to acquire or develop WMD capabilities (National Academies, 2018).
What’s more troubling is that while these threats are increasing, national preparedness appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
In June 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the dismantling of its Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office, dissolving it into separate components across the agency (Global Biodefense, 2025). This move weakens centralized coordination and disperses critical responsibilities for biosurveillance, threat detection, and operational response, just when national cohesion is most needed.
As the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy makes clear, preventing the spread and use of WMDs must remain a top priority (White House, 2022). But the elimination of the CWMD Office raises serious questions about how prepared we truly are.
The Local Impact: Why This Matters to Your Agency or Business
CBRN incidents don’t always begin on battlefields; they often begin in local hospitals, schools, transportation hubs, or private facilities with hazardous materials. If your organization isn't currently assessing its exposure to CBRN risks or preparing for terrorist threats, you're operating with a blind spot.
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (2023) warns that terrorist organizations are actively pursuing the tools and knowledge to exploit biological and radiological vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, revealed just how devastating a biological threat can be, causing trillions in economic damage and straining every level of public health infrastructure. We cannot afford to be reactive in the face of such danger.
How Summit Response Group Helps You Lead Through Crisis
Summit Response Group exists to close the gap between known threats and real-world readiness. Our mission is to help you build the internal capability to detect, deter, and respond to modern hazards—including CBRN and terrorism-related events.
Our services include:
✅ CBRN Risk & Vulnerability Assessments
✅ Counterterrorism and Intelligence-Led Threat Planning
✅ Emergency Response SOP and Crisis Policy Development
✅ Custom Training for Hazmat, CBRN, and Terrorism Response
✅ Full-Spectrum Exercises: Tabletop (TTX) to Full-Scale (FSE)
✅ Leadership, Team Communication, and Incident Command Training
We work with public safety agencies, government departments, critical infrastructure teams, and private companies to ensure your organization is not just compliant but truly resilient.
Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Test Your System
CBRN and counterterrorism threats are not slowing down. If your department or company hasn’t updated its preparedness strategy within the past year, now is the time.
Let Summit Response Group help you train your leaders, forge resilience, and master response. Reach out today and take the first step toward operational confidence and community protection.
📩 Contact Us: info@summitresponsegroup.com
🌐 Learn more: www.summitresponsegroup.com
🔒 Training Leaders. Forging Resilience. Mastering Response.
References
Global Biodefense. (2025, June 16). DHS FY 2026 budget dissolves CWMD office amid structural overhaul. https://globalbiodefense.com/2025/06/16/dhs-fy-2026-budget-dissolves-cwmd-office-amid-structural-overhaul/
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). Biodefense in the Age of Synthetic Biology. https://doi.org/10.17226/24890
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). (2021). Statement on the use of Novichok nerve agent. https://www.opcw.org/
United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. (2023). Preventing the acquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorist groups. https://www.un.org/counterterrorism
White House. (2022). National Security Strategy of the United States. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/National-Security-Strategy-2022.pdf
BAM Weather Partnership Announcement
Summit Response Group is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with BAM Weather, a leading private weather company, to integrate their innovative Clarity platform into our operational and consulting services. This collaboration enhances our mission of equipping leaders, responders, and organizations with the tools needed to anticipate and respond to all-hazard events including CBRN, natural disasters, and homeland security threats.
About BAM Weather
BAM Weather provides private weather forecasts and expert consulting to clients across the agriculture, education, events, retail, and landscaping industries serving companies and individuals all over the world. Their mission is simple but powerful: deliver weather intelligence in a way that’s easy to understand so people can act fast and make confident, high-stakes decisions.
BAM’s team of expert meteorologists use advanced modeling and proprietary tools to deliver hyper-local, real-time insights that help reduce risk, protect operations, and increase readiness.
The BAMWX Clarity platform is more than a forecast it's a real-time decision-support system. From fast-developing weather systems to long-range planning, Clarity helps emergency managers, public safety leaders, and business teams:
✔️Understand how incoming weather affects mission-critical operations
✔️Monitor hyper-local impacts in real time
✔️Make proactive decisions to mitigate delays, closures, and safety hazards
✔️Support CBRN and all-hazards planning with accurate, actionable forecasts
Summit Response Group is integrating Clarity directly into our daily operations and training programs to improve situational awareness across:
✅ CBRN and Hazmat Response Support
✅ Crisis Leadership and Deployment Planning
✅ Event Safety and Emergency Management
✅ Public Safety Coordination and Business Continuity
Summit Response Group is able to show our clients the benefits and features that BAM Weather can bring to the table. With severe weather always a threat you need 24/7 detailed intelligence to make the best decisions.
We're excited about this partnership and looking forward to showing you what BAM Weather can do for you!
Why Public Safety Consulting Is the Key to Operational Efficiency for Local Governments
Strengthening Communities Through Strategic Expertise
In an era where public safety agencies are expected to do more with less, local governments and first responder departments are under mounting pressure. Fire departments, EMS providers, and law enforcement agencies must not only meet rising service demands but also justify costly capital investments like fire apparatus, emergency vehicles, and life-saving tools, amid tightening budgets and heightened public scrutiny.
Enter public safety consulting firms like Summit Response Group, which specialize in helping agencies improve operational efficiency, secure critical funding, and plan for sustainable growth.
Helping Departments Justify Critical Investments
Acquiring a new fire engine or police vehicle is more than a procurement decision; it’s a strategic investment in community safety. But before these purchases get the green light, they must often pass rigorous scrutiny from budget boards, city councils, and elected officials.
Consulting firms like Summit Response Group bring clarity to the process by working directly with departments to craft professional presentations, detailed cost-benefit analyses, and data-backed justification reports. These materials translate technical needs into accessible, compelling cases that emphasize the impact on response times, public safety, compliance with national standards, and long-term operational readiness.
"We help departments tell their story in a way that resonates with stakeholders and the public,” says Jason Kephart, President of Summit Response Group. “That’s how we turn budget requests into community-backed investments.”
Planning for Sustainable Growth
Beyond the immediate need for new equipment, agencies must think long-term. Strategic growth planning is essential to address rising populations, expanding service areas, and aging infrastructure.
Summit Response Group provides public safety agencies with comprehensive planning support from apparatus replacement schedules and personnel projections to new station development and lifecycle budgeting. This proactive approach ensures departments are prepared not just for today’s emergencies, but for tomorrow’s challenges.
Why ISO Ratings Matter for Everyone
Another vital area where consultants add value is in improving a department’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, a national benchmark that evaluates local fire protection capabilities. A lower ISO rating often translates into reduced property insurance premiums for both homeowners and businesses.
Consultants evaluate factors like staffing, water supply, apparatus deployment, and communication systems to identify gaps and recommend improvements. The result? A more efficient emergency response system and tangible financial benefits for the entire community.
“Improving your ISO score isn’t just good for the fire department—it’s good economic policy,” adds Kephart. “Better ratings lower insurance costs and demonstrate a city’s commitment to public safety and smart growth.”
A Partner in Public Safety Excellence
Summit Response Group is more than a consulting firm; it’s a trusted partner to public safety professionals across the country. With a team of experienced fire, EMS, and law enforcement experts, they provide tailored services in:
Strategic planning & operational assessments
Capital acquisition & justification
ISO improvement strategies
Fire and EMS station planning
Inter-agency coordination and collaboration
For local governments seeking to improve the efficiency, readiness, and sustainability of their public safety services, firms like Summit Response Group offer the expertise and objectivity needed to move from reactive to proactive leadership.
Learn how strategic consulting can improve your department’s impact at www.summitresponsegroup.com
Hiker Trailers
Hiker Trailers for Public Safety
We’re excited to announce our partnership with Hiker Trailers, a company renowned for its rugged, customizable trailers designed for adventure and resilience. This collaboration strengthens our field readiness capabilities, advancing our mission to deliver high-performance solutions for emergency response, training, and operational support. With Hiker’s durable, mobile platforms, we can bring our expertise wherever it’s needed—no matter the terrain.
Hiker Trailers offers fully customizable response trailers tailored to any scenario. Whether it's Rehabilitation Centers equipped to serve food, beverages, water, and coffee; climate-controlled units providing shade, air conditioning, and heat for environmental relief; or mobile command centers featuring advanced communication systems for seamless coordination in areas with limited or compromised connectivity—Hiker has a solution. For law enforcement, they can design specialized forensic tool trailers to support investigative operations.
We had the privilege of touring their facilities, seeing firsthand the impressive work they’re doing now and the innovative projects on the horizon. We look forward to sharing more exciting updates with you in the coming months!