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Originally posted by Lt. Stephanie Young to the Coast Guard Compass.
While scores of boaters in colder parts of the country have put their boats into storage until spring, many still rely on their vessels for hunting, fishing and transportation. But what happens when a lake or river freezes over and a snowmobiler falls through the ice, or fishermen become stranded on an ice floe?
The Coast Guard, Always Ready, responds with an airboat.
Being at the wheel of an airboat is rare, as they are found at only 11 units across the Coast Guard. While there are few airboats, they are operated by exceptional coxswains who operate on frozen lakes and rivers – an environment that is constantly in flux.
There are many variables that any smallboat coxswain must keep in mind when they are at sea, but an airboat coxswain has to be aware of all that and more.
“Land, water and ice affect the handling of the boat differently. Add wind, current, fog and snow and, the fact that the boat doesn’t have reverse, and you realize handling is a unique challenge,” said Lt. Warren Fair, the Coast Guard’s ice rescue program manager.
An airboat’s handling characteristics challenges many coxswains due to the diversity of terrains and missions the platform is used on. But before a coxswain even gets a turn at the wheel, they must first become certified as an ice rescuer.
Beginning with the basics of ice terminology and protective equipment, potential airboat crewmembers learn the movements required of teams in ice rescues. Airboat crews must also learn about the factors that affect how the ice forms, including water current, depth, snow cover and temperature.
Continuing their training, coxswains are required to exhibit in-depth knowledge of the airboat itself, including mechanical characteristics, mission performance, boat operations and hard and soft water handling skills.
The skills these Coast Guard members learn requires a commitment to proficiency, as airboats are highly sought after to conduct emergency relief missions in environments other than ice. Due to their mission diversity, airboats serve as a perfect platform when responding to natural or man-made disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, Red River flooding and Deepwater Horizon.
As maritime search and rescue professionals, the Coast Guard understands the dangers of cold water as well as the dangers of venturing out on the ice. While the airboat crews are ready to respond, those who live on or near the ice should always consider ice safety.
If people choose to go out on ice, Lacy encourages keeping the acronym “ICE” in mind.
I – Intelligence: Know the weather and ice conditions, know where you’re going and know how to call for help.
C – Clothing: Have proper clothing to prevent hypothermia. Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature.
E – Equipment: Have proper equipment including marine radio, life jackets, screw drivers, ice picks, etc.
The Coast Guard performs missions in the most extreme of environments and ice is no exception. As you make a serious investment and commitment to ice safety, the Coast Guard makes a serious commitment to being Always Ready. Created: 1/30/2012 4:36 PM
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate invites you to
participate in a Webinar on Cutting Edge Resiliency on February 1 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm EST.
The Webinar will feature three new tools developed to improve the security and resilience of our nation’s buildings and infrastructure. The tools provide scores for risk and resilience and are capable of analyzing and compiling a range of high-performance requirements, including safety (earthquakes, floods, winds, and fire), security (explosives, ballistics and chemical, biological and radiological), environmental footprint and energy conservation, sustainability, durability, and continuity of operations.
The tools featured during the Webinar include Integrated Rapid Visual Screening (IRVS), an easy-to-manage tool designed to prepare risk assessments based on visual inspection only. It is available for buildings, mass transit, and tunnels. During the Webinar the most prominent features of the IRVS for buildings will be showcased. The web-based Owners Performance Requirement (OPR) Tool allows owners to analyze the full range of performance objectives from baseline to high-performance that meet their business case/model or mission. And the Urban Blast Tool (UBT) helps to quantify the effects of blast in urban environments, including the influence of buildings on blast pressures propagating from explosions located in urban settings. The current version of the UBT is designed for the New York City Financial District and Mid Manhattan. Expanded versions will incorporate collapse prediction algorithms and data fields to accommodate building specific performance characteristics. A generic version of the UBT will be prepared for the use of other metropolitan areas in the United States.
Please register at: https://connect.hsin.gov/cutting_edge_tools/event/registration.html
Created: 1/27/2012 12:37 PM
Originally posted to The Blog @ Homeland Security by the Office of Public Affairs (slightly modified).
The Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) turns 50 this year. After the first hijacking of a U.S. aircraft in 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed legislation to enhance the penalties for crimes committed aboard aircrafts in flight. To help enforce this act, FAA safety inspectors received additional training for duty aboard airlines. The first training class of inspectors were appointed and sworn-in by Attorney General Robert Kennedy in March of 1962. After September 11, 2001 and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, the service was rapidly expanded and became the law enforcement arm of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Today, the FAMS continues to promote confidence in the nation’s civil aviation system through the effective deployment of Federal Air Marshals to detect, deter, and defeat hostile acts targeting U.S. air carriers, airports, passengers, and crews.
For more information on FAMS, click here: http://www.tsa.gov/lawenforcement/programs/fams.shtm
To read the original post on the Department of Homeland Security Blog and watch a short video about FAMS, click here: http://blog.dhs.gov/2012/01/video-federal-air-marshal-service.html Created: 1/27/2012 11:23 AM
Tipsters calling into the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tip Line have helped officials crack down on criminal activities, such as an Austin, Tex. human smuggling ring and the arrest of a dangerous gang member in Maryland.
Tipsters dropped a dime on a human smuggling ring that was targeting illegal aliens. The group was taking victims from their home countries wihtout their consent and holding them until family members paid up.
Another caller revealed that an alleged MS-13 gang member, who was in the country illegally, was living and working near Silver Spring, MD.
Last year, about 172,500 people tipped off ICE HSI by calling (866) DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423). On the receiving end, a team of special agents, intelligence research specialists, and law enforcement specialists receive the information. They are all highly trained in laws related to worksite enforcement, document and benefit fraud, intellectual property rights, money laundering, drug smuggling, child pornography, and human trafficking.
The Tip Line is also available in an online form. Since its launch, more than 1,500 individuals have logged onto ice.gov/tips [CH1] to report suspicious criminal activity.
"When reporting a crime, a person should report the nature of the crime and be specific and detailed as possible," says David Palmatier, Tip Line unit chief. "If we have more details, we can more efficiently investigate a tip."
Callers can expect minimal wait times to speak to a tip line specialist. Average phone calls take less than five minutes to complete. The ICE HSI Tip Line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Created: 1/20/2012 3:42 PM
The DHS Virtual Social Media Working Group (VSMWG) released two documents developed with input from the public safety community through online engagement hosted on the DHS First Responder Communities of Practice portal and other social media channels. These documents are intended for use by all public safety disciplines and all types of agencies to better understand and utilize social media and other Web-based tools without having to reinvent the wheel or spend hours searching for examples or policy templates and use cases.
The first document, entitled “Social Media Strategy," provides a high-level introduction to social media, its benefits for public safety, and best practices from agencies already using it. It also serves as a good starting point for developing an agency’s detailed social media strategy. The second document, entitled "Next Steps Strategy," serves as follow up to the Social Media Strategy. It presents challenges and provides both next steps and best practices for public safety agencies developing and implementing social media.
For more information and to download the documents please visit www.FirstResponder.gov or DHS First Responder Communities of Practice at www.communities.firstresponder.gov.
The DHS Virtual Social Media Working Group
Recognizing the need to address the challenges associated with social media for emergency response and public safety, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate established the VSMWG. The mission of the VSMWG is to provide recommendations to the emergency preparedness and response community on the safe and sustainable use of social media technologies before, during, and after emergencies.
Drawn from a cross-section of subject matter experts from local, tribal, state, territorial and federal responders from across the United States, VSMWG members establish and collect best practices and solutions that can be leveraged by responders throughout the nation’s emergency response community. For more information and to participate in the discussion, please join DHS First Responder Communities of Practice at www.communities.firstresponder.gov.
Created: 1/17/2012 4:13 PM
In an emergency, how do we know you are who you say you are? The Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state and local emergency management agencies to streamline the process of exchanging and verifying credentials during emergencies. The goal is cheaper and easier identity authentication and more seamless emergency management.
An upcoming exercise at the S&T Identity Management Test Bed at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab will test the use of Interoperable Personal Identification Verification (PIV-I) cards, for the exchange of identification and required emergency response attributes across these agencies and levels of government. In the exercise scenario, FEMA personnel will arrive at Chester County with PIV cards, which a mobile hand-held card reader will authenticate. The handheld device will utilize a standards-based Service Provisioning Markup Language (SPML) protocol to retrieve each responder’s entitlements from the Federal Emergency Response Official (F/ERO) Repository. F/ERO is the authoritative data source to identify and verify federal employees/contractors, and participating non-federal employees/contractors likely to respond during times of response and recovery for natural disasters, terrorism, or other emergencies. It allows for immediate electronic verification of an employee/contractor’s personal identity and emergency management attribute at a given disaster zone. Another scenario will focus on the reverse, with FEMA authenticating state and local officials with PIV-I cards. The goal is cheaper and easier identity authentication and more seamless emergency management.
Emergency response situations frequently require coordination between federal, state, and local jurisdictions and representatives in their role supporting the Federal and mutual aid emergency response/recovery official (F/ERO) communities (state, local, Tribal, territorial, critical infrastructure/key resources (CIKR), and private sector) by identifying and organizing IdM standards and technologies. Created: 1/13/2012 11:23 AM
Originally posted to the USFA Chief's Corner blog.
One of the more common New Year’s resolutions is to improve our health and wellness through losing weight, eating better, beginning an exercise program or exercising more, stopping smoking, etc.
USFA recently released our 2011 provisional report of on-duty firefighter fatalities. While the 81 on-duty fatalities in 2011 reflect a decrease from 2010, heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 48 firefighters (59%). This is nearly the same proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke (60%) in 2010.
Every year, the leading cause of fatalities to firefighters is heart attack. Effective health and wellness programs can reduce this number one cause of firefighter deaths. As a whole and individually, we need to embrace health and wellness.
USFA and many other fire service organizations have developed many programs to support you and your department’s efforts to enhance firefighter health and wellness. These include the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters Fire Service Labor Management Wellness Fitness Initiative and the Heart Healthy Firefighter Program of the National Volunteer Fire Council.
While health and wellness programs are effective, they do not work unless they are implemented. USFA encourages fire departments to provide physical exams to each firefighter and responder in the department in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 – Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments. In addition, USFA encourages fire departments to implement a comprehensive fitness program per NFPA 1583 – Standard on Health-Related Fitness Programs for Fire Department Members.
As a firefighter, here are some things you can do starting now:
- Physicals on a regular basis
- Quit smoking
- Daily exercise
- Healthy eating
However, as with any fitness program, there are no instant results and positive impacts in this area take time. USFA recognizes the essential role of health and wellness programs in the fire service. I encourage all responders and departments to learn more about USFA’s programs and partnerships in this area by visiting the firefighter health and wellness section of our website. Created: 1/12/2012 3:49 PM
Originally posted to the FEMA blog, by: David Kaufman, Director, Office of Policy and Program Analysis
At FEMA and in the emergency management community, we often talk about the importance of engaging the whole community in how we prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate against disasters. Experience has taught us that we must do a better job of providing services for the entire community. This means planning for the actual makeup of a community and meeting their needs, regardless of demographics, such as age, economics, or accessibility requirements.
Over the last eighteen months, we engaged many of our partners, including tribal, state, territorial, local, and Federal representatives, the academic sector, the private sector, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, the disability community and the public in a national dialogue on a Whole Community approach to emergency management. The recently released document, A Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management: Principles, Themes, and Pathways for Action synthesizes what we heard through research, conferences, listening sessions, and direct feedback from our partners about how this Whole Community approach is successfully working around the country.
Woven throughout the document and supported by several examples are three key Whole Community principles that emerged through the national dialogue: understand and meet the actual needs of the whole community; engage and empower all parts of the community to define their needs and provide ways to meet them; and strengthen what already works well in communities on a daily basis to improve resiliency and emergency management outcomes. Below are just a couple of the examples collected in this document that show the Whole Community approach being driven from community identified needs.
- Support Alliance for Emergency Readiness Santa Rosa (SAFER) was developed in order to bring together local businesses, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations to provide a more efficient service to disaster survivors after Hurricane Ivan devastated northwest Florida. The relationships SAFER formed while serving community residents provided the foundation for collective action when disaster strikes. During non-emergency periods, SAFER worked closely with other agencies to address the needs of the county’s impoverished and vulnerable populations.
- Days after the devastating series of tornadoes and severe storms that swept through Alabama this past spring, various agencies, organizations, and volunteers came together to form the Alabama Interagency Emergency Response Coordinating Committee. Understanding the community’s capabilities and needs, the committee united to locate recovery resources and communicate information about available resources to individuals. The committee also worked to ensure that individuals with disabilities received important recovery and assistance information. Conference calls were held daily to provide critical information to individuals with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Additionally, volunteers continuously scanned broadcast media, print and electronic newspapers to obtain the most accurate information on resources for disaster recovery. The committee worked together with many organizations including FEMA, American Red Cross, Alabama’s Governor’s Office and numerous others to ensure that all members of the community received information on disaster recovery and assistance resources available.
We hope you find this document useful as we continue working to strengthen the resiliency and security of our nation through a Whole Community approach. And as we continue our national dialogue, we encourage you to exchange ideas, recommendations, and success stories. If you have a good idea or example to support the Whole Community approach, let us know. Leave a comment below or submit your idea to the FEMA Think Tank or email FEMA-Community-Engagement@fema.gov.
You can learn more about the Whole Community approach by visiting http://www.fema.gov/about/wholecommunity.shtm.
Created: 1/6/2012 3:45 PM
Critical to protecting national security and the homeland is identity verification, and the DHS Science & Technology Directorate’s Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences Division (HFD) is testing new technologies that show great promise in the area of iris and face recognition.
From facilitating high-throughput screening to improving the security of existing processes, new generations of dual iris and face technologies work faster and improve security over conventional identification tools. Under HFD’s Iris and Face Technology Demonstration and Evaluation (IFTDE) project, HFD researchers and analysts are taking emerging iris recognition technologies to the field. The technologies being put to the test in challenging DHS operational environments are easy-to-use, non-invasive cameras.
Here’s how it works: An operator captures the iris and facial images of an individual for matching with previously captured images or, if there is no match, for storing in a database for future reference. If the image matches up with another, then relevant information of the individual — fingerprints, criminal history, active warrants, immigration records — will pop onto the computer screen.
Recently, HFD researchers examined three dual iris and face recognition technologies in both indoor and outdoor settings. The accuracy, image quality, and ease of use of the cameras were all tested. At CBP’s Border Patrol station in McAllen, Texas, cameras were positioned around the station to examine the feasibility of different-use cases. For example, a camera positioned at the entrance to the station could capture each detainee’s iris and face images to jumpstart the identification process before they entered the facility. If the individual had a history of violence, CBP officers would know early on to isolate that person from the general population.
For one outdoor site survey, HFD researchers and analysts boarded a Coast Guard cutter and went out to sea. From intensely bright days to completely dark nights, the Coast Guard and S&T wanted to see how effective cameras would be in supporting identity operations in varying light and sea state conditions. During these activities, analysts observed several obstacles: the affect of direct sunlight and inconsistent lighting, camera flashes in the dark causing people to blink or look away from the camera, and on the cutter, the waves rocking the ship which affected picture quality.
Improving camera technology for iris and facial recognition to better handle various DHS operational settings is the purpose of IFTDE. Fingerprints are sometimes time consuming and difficult to collect. The unique pattern of irises, however, remains protected throughout a person’s life. Overall, iris recognition is a promising technology that may allow for faster, more accurate screening while improving the security posture in a variety of DHS settings.
Created: 1/5/2012 1:30 PM
In 2011, 173 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty, up 13 percent from 2010 and 42 percent over 2009, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF). Of the 173 officer fatalities in 2011, 68 were shot and killed. For the first time in 14 years, more officers were killed by firearms than in traffic accidents. Read the full report here - http://www.nleomf.org/assets/pdfs/reports/2011-EOY-Report.pdf
To stop this terrible trend, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) are working together to develop protocols and strategies across the criminal justice system. IACP is focusing on research and analysis and disseminating recommendations to the field. DOJ’s Body Armor Safety Initiative addresses the reliability of body armor used by law enforcement personnel. As part of this initiative, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has examined Zylon®-based bullet-resistant vests (both new and used) and is reviewing the process by which bullet-resistant vests are certified. The IACP/DuPont Survivors Club has recorded that 3,142 officers’ lives have been saved because they were wearing their vests. In 2011 alone, departments reported 70 saves. For more information on the Body Armor Safety Initiative, click here - http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bvpbasi/
Created: 1/4/2012 4:23 PM
Originally posted to the FEMA blog, by: Dan Stoneking, Director, Private Sector Division
It has been a long and productive year working together with the private sector and we’re excited to continue to build on this progress in 2012. As we get ready to head into a new year, I am pleased to announce the release of a free, web-based training course that will help the entire team continue to build and strengthen public-private partnerships in emergency management – FEMA IS-660: Introduction to Public-Private Partnerships.
What makes this course particularly exciting is that it was designed in collaboration with both the public and private sector, and anyone can enroll in the course – for free! The target audience for this training includes emergency management and community planners, senior-level personnel from response agencies, representatives from private-sector organizations, and federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government agencies that may participate in collaborative continuity planning efforts.
To whet your appetite, this new training will:
- Provide learners with an overview of the importance of public-private partnerships to emergency preparedness, response, and planning;
- Highlight best practices on identifying roles, and establishing and sustaining public-private partnerships;
- Require only two hours of your time.
So if you have an interest in how the private and public sectors can continue to work more closely together in emergency management, I strongly encourage you to take the course. It’s available through the Emergency Management Institute’s Independent Study Program, so check it out today.
This training is another great example of what we can achieve by working together. Many thanks to all of you who contributed to this dynamic tool, and thanks in advance to all of you who will enroll.
More information on EMI ISP courses is available at: http://training.fema.gov/IS.
Created: 12/30/2011 12:51 PM
As part of the DHS Blue Campaign to combat human trafficking, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) developed a web-based human trafficking training course that teaches law enforcement officers how to recognize human trafficking encountered during routine duties, how to protect victims, and how to initiate human trafficking investigations. The training is law enforcement sensitive and available on the FLETC Electronic Learning Portal for law enforcement officials with a Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) account. RISS is a secure intranet that facilitates law enforcement communications and information sharing nationwide. To establish training authorization and apply for account with RISS, visit www.riss.net/Centers.aspx. Select the RISS Center based on your agency’s physical location. Click on the email address and send a request to establish an account. Please reference your need to access the Electronic Learning Portal as the basis for establishing a RISS account.
You can also visit the Blue Campaign Facebook page, sign up for the Daily Human Trafficking and Smuggling Report and order Blue Campaign materials here. Created: 12/30/2011 12:31 PM
Originally posted to the Blog @ Homeland Security at DHS.gov. Written by Louis F. Quijas, Assistant Secretary for the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement and January Contreras, Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the U Visa Law Enforcement Certification Resource Guide. This guide is a new tool being made available to law enforcement officials to support investigations and prosecutions involving qualified immigrant victims of crime. Included in the guide is information about U visa requirements, the law enforcement certification process, and answers to frequently asked questions from law enforcement agencies. In a department-wide effort, DHS is providing this guide in response to requests for more guidance from law enforcement officials and domestic violence advocates alike.
In our roles, we hear about the challenges in ensuring that all victims of crime, regardless of immigration status, can step forward to report a crime. Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa specifically to address this with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women's Protection Act) in October 2000 (TVPA). This legislation strengthened the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and other crimes, while also protecting qualified victims of crimes. In the TVPA, Congress noted one of the reasons for creating the U visa: All women and children who are victims of these crimes committed against them in the United States must be able to report these crimes to law enforcement and fully participate in the investigation of the crimes committed against them and the prosecution of the perpetrators of such crimes.
Along with unprecedented efforts by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to make training and related resources more accessible to state and local law enforcement officials, and field guidance issued by Immigration Customs and Enforcement, this Guide is one more part of DHS efforts to support victims and law enforcement through the protections established in the TVPA.
Created: 12/29/2011 1:37 PM
Want to learn why terrorists think and behave as they do and how to respond to those types of actions? The University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) offers cutting edge research and resources on everything from package bombs and anthrax attacks to deradicalization and counter approaches.
The University of Maryland (UMD) received a five-year grant from the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate to remain the DHS Center of Excellence (COE) for the Study of Terrorism and Behavior (CSTAB). UMD was selected as part of an open solicitation and rigorous competition process, which began in October 2010. This award provides $3.6 million for the COE’s first 18 months. The CSTAB will use these funds to expand efforts initiated by the UMD’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), which is dedicated to advancing the understanding of terrorism and providing DHS relevant knowledge, analytical tools, and access to leading terrorism researchers. START’s research efforts have focused on terrorist recruitment and the formation of terrorist groups, terrorist group persistence and dynamics, and behavioral responses to terrorist threats and attacks. This COE uses a full range of social, behavioral and physical sciences to improve understanding of the origins, dynamics, and social and psychological impacts of terrorism. START also maintains the Global Terrorism Database, the world’s largest open-source database on terrorist events, which is used by analysts from all levels of government as well as the international intelligence community.
The COE program is managed by the S&T Directorate’s Office of University Programs, which leverages the unsurpassed research capabilities and intellectual capital of U.S. colleges and universities to fill knowledge and technology gaps for the Department. By congressional authorization, each COE is responsible for conducting multidisciplinary research and developing education initiatives in areas important for homeland security.
For more information about University Programs and a description of the current Centers of Excellence, visit www.dhs.gov/universityprograms.
Created: 12/22/2011 1:14 PM
Originally posted to The Blog @ Homeland Security by Suzanne Spaulding, Deputy Under Secretary for the National Protection & Programs Directorate. Modified for timeliness.
President Obama declared December National Critical Infrastructure Protection Month. Our Nation’s critical infrastructure includes everything from power plants, chemical facilities and cyber networks to bridges and highways, stadiums and shopping malls, as well as the federal buildings where millions of Americans work and visit each day.
Protecting these assets is a shared responsibility. As required by the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. The Department of Homeland Security leads this effort through a framework of public-private partnerships in close collaboration with the 18 critical insfrastructure sectors which include federal, state, and local governments as well as private sector infrastructure owners and operators.
Since September 11th, DHS has made great strides to improve the security and resiliency of national critical infrastructure. One of the most significant developments has been the linking of physical and cyber infrastructure. Businesses, governments, and individuals all rely on a vast and interdependent network of physical and cyber systems. At DHS, we continue to work with industry to identify and mitigate threats to the industrial control systems that operate everything from the power supply to water filtration.
An aware and vigilant public is a critical part of securing critical infrastructure. As Secretary Napolitano has said, “Homeland security starts with hometown security and everyone has a role to play.” The Department’s "If You See Something, Say Something™" campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness of suspicious behavior and to emphasize the importance of reporting such activity to the proper state and local law enforcement authorities.
Throughout this month, the Department will reach out to our partners and the public to raise awareness of what we can all do to protect and improve the resiliency of the nation’s vast array of critical assets and systems. It will take all of us working together to ensure these resources remain strong for the next generation.
Follow the Department’s critical infrastructure protection and resilience programs at www.dhs.gov/criticalinfrastructure
Created: 12/21/2011 10:24 AM
Adapted from a post by Director Connie Patrick, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, to the Blog @ Homeland Security.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) [recently] hosted 21 women in law enforcement as part of FLETC’s Women in Law Enforcement Leadership Training Program at our headquarters in Glynco, GA. FLETC hosted a week-long leadership training program to help promote and support women’s leadership in law enforcement, discuss current leadership challenges for women in law enforcement, and help facilitate career planning.
During the training program, I had the great privilege to join U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Chief of Staff Julia Pierson and FLETC Assistant Directors Cynthia Atwood and Dominick Braccio for a panel discussion on law enforcement leadership topics.
USSS Chief of Staff Pierson began her career as a police officer in Orlando, Florida and then served as a USSS Special Agent assigned to the Miami Field Office. FLETC Assistant Director Atwood was a special agent at the United States Department of Agriculture before coming to FLETC 15 years ago to promote law enforcement training excellence. FLETC Assistant Director Braccio has 32 years of law enforcement experience and recently received the Outstanding Advocate for Women in Federal Law Enforcement Award for his contributions in areas of recruiting, retaining, and promoting women in law enforcement from the Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) Foundation.
During the panel discussion, we noted that, while the law enforcement officers in attendance represented a diverse spectrum of agencies and functions, they shared common experiences as women in law enforcement. Although women make up 47 to 50 percent of the workforce in the United States, they constitute only up to 20 percent of the law enforcement workforce and are underrepresented in the management ranks.
We at FLETC understand that the law enforcement profession as a whole will continue to improve as women bring their skills and experience to leadership roles in law enforcement organizations across the country and around the world, and we look forward to being a part of their good work.
Connie Patrick is Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), DHS’s law enforcement training organization. Last year, FLETC trained more than 70,000 law enforcement professionals in skills including fingerprinting, tracking financial transactions, counterterrorism tactics, securing a building and searching a crime scene.
Created: 12/16/2011 3:30 PM
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and wireless carriers—including Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—conducted an end-to-end test of the Commercial Mobile Alert Service (CMAS) within New York City’s five boroughs. Throughout the day, OEM sent out test messages directed toward pre-determined locations across New York City between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM EST. Each test message read, “This is a test from NYC Office of Emergency Management. Test Message 1. This is a test.”
CMAS, also known as the Personal Localized Alert Network, is a FEMA-owned emergency notification system that has been created to deliver relevant, timely, effective, and targeted alert messages to mobile devices. CMAS will deliver critical emergency alert information to mobile devices once deployed nationwide in April 2012. By using CMAS, local, tribal, state, and Federal government officials will be able to send 90-character, geographically-targeted critical alert messages to the public warning of imminent threats to life and property. In addition, CMAS will support the dissemination of a Presidential Alert during times of national emergency or disaster as well as AMBER Alerts.
Throughout 2012, S&T and FEMA will be partnering with volunteer originators and disseminators to conduct four regional pilots and a national test. In addition, three CMAS Forums will be held to address how stakeholders representing government and industry can best work together to prepare for CMAS deployment. The next forum CMAS Forum is scheduled February 21, 2012, in conjunction with the 2012 IWCE Conference and Expo in Las Vegas.
For more information on CMAS, please visit the following links: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/cmas.shtm.
For more information on the test, please visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/pr/11_12_14_wirelessalert_test.shtml. To receive regular updates about CMAS, please create an account at the DHS S&T First Responder Communities of Practice website: https://communities.firstresponder.gov. Created: 12/15/2011 6:08 PM
Want to learn more about social media and its applications in emergency management and response? Tune in January 18 from 4-5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute (EMI) webinar “Using Social Media for Emergency Management Practices. Members of the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s (DHS S&T) Virtual Social Media Working Group (VSMWG) will present topics to include the definition of social media, emerging trends and best practices in using social media applications (Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, etc.) during all phases of emergency management The webinar will also provide a tutorial on how to access and work within these social media application and an overview on how emergency management and response personnel can help their organizations find a unique voice in social media.
Nearly 300 individuals participated in last webinar via online chat, audio, and other platforms. For more information, go to http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/webinars/
About the Virtual Social Media Working Group
Recognizing the need to address the challenges associated with social media for emergency response and public safety, DHS S&T established the VSMWG. The mission of the VSMWG is to provide recommendations to the emergency preparedness and response community on the safe and sustainable use of social media technologies before, during, and after emergencies.
Drawn from a cross-section of subject matter experts from local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal responders from across the United States, VSMWG members are establishing and collecting best practices and solutions that can be leveraged by responders throughout the nation’s emergency preparedness and response community. For more information and to participate in the discussion, please join DHS First Responder Communities of Practice at www.communities.firstresponder.gov.
FEMA EMI Webinar Series
The FEMA EMI Mission Support Branch offers a series of online webinars designed for tribal, state, and local emergency management personnel. The webinars are presented on the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time via the worldwide web. For more information on EMI’s webinar series, visit http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/webinars/.
Created: 12/14/2011 3:13 PM
At DHS Science & Technology First Responder Communities of Practice (FRCoP), we listen to our users. That’s what social media is all about– an open dialogue. Based requests from users, we have implemented a new daily digest email that will come to users once a day to alert them of the activities from the Communities to which our users have subscribed. The email highlights new blog posts, discussion questions, document uploads, wall posts and more.
If you’re already a member you should automatically be receiving these emails. You can turn this feature off or individually subscribe to content at any time by managing your subscription elections at https://communities.firstresponder.gov/group/guest/manage-subscriptions.
The idea for the email digest surfaced during a live demo at this summer’s DHS S&T First Responder Resource Group (FRRG) inaugural meeting. One of our users, Tom Sorley, suggested adding such a feature. Sorley is Deputy Director, Radio Communication Services, with the City of Houston’s Information Technology Department and a member of the FRRG, which is composed of a group of over 120 professionals representing the emergency preparedness and response community. Members speak for the needs of their respective disciplines, many of them representing major national associations as they provide feedback to DHS.
We value your feedback, so keep it coming by emailing the Communities of Practice team at FR.Communities@hq.dhs.gov. Created: 12/8/2011 5:37 PM
Have you or anyone you know ever been transported to a medical facility while strapped to a backboard? Chances are if you’ve required medical attention and paramedics had had to come to your aid to move you, you’ve been carried out on one of these devices. A single backboard carries many people over the course of a single year. To the naked eye, the backboard might look clean, albeit a bit scuffed up from repeated use. But what’s really on that hard plastic surface where your body is resting?
In a study of 55 backboards from central and south Florida, retired firefighter and paramedic Scott Neusch, along with the University of Miami, found that every one of the “in-service” backboards they tested were contaminated with infectious microbes, such as MRSA, left by the board's contact with blood, vomit, and other biological matter. These organisms reside on the surface of the boards and especially in the gashes, scrapes, and adhesive residue on backboards – even after the boards go through hospital scrubbers.
Would you want to be lying on a dirty backboard? Neusch and his colleagues, Joe McCluan and Mark Steinert, think not. That's why they submitted an idea for a disposable backboard cover to the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate’s (DHS S&T) TechSolutions program. TechSolutions worked with these first responders to make their idea a reality. In the end, they produced a new product: Board Armor, a non-porous, medical grade Tyvek material, which was finalized and commercially released in September.
Board Armor fits all sizes of commercially available backboards and is disposable – it's meant for one-time use for each new patient. Cuffed at the ends to afford a better grip to the backboard edges and with adhesive strips to help it stick to the surface of the board, Board Armor offers a solution to contaminated backboards by:
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Preventing bodily fluids and other matter from seeping into the backboard surface;
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Preventing contaminants on the backboard surface from being transmitted to the patient; and
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Reducing the turn-around time for paramedics and “out of service” backboards by eliminating the need to clean the boards after each use.
By partnering with Neusch, McCluan, and Steinert, DHS S&T addressed a critical technology capability gap for EMS practitioners nationwide, as well as patients who require the use of backboards. Learn more about Board Armor at www.advancedemsdesigns.com.
Are you a first responder with a technology idea that would make your job safer and easier to do? Submit your idea to TechSolutions and DHS S&T may partner with you to make your idea into something tangible!
Created: 11/21/2011 2:38 PM
By G. Thomas Steele and M. L. Kingsley
In recent years, car makers have been introducing a new breed of vehicles designed specifically for law enforcement. Ford unveiled a new version of its longstanding Police Interceptor; Chevrolet revived and modified its Caprice model for law-enforcement use. Newcomer Carbon Motors is marketing its “purpose-built” LE-specific E7, and Chrysler’s new 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit V8 model has reportedly clocked the fastest lap time in the history of the Michigan State Police annual Police Vehicle Evaluation Test.[i]
As expected, all of these are equipped with powerful engines, modifications for high performance, and improved safety features like ballistic door panels. But beyond that, this emerging generation also offers a variety of high-tech capabilities and equipment options that cater to law enforcement needs, such as license-plate readers, infrared cameras, and communications technologies that link the car into public safety information networks.
If you're considering upgrading your department's fleet to take advantage of the new capabilities on the market, you will have to evaluate more than just price, safety, performance, and fuel economy. Today’s average car has over 10 million lines of computer code in its operating system; a specialty police car, far more. Plus, as you add technology options, you must ask certain questions: When adding equipment, has the computer code been tested thoroughly to ensure that it works under unusual conditions? Is that code encrypted? Who maintains it and what is the cost? What happens if a vital component/system fails?
Data interconnectivity is also a significant part of the appeal of the new cars. With the latest technologies, a cop on the street might be able to send license-plate identification data to headquarters instantly or plug into the geographic information system (GIS) used by local partner agencies. It's important, therefore, to check that any new equipment is fully interconnective with your local agencies. It's also important to check other compatibilities and compliances, such as making sure data transmitted to and from the car doesn’t violate local, state, tribal or federal privacy regulations or agreements.
The new breed of law enforcement-specific vehicles is becoming increasingly impressive, with attributes playing up improved safety, better power and handling, and technologies to make street work more effective. Selecting intelligently from constantly morphing high-tech vehicles and equipment will also take a new breed of evaluation.
G. Thomas Steele is a communications staffer at the University of Maryland, College Park and a life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). His past work includes President of the IACP Law Enforcement Information Management Section, Chief Information Officer (Retired), Alexandria, Virginia, Police Department, and Delaware Department of Homeland Security; M. L. Kingsley is freelance writer and consultant in Bethesda, Maryland.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. government. Links to non-federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users and the Department of Homeland Security is not responsible for any content on these websites. Furthermore, the placement of the links on this website does not constitute an endorsement of any programs, policies or views of the organizations by the Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Government.
Created: 11/1/2011 4:04 PM
by Stephanie Slater
Law enforcement now has plenty of resources for communicating with the public online; the past few years have seen an explosion in the use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others. But where do I go to communicate with others in my field or find advice when an issue arises?
Lately, I’ve been using a great tool called the First Responder Communities of Practice, and it is increasingly the place I turn for networking and sharing information with others in the field. After joining the site, located at http://Communities.FirstResponder.gov, members have unprecedented access to practitioners across the country representing nearly every expertise imaginable. I’ve been impressed with how easy it is to locate and ask questions of other public information officers and first responders whose years of experience well surpass mine.
Site members use discussion boards, shared document repositories, wikis, and other tools to collaborate on projects and share information with one another. The site was created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate to foster information sharing across all homeland security related fields. I’d encourage anyone who is interested to sign up for an account and begin exploring what’s available. It’s also easy to share your own resources and get your name out in front of a nation-wide audience.
You will quickly notice the unique chance for cross-disciplinary information sharing, meaning that you can discuss common issues with groups such as the fire service or non-profit organizations. As the world becomes more interconnected and strained budgets force further coordination of operations and resources, I think the site is an impressive place to connect on these efforts. It’s hard to imagine the wealth of knowledge and potential for collaboration opportunities on another site. And the best part, especially in today’s budgetary environment, is it’s free!
In addition to the Communities of Practice site, I am also participating in the DHS S&T led Virtual Social Media Working Group (VSMWG). It has been fascinating to explore the potential of social media tools and to hear from other practitioners across the country regarding the integration of these technologies into their agencies. Our discussions so far have reinforced the fact that social media for law enforcement is all about engaging the community, humanizing the agency, and keeping citizens informed at all times. What better way is there to achieve these goals than for agencies to come together across geographic regions and public safety disciplines to share best practices?
Soon, the working group will release to the public a Social Media Guidance document containing a breakdown of all the issues to consider when implementing social media in a public safety organization. It is a great resource for users of any skill level who want to get an overview of the benefits and strategies for social media in police work. As the world embraces social media and the technology is integrated further into the lives of our community, I feel confident that the members of this working group will keep public safety at the forefront of these changes.
Both of these initiatives have me more excited than ever about how these tools will shape the way we work online, engage our community and most importantly, keep them safe!
To join DHS S&T First Responder Communities of Practice and learn more about the Virtual Social Media Working Group, visit http://Communities.FirstResponder.gov.
Stephanie Slater became the Boynton Beach Police Department’s Public Information Officer in April 2007, following seven years as a newspaper reporter. Slater, a New York native, is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, where she majored in print journalism. Slater is the spokeswoman for the Boynton Beach Police Department, serving as the liaison between the officers, the media and the public. She writes the department’s press releases, provides television news interviews, maintains the department’s Web sites (bbpd.org, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) and oversees the department’s Officer of the Month program. Slater is a member of the National Public Information Officers Association and an executive board member with the Florida Law Enforcement Public Information Officers Association. Follow the Boynton Beach Police on Facebook (www.facebook.com/boyntonbeachpolice) and Twitter (@bbpd).
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Government. Links to non-federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users and the Department of Homeland Security is not responsible for any content on these websites. Furthermore, the placement of the links on this website does not constitute an endorsement of any programs, policies or views of the organizations by the Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Government.
Created: 10/27/2011 12:15 PM
This summer’s Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness (TCIP) conference brought together first responders, government officials, academic experts and others to share their knowledge of technological advances made over the past 10 years that strengthen our nation's ability to handle emergencies. Presenters, invited by the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and the Department of Defense focused on the use of technology in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. Topics included responses to 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, personal location and tracking technologies, new aviation systems and tools, biosurveillance, addressing the active shooter threat, social media alerts and warnings, and more. To view presentations from this year’s conference, click here: http://www.justnet.org/Pages/2011-TCIP-Presentations.aspx To learn more about the conference, click here http://www.tcipexpo.com/
Created: 10/26/2011 12:25 PM
Do you want to get started sharing emergency information with nearby jurisdictions? Have you heard about Virtual USA? Check out the Virtual USA Implementation Tool at https://vusa.us/doc/bvusa/index.html. It outlines a methodology for leaders from local, state, tribal, regional or Federal entities who are developing their own information-sharing and visualization strategies, in line with the Virtual USA Model. Virtual USA is a federal initiative that promotes cross-jurisdictional information sharing and collaboration among the homeland security and emergency management community. The Implementation Tool offers lessons learned from Virtual USA’s Southeast and Pacific Northwest Pilots.
Virtual USA is developing a technical system and operational guidelines for sharing incident response information through existing systems and geospatial platforms. A number of Virtual USA pilot programs are focused on deploying this capability within the homeland security and emergency management community to save lives, protect property, and improve operational efficiencies. Virtual USA is using a participatory model to link the government at all levels. Users will be able to access information based upon their role and define how to display that information on a web-based map. Get the tool now here: https://vusa.us/doc/bvusa/index.html
Created: 10/19/2011 2:12 PM
Emergency Management requires a tremendous amount of coordination between agencies, and often requires working across borders and jurisdictions. Toward that end, the Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) is leading an effort to develop a regional information sharing capability that will allow its member states to share data instantly and seamlessly. On May 16-20, 2011, the CUSEC states participated in the National Level Exercise (NLE) led by FEMA to demonstrate its newly built information sharing capability. The states shared information leveraging the technical components of Virtual USA, a product supported by DHS S&T. To give it a proper test, the exercise simulated a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone – an area that lies at the junction of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Kentucky – and then, within in each state's emergency operations center, simulated the responses.
The timing of this exercise proved excellent.
Just a few days before the NLE began, heavy rains had led to flooding in Missouri, and the day after the exercise ended, tornadoes hit throughout the Midwest. These tornadoes caused devastation throughout the CUSEC states, most notably in the city of Joplin, Missouri, where over a hundred people were killed. To respond to and recover from these disasters as efficiently and best as possible, the CUSEC states put to use various components of the newly established regional information sharing capability, as well as the processes and relationships developed during its creation.
To monitor and assess the situation on the ground, the Missouri National Guard and Emergency Management Agency (EMA) used a workflow that had been developed for the CUSEC information sharing pilot by the Tennessee EMA. To get accurate high-level views of critical infrastructure and key resources, the Missouri EMA put to use a Civil Air Patrol (CAP) tool that had been created during the CUSEC pilot. The CAP tool collected post-disaster aerial reconnaissance photos of critical infrastructure taken by the CAP, and then placed those pictures into Web-enabled feeds of geo-referenced pictures of the areas, creating up-to-date composite maps of the affected areas. The composite maps data feed was shared with other entities in Missouri, and was made available to representatives in Iowa, Virginia, and CUSEC member states, providing valuable situational awareness and decision support intelligence for stakeholders in the region.
The information collected by the Missouri EMA and National Guard was also shared immediately with operators and decision makers in the region. The shared information became part of the planned and coordinated response efforts in at least five different cases, including:
· Securing the area around the overtopped Sugar Tree Levee;
· Monitoring the water levels at the Peteseau Bend Levee;
· Surveying a power plant and railroads surrounded by water and re-routing traffic to sustain the delivery of coal and personnel to the plant;
· Assessing damage at key hospitals in the area; and
· Determining road closures along I-29 that runs through Missouri and Iowa.
In the aftermath of the Joplin tornado, the Missouri EMA and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) together identified both the tornado’s path and the location of structural damage four days before either the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the National Weather Service provided such reports.
For the participating states, the CUSEC pilot has brought lasting benefits. They now have a sustainable process for more coordinated response efforts, improved real-time situational awareness and coordination of preventive measures and response and recovery efforts during a real event. In addition, the development of the process has led to strong partnerships that foster further regional collaboration between all levels of government. And the timing couldn't have been better. Created: 10/11/2011 12:46 PM
With the plethora of detection equipment on the market nowadays, it is difficult for facility and security managers to know what chemical, biological or other types of sensors may or may not meet their needs. That’s because there have been no official standards for this type of equipment. The recently published National Strategy for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Standards, produced by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate[m2] (S&T) and the Department Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will ultimately make it easier to make these determinations and protect an organization’s people and assets.
The dilemma has been a challenge. Take for example, a facilities manager at a prominent company headquartered in New York who was looking to protect employees from a variety of threats. One of many protective recommendations was to purchase and install CBRNE detection units for the building. The company’s CEO approved the purchase and the facilities manager searched for the best option. Unable to find local, state, or Federal standards for the CBRNE detection equipment, he asked colleagues for recommendations, then, ultimately ordered and installed the technology.
Soon afterward, the CRBNE equipment proved to be effective, setting off an alarm when chemical fumes were detected in the hallways. The fumes, however, were from the solvents the cleaning crew uses to mop and polish the floors. The false alarm caused local emergency responders and a HAZMAT team to scramble to the building and assess the situation. This scenario repeated itself over and over again for a few weeks. Finally, New York State officials recognize the problem — the faulty CBRNE detection unit. The system has to be shut down to stop the expensive nightly response.
Similar stories spurred the state of New York to mitigate the expensive issue by developing a standard for companies to purchase and manage CBRNE equipment. The NY CBRNE detection equipment regulation requires companies planning to procure and install these systems to submit applications that include equipment details, standard operating procedures, and how they plan to manage emergencies with local responders and the state Department of Health. The New York State regulation requires companies to evaluate the technology against state requirements. Further, the company must have a certified technician on staff full-time to manage the equipment.
Currently, the Federal government is working to coordinate the development of these much-needed CBRNE standards. The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Committee on Homeland & National Security chartered the Subcommittee on Standards (SOS) to serve as an interagency forum to gather CBRNE Federal stakeholders to develop CBRNE standards. The SOS is co-chaired by DHS S&T and NIST. The National Strategy for CBRNE Standards document is the first of a number of planned publications by the SOS. The Strategy covers equipment used by Federal, State, local, and tribal responders for CBRNE detection, protection, and decontamination.
The Strategy provides an outline to develop CBRNE standards by 2020 for:
· equipment,
· interoperability,
· training,
· standard operating procedures, and
· A National infrastructure for Test and Evaluation of CBRNE Equipment.
The Strategy provides a framework for coordinated CBRNE investment activities among:
· agency leaders,
· program managers,
· the research and testing community, and
· the private sector.
Learn more about the National Strategy for CBRNE Standards on the White House Office for Science and Technology Policy Website.
Created: 10/11/2011 12:33 PM
Even heroes can fall victim to the dehydration and overheating. A new mobile application from the Department of Labor helps first responders and others working in extreme conditions avoid heat-related illness. The app lets workers and supervisors calculate the heat index, pulling together air temperature and relative humidity to determine how hot it really feels to a human being. With one click, users can get reminders about protective measures, including reminders about drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness. The app is already available for Android, coming soon to the Blackberry and iPhone. To get it, go to http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html.
For more information about safety while working in the heat, see OSHA’s heat illness webpage, including new online guidance about using the heat index to protect workers.
Created: 10/11/2011 11:12 AM
The integration of social media and emergency management for enhanced communications and situational awareness has been a topic of national discussion increasing in popularity with each emergency or large-scale event. A returning concern is the credibility and accuracy of data collected via public channels. Another is how to sift through the volumes of information available during a crisis or other large-scale event to discover information that is useful to you. Leveraging lessons learned and best practices identified by the emergency response community (including volunteers, non-profits, academia, and private sector partners), the DHS Science and Technology Directorate was able to aggregate Twitter feeds from local, state, federal, NGO, and private sector officials from every state on the Eastern Seaboard into a web service during the recent response to Hurricane Irene.
Using a web service makes the data dynamic; in other words, data feeds generated with a “web services” approach ensures that the information provided is automatically updated in real time and represents the most up-to-date information possible. There are two ways to digest the data we’ve provided:
• Within Your Own Mapping Capability
The web services are discoverable on the Virtual USA (vUSA) website, https://web.vusa.us, and can be viewed in any EOC’s existing map viewer, such as Google Earth or an ArcGIS based viewer. Users need only to have a vUSA account to access the information. These feeds enable Emergency Operations Centers or anyone with a common smartphone to utilize geo-enabled services and/or files in conjunction with their own situational awareness data in their native mapping environment.
• Public Data
For those without a central mapping capability, a Representational State Transfer (REST) service is viewable courtesy of the Florida Division of Emergency Management at http://map.floridadisaster.org/Gator/.
Additional Efforts
Development of the service was inspired by another crowd-sourcing effort, in which the location of Twitter profiles of social media experts, government agencies, the media, and other response organization on the Eastern Seaboard were mapped in preparation for Hurricane Irene. This map represents the efforts of a growing community of emergency managers and practitioners who are focused on the integration of social media and emergency management - the Social Media and Emergency Management (SMEM) Initiative.
For more information, follow #SMEM on Twitter. Volunteers also lead weekly chats on a variety of topics relating to the integration of technology and emergency management, including social media, geospatial capabilities, policies, and more by following #SMEMchat on Fridays at 12:30 P.M. EST.
The Virtual Social Media Working Group
DHS Science and Technology facilitates the Virtual Social Media Working Group (VSMWG), whose mission is to provide recommendations to the emergency preparedness, response, and homeland security communities on the safe and sustainable use of social media before, during, and after emergencies. Members of the group represent several agencies, disciplines, and sectors from across the country and are currently working on developing a social media guide to assist agencies who are just getting started in the implementation of social media through examples and use cases. For more information on the VSMWG, please request membership to DHS First Responder Communities of Practice and join the “Make America Safer through Social Media” community (www.communities.firstresponder.gov).
Created: 9/11/2011 4:23 PM
A new web-based toolkit helps local fire departments defend against budget cuts and advocate for continued investment in fire prevention programs. Every day, a fire department responds to a fire every 23 seconds, someone is injured every 31 minutes, and every three hours someone dies, according to the Strategic Fire project, funded by a DHS Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to the Institution of Fire Engineers USA Branch (IFE-USA). Fires cause $15.5 billion in property damage each year and can damage a community and its economy through loss of business, jobs and tax revenue. The kit helps departments show their elected leadership what that really means. It offers tips on developing relationships with community leaders, telling your story, implementing an advocacy program and working with the media. You can find the Vision 20/20 Fire Prevention Advocacy Toolkit at StrategicFire.org. You can also learn more about Vision 20/20 by following the project on Twitter @strategicfire and Facebook at www.Facebook.com/strategicfire.
Created: 7/19/2011 10:27 AM
Vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of firefighter deaths each year, killing hundreds and representing 25 percent of all on-duty fatalities. Safety Tops Our Priorities (STOP), a new campaign sponsored by the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) offers educational resources on the dangers of riding sans seatbelt, on the job, and off. The first training in the program – STOP: Seatbelts Top Our Priorities – is now available online here (access code 6832). The free 30-minute training module focuses on vehicle safety with an emphasis on seatbelt use. STOP offers completion tracking capabilities so departments can make sure their members have completed the course, and certificates of successful completion can be printed. The NVFC also encourages departments to have all their members sign the International First Responder Seat Belt Pledge. The pledge was created in 2006 in memory of firefighter Brian Hutton, who died after falling from his fire truck on the way to a call. More than 850 departments and 150,000 firefighters – including the NVFC Board of Directors – have signed the Seatbelt Pledge.
Created: 7/15/2011 10:24 AM
Screams and taunts erupt from inside prison walls on a dark rainy day in West Virginia. Inside the cafeteria, inmates are loose, yelling, cursing and throwing things. A response team arrives in full riot gear, brandishing shields and launching flash bangs that blast purple smoke into the air as they advance. It’s probably the only time you’ll see an inmate pat a corrections officer on the back after being tackled, pepper sprayed and even hit with paintballs. That’s because the inmates are enthusiastic student volunteers from area colleges dressed in orange prison jumpsuits – and safety glasses and mouth guards – and the officers are training and testing new law enforcement technologies at the Mock Prison Riot.
The Mock Prison Riot is held once a year for four days at the West Virginia State Penitentiary, a gothic style, 100-year-old former prison that was decommissioned in 1996. An actual, deadly riot occurred on the grounds in 1986. At this year’s Mock Prison Riot, more than 1,200 correctional and law enforcement officers attended from 35 states and 11 countries. They viewed, or tested, 97 different technologies in 60 scenarios. Foreign visitors included delegates from Canada, Bahamas, Singapore, Brazil, Australia, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Estonia, Finland and Israel.
The Riot is a great chance for officers to play with new masks, non-lethal weapons, smoke cannons and other gear. The Department of Homeland Security’s HS S&T’s Patti Wolfhope brought along a new biometric reader known as the “Four Finger Slap.” The handheld device is designed to identify inmates, disaster victims or anyone else using biometric markers including fingerprints, facial characteristics and iris. The riot allows for technology developers to gather immediate feedback on their tools for consideration and modification to the product prior to production.
The week’s events kick off with a competition that tests marksmanship, endurance, teamwork and even hostage rescue skills. During the following days, teams react to a series of realistic scenarios involving inmate volunteers acting up in the cell blocks, the cafeteria, the infirmary and even a school bus. As a finale, a helicopter landed in the yard, under SWAT cover, as a medical crew rescued a corrections officer (dummy) amidst an inmate disturbance. If you and your team are interested in participating in the next Riot, go to www.mockprisonriot.org.
Created: 6/16/2011 2:17 PM
During wildfire outbreaks, first responders need a tool that quickly delivers information and imagery to help them contain and combat wildfires. There are automated systems currently available which use low resolution satellite imagery to detect wildfires, but these satellites see the earth as a grid of 1 kilometer-by-1 kilometer squares, which limits their ability to precisely locate the fire. Funded by the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate, the Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Center Pacific is developing a toolset that quickly and automatically detects wildfires from wide-footprint, high resolution commercial satellite imagery. Systems that use high resolution imagery generally require image analysts to manually search for fires, which takes up valuable time. Depending on fire size and image size it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours to use a satellite image to determine where the fires are, when every second counts. The RAPIER Fire Detection System (FDS) gets it done in under a minute. Additionally, certain satellites provide information that allows the RAPIER FDS to even locate fires through thick smoke. The RAPIER FDS creates small, high quality files that are easy to email or transfer. To download RAPIER Fire, try it out and comment on it, log into your First Responder Communities of Practice account, join the Fire Community, click on Documents and in the second folder, see the subfolder, RAPIER Fire Detection System. Don’t have a First Responder Communities of Practice account? Click here to apply for one. To see a demonstration video, click here. Created: 1/27/2011 12:18 PM
1. Because you’re part of a community working to ensure the safety of our nation…
Solving today’s challenges requires collaboration and information-sharing across the entire public safety community. First Responder Communities of Practice is the fastest growing collaboration platform developed specifically for those working in homeland security and public safety. Site membership is open to those working in public safety or homeland security, including government-sponsored citizens, government employees, and academia.
2. Because you are facing limited time and resources…
Time constraints and limited resources make it difficult to schedule face-to-face meetings, especially when travel is required. First Responder Communities of Practice offers its members a place to chat in real-time, email, develop documents, share calendar events, ask questions and respond to discussion threads, upload and access shared documents through discussion boards, email and online chat, blogs, wiki, calendar, document library, and bookmarking.
3. Because the nature of your work requires a trusted environment…
To join First Responder Communities of Practice, members must provide a sponsor and are vetted by DHS to verify their identity. And unlike most social media Websites that are often blocked by government firewalls, First Responder Communities of Practice is accessible from all government and non-government locations. The trusted nature of the site also allows for the storage of “For Official Use Only” (FOUO) and “Sensitive But Unclassified” (SBU) materials.
4. Because you want to find and stay in touch with colleagues in your field and across disciplines and jurisdictions…
Members of First Responder Communities of Practice represent a wide range of homeland security and public safety professionals, from all 50 states and across many disciplines. Members can update their profile with a photo, bio, certifications and education, and expertise, and can connect with other members. The site also offers email and real-time chat.
5. Because you’re always on the go and need to stay in touch with colleagues on tasks, projects, and key deliverables…
On First Responder Communities of Practice, staying connected while on travel or in the field is simple and quick. Members can subscribe to content being published from all tools and receive email alerts of replies to new discussion threads, blogs, document uploads, calendar events, and messages. Subscriptions help you to stay up to date on site activities without having to log-in.
6. Because you’re an expert in your field and want to share your expertise with other professionals and/or wish to seek expertise from others…
The nation’s public safety and homeland security professionals face similar challenges; often, documents or templates created by one agency can be used for another. But, it can be costly and complicated to share these resources, especially when the nature of the work requires additional security protections. First Responder Communities of Practice is developed specifically for this purpose. Become recognized in your field by sharing your expertise and contributing to the development of documents, replying to questions and discussion within Communities, or uploading and sharing templates and plans, while soliciting expertise, lessons learned, and best practices from others.
7. Because you want to contribute and learn about a variety of topics relating to your profession…
On First Responder Communities of Practice, you can join Communities that interest you, or create your own Community for a specific topic or project. DHS can help you get started. The site offers two types of Communities: Open Communities for discussion and collaboration on a general topic like Emergency Management, Law Enforcement, or Search and Rescue; Restricted Communities are for specific projects or initiatives. Membership is controlled by the Community administrator (site member who request to create a new Community) who can add or remove members as necessary.
8. Because you’re looking for a better way to work with your colleagues…
Conflicting schedules make it difficult to plan meetings and solicit feedback in an organized manner. Email isn’t always the best solution for sharing documents (many agencies limit message size to 12 MB or smaller) or for maintaining version control. And it’s often tough to quickly find messages or information in your inbox or shared folders. Site members can upload files up to 25 MB per instance and then store in one central location for easy access, and can edit and collaborate via the site’s wiki, discussion threads, and blogs.
9. Because you want to quickly find information, contacts, and resources in one place…
Finding and sharing important documents and contact information can be cumbersome, especially across agencies and departments. First Responder Communities of Practice members can search for site content, Communities, and colleagues by keyword, location, or discipline and expertise. The site’s member directory, tagging, and dynamic search make it easy to locate and share content and documents and maintain accurate contact lists.
10. Because you need a way to stay in touch and engaged with colleagues in between conference calls and meetings…
Continuing the conversation, gathering and managing feedback on documents, and following up on action items isn’t easy, especially when conference calls or meetings are infrequent or cancelled. On First Responder Communities of Practice, you can ask project members to add comments or make edits to documents, reply to discussion and questions, or upload resources. Members can chat with colleagues in real-time, subscribe to receive notification of site activities, and Community Administrators can message Community members through the site’s email capability.
Created: 1/17/2011 8:13 AM
Learn for free at FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness
If you’re a first responder you can learn how to handle chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive weapons at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Ala. It’s the only federally chartered Weapons of Mass Destruction training center in the United States. Training is free for state, local and tribal government first responders. CDP will fly you into Atlanta airport, pick you up, take you to the facility and provide all meals and lodging. For more information, click here. Created: 1/13/2011 12:49 PM
The DHS First Responder Communities of Practice team is getting to know first responders in various disciplines across the country who are actively using social media for emergency preparedness and response. We’ve been learning how these energetic individuals are beginning to capitalize on the multitude of free, fast and efficient social media tools that are available to anyone, with just the click of a button.
Take Edward Vassallo for example. As Ready Coordinator for the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management , Vassallo has helped the department launch remarkably active websites on Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, YouTube, Blogger and Twitter – where they have accumulated over 2,800 followers. Vassallo regularly posts a “tip of the week” to keep Philadelphia citizens engaged – on topics ranging from events in the city to barbeque safety. During emergencies, the department utilizes a regional emergency text and email alert system by connecting the RSS feeds from that system with their Facebook and Twitter accounts. This allows the messages generated remotely from the alert system to be automatically and seamlessly pushed out to their department websites.
In Boca Raton, Florida, Mark Economou has helped place the city police department at the forefront of the social media field, using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a ‘Chief’s Corner’ page – where visitors can view all social media activities of the police department Chief in one place. As Public Information Manager, Economou actively engages the community in constant conversation via Twitter, posting about recent arrests, major road closures, and how to stay safe. On their Facebook page, he posts items ranging from short, news-style videos to stories detailing local crimes. Are you a first responder using social media? Do you have advice to share with the first responder community? We encourage you to contribute! Whether you’re just starting to dabble in social media and Web enabled technologies or already well on your way, we’d love to hear about your experiences. Visit First Responder Communities of Practice to sign-up for an account and get involved in the discussion happening in the “Make America Safer through Social Media” Community. Created: 11/23/2010 12:29 PM
FEMA’s Responder Knowledge Base (www.rkb.us) contains a ton of great information. To bring the breadth and depth of the RKB’s information to users’ attention, a new feature was added to the site’s homepage: RKB Highlights. RKB Highlights provides a single link that describes a topic first responders encounter in the field. Clicking on it sends users to a page that provides a list of links to all of the information the RKB has on that particular topic. The first RKB Highlight focused on content concerning communications and interoperability. Upcoming topics for RKB Highlights include CBRNE, EMS, firefighting, law enforcement, and safety notices.
The goal of the Highlights feature is to provide users with as much information as possible about a specific topic in a single location, helping the RKB’s more than 73,500 users quickly find what they need. Within each RKB Highlight, users can find information about related certifications and declarations, operational assessments, publications and references, standards, training, and Weblinks. For more information on the Highlights tool offered on the RKB Website, or to recommend a topic, please e-mail RKBMailbox@us.saic.com or call 1-877-FEMA-RKB (1-877-336-2752). Created: 10/25/2010 6:15 AM
Membership on First Responder Communities of Practice exceeded the 1,000-user mark in September 2010. Created by the Science & Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS S&T), this vetted community of members focuses on emergency preparedness, response, recovery, resilience and other homeland security topics and issues.
More than 1, 100 First Responders, First Receivers, and homeland security personnel are connecting and collaborating on the DHS S&T First Responder Communities of Practice – why aren’t you? The site is a professional networking, collaboration, and communication platform designed specifically to focus on creating active communities around key issues, topics, and projects that First Responders, First Receivers, and homeland security personnel across the country are discussing. We have created a national dialogue via a trusted platform that can assist you in solving your homeland security problems, as well as help you find solutions that will assist you in conducting your missions more safely, efficiently, and effectively. Responders are looking for the ideas and wealth of experience that new members can bring to the discussion. To get involved, go to https://Communities.FirstResponder.gov and request an account. Current members can use the “Invite Colleagues” function on the site to ask their peers to join and weigh in on important topics. Don’t be the last of your colleagues to join! Created: 10/7/2010 7:50 AM
First responders collect a great deal of information on paper in the field, which is where it often languishes before it’s more broadly available for analysis and decision making. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) TechSolutions program recently held a focus group to explore digital pen technology as a tool to speed data capture and sharing without requiring mobile computers or workflow changes. The focus group brought together first responders from across the country representing law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, and emergency management, and gave them a chance to test out a digital pen solution. The digital pen, used like a regular ballpoint pen, captures and stores written information via scanning technology and specialized software.
First responders can use the digital pens to write on paper forms, maps, and building plans. Teams print forms, maps, and PDF files from their native applications using office printers and ordinary paper. The digital pen creates a unique digital watermark –like a 2D barcode—on each print that enables the digital pen and software to track and associate handwriting on each print with the original source files. Printed pages are filled out or marked up with ink using the digital pen, which also has a sensor, processor, and memory. As the pen writes, handwriting is digitized and stored on the pen. Data can be uploaded directly into agency databases using Microsoft Office, SharePoint, PDF, or ArcGIS files through a USB connection or uploaded through a BlackBerry device using Bluetooth. Testing is currently underway to support data transfer using iPhones and Android-based cell phones.
First responder participants in the focus group provided feedback on how the digital pen solution could be used and improved upon. TechSolutions will use the results of this focus group to determine its next steps.
The TechSolutions program was established by the DHS S&T First Responder Technologies (R-Tech) program to provide information, resources, and technology solutions that address mission capability gaps identified by the emergency response community. The goal of TechSolutions is to field technologies that meet 80 percent of the operational requirement, in a 12- to 15-month time frame, at a cost commensurate with the proposal. Goals will be accomplished through rapid prototyping or the identification of existing technologies that satisfy identified requirements. To submit a capability need or to learn more about TechSolutions, please visit www.TechSolutions.DHS.gov. Created: 10/7/2010 7:46 AM
"It can't happen to me! I'm a good driver!" That's what too many first responders think when it comes to vehicle accidents and roadway injuries and deaths. But a new report from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the U.S. Fire Administration says that law enforcement officers are more likely to be killed or injured by a vehicle than a weapon, according to the report, Best Practices for Emergency Vehicle and Roadway Operations Safety in the Emergency Services. And the number of firefighter deaths and injures related to roadway incidents “vastly exceeds” those in caused by scene entrapments and rapid interventions.
Crashes are “a major cause of on-duty fatalities,” says Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn A. Gaines. And the number of police officers, firefighters, EMTs and others struck and killed by vehicles as they work by the roadside is “disturbing and unacceptable,” says IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger.
In one case study, two Fort Lauderdale fire fighters managed to survive a high speed rear collision that ended up tipping their ambulance on its side because they were wearing seatbelts. The two cut themselves out, extinguished the flames shooting out of the car that hit them, and called for help using a radio that had been ejected from their rig.
Other first responders profiled in the study weren’t so lucky. An Illinois State Police Acting Master Sergeant began his work day at 7 a.m. in Champaign. The 16-year veteran was called to assist with an investigation into a local police department’s SWAT situation that ended with a subject shooting himself. The Sergeant worked well over his normal eight-hour shift and reported for his next shift less than six hours later. On his way home from that shift – and while talking on his cell phone – he missed a stop sign, skidded through the intersection and was struck on the passenger side by a pickup truck. His car than struck a utility pole and landed in a ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The report urges first responders to drive at a reasonable speed, wear seatbelts and be extra cautious when fatigue may be a factor. And of course to avoid distractions such as cell phones.
Responders to an incident scene should use emergency vehicles, parked at an angle, to shield them from the flow of traffic and wear reflective vest or clothing.
Download the full report here Created: 9/29/2010 8:05 AM
First responders and emergency managers in the regions affected by the oil spill are using a pilot project from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deal with the aftermath.
About a year and a half ago, DHS launched a pilot project to help Southeastern states share real-time information during an emergency. Now our federal, state, and local officials from 10 states are putting it to use. That pilot, the Southeast Regional Operations Platform Pilot (SE ROPP), is supporting response to the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. SE ROPP is part of the DHS Virtual USA (vUSA) initiative, which is developing a nationwide information-sharing capability that improves emergency coordination in a cost-effective way.
Louisiana’s Virtual Louisiana team from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness granted pilot participants real-time access to incident reports from state agencies (e.g., environmental, poison control, and emergency management). These reports include the latest data on oil spill sightings, cleanup progress, affected wildlife, and broken booms. The information helps agencies across the region coordinate response efforts. “Building upon lessons learned from events such as Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav, we have since formed a strong coalition with our colleagues in neighboring states throughout the region through the Virtual USA information-sharing initiative supported by DHS,” says Travis Johns, IT Applications Branch Manager for the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Florida state officials are studying maps of spilled oil on the state’s Geospatial Assessment Tool for Operations and Response (GATOR), a geospatial platform developed during the pilot, to display emergency data. The images help environmental officials decide where oil can be successfully recovered. “The [Florida State Emergency Response Team] SERT has been collecting geospatial data for boom verification, natural resources data, reconnaissance reports, geotagged photographs, and other data related to this response,” says David Halstead, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
For more information on SE ROPP and vUSA, visit www.firstresponder.gov/Pages/VirtualUSA.aspx Created: 9/16/2010 9:15 AM
On September 24, 2010, a major earthquake will trigger an oil spill off the coast of Southern California, damaging critical infrastructure and driving residents from their homes. Or at least, that’s the premise of Exercise 24, an experiment to test the power of social media and online collaboration to assemble resources in a crisis. Exercise 24 is being organized by San Diego State University’s Immersive Visualization Center, known as the Viz Center. The Viz Center is involved in humanitarian assistance disaster relief for groups like the U.S. Navy and the use of Cloud Computing, mobile devices, and open-source software to assist decision-makers and the public (http://www.inrelief.org). Exercise 24 aims “to explore collaborative solutions to emergency response, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and environmental impact challenges associated with a major earthquake.” The idea is to see how national and international authorities, organizations and citizens would react to such an event in southern California – who and what they would send and how they would communicate with the boots on the ground. Exercise 24 is seeking participants. The invite is open to municipal, state, federal, and tribal governments and organizations, non-government organizations, education centers, faith-based groups, volunteer groups, businesses, and individuals. Any costs would be paid by the participants themselves.
If you’re interested in participating in or observing Exercise 24 on September 24, go to InRelief.org (https://sites.google.com/a/inrelief.org/24/). Created: 8/31/2010 7:45 AM
Created: 8/27/2010 8:57 AM
A new, leaner and lighter Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) is almost a reality. The new design includes a soft back frame and first stage regulator (developed by Mine Safety Appliance), as well as a significantly slimmer cylinder array from Vulcore Industrial. The project is funded through a contract between the Science and Technology Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).
Representatives of DHS and the IAFF attended an operational assessment of the new, leaner version in May at the Prince George’s County (MD) Fire and EMS Training Academy in Cheltenham, MD. Firefighters from the National Capital Region - Prince George’s County, MD, Montgomery County, MD, Fairfax County, VA and Washington, D.C. - donned the prototype SCBA while executing training exercises including a window bailout and wire entanglement. The new SCBA holds 45 minutes of air supply, operates at 4500 psi, weighs less than current SCBA in the marketplace, has a profile of 2.5 inches, compared to current versions at more than 9 inches and will be compatible with current filling stations. Feedback from the first responders who wore the gear during exercises will be used to address identified issues. The new and improved SCBA is scheduled for commercial release in late 2011. For more information about the new SCBA, email RTech@dhs.gov. Created: 8/2/2010 7:11 PM
FirstResponder.gov is your site – and we want your feedback. When we first launched FirstResponder.gov a couple of years ago, the goal was to create an umbrella portal for federal resources for the emergency response community. First responders from around the country told us they needed a "one stop shop" for information on grants, training, safety, standards and other resources available from the federal government. This year, we reorganized the site and added news and a blog (this one). But we need input from first responders like you about front-burner issues and topics for you as well as other features to include that would enhance its usefulness. If you have a story idea, send it along. We want to know how you’ve used technology to help save lives – or what tool you don’t have but need. To Tell Us Your Story click here or on the main FR.gov page under "Tell Us Your Story." Created: 7/8/2010 6:25 AM
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) offers training sessions, in the form of one page Coffee Break training bulletins, videos and podcasts, so you can learn during your down time. More than 100 bulletins can be downloaded from the USFA Web site. Videos can be viewed on the USFA Web site or downloaded to your iPhone/iPod. You can also subscribe to Coffee Break podcasts on iTunes.
Coffee Break pages are posted every Tuesday, and present technical training tips on fire protection systems, building construction, codes and standards, hazardous materials and more. Recent Coffee Breaks focused on automatic sprinklers, fire investigation health and safety, and Web 2.0. Emergent issues that need special coverage are written up as Hot Coffee bulletins. Every three months you can test your knowledge using the USFA’s self-assessment tool.
For more information on Coffee Break training or other USFA programs, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov. Created: 5/22/2010 7:49 AM
Lots of first responders already use social and professional networking tools including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and possibly even GovLoop. While these sites offer great opportunities for first responders to connect and collaborate with others on a variety of topics, they are not solely dedicated to first responders. The new First Responder Communities of Practice is a forum for first responders to collaborate with other first responders on matters related to them conducting their missions more effectively and more efficiently.
In response to the need for an intuitive, easy to use virtual collaboration and professional networking platform, the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate created First Responder Communities of Practice. The site was designed for first responders and federal, state, local and tribal Homeland Security officials, who are granted access to the site by going through a vetting process. Registered members may share For Official Use Only (FOUO) or Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information with colleagues using tools including wikis, blogs, discussion boards, bookmarks and document folders. Members create profiles, join Communities that interest them – such as law enforcement, emergency managers, emergency medical services, and fire, among others -- and make new professional connections.
State participants in Virtual USA, are already using First Responder Communities of Practice to manage pilot projects and coordinate activities with team members across the country. Virtual USA is an information-sharing initiative developed in collaboration with the emergency response community and state and local governments across the nation to help federal, state, local and tribal first responders communicate during emergencies.
Created: 4/30/2010 12:27 PM
Welcome to the newly updated FirstResponder.gov. As you can see, we’ve redesigned the look and feel of the site and added new features to help you find information, news stories, technology, and tools to help you conduct your mission. The goal is to establish First Responders as a “one-stop-shop” resource portal. We added this blog to the site to start the conversation, make announcements and share information.
Our “What’s New” section points you to the most recently updated or posted event, blog post, link or news article. On the main page, clicking on the images of first responders will bring you to a page of information related to that specific discipline. You’ll also find a new section called “Tell Us Your Story” in which FirstResponder.gov urges you to do exactly that: tell us what we need to know and report about. Share your use of new technologies in the field, name an unsung hero we can profile, or tell us about a great online resource we should post to FirstResponder.gov.
We created the “Success Stories” map to highlight the deployment of government funded first responder technologies in the field. A new headlines feed will alert you to breaking stories across the DHS components, and “In the Spotlight” showcases original news stories about first responder technologies and innovations.
We’ve moved some of the content from the original version of the site to buttons on the bottom of the home page, so you can still find information about Grants, Preparedness/Training, Operational Field Assessments, Library/Reference, Technology/Standards and Emergency Management.
Links to other major DHS S&T programs such as Tech Solutions, Virtual USA, the Responder Knowledge Database, SAVER and the new First Responder Communities of Practice can be found on the lower right side of the home page.
Welcome to the new FirstResponder.gov. We look forward to a continuing dialogue with you, so that we can ensure the site meets your needs. Created: 4/10/2010 3:28 PM | Manage Subscriptions | /_layouts/images/ReportServer/Manage_Subscription.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/ManageSubscriptions.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x80 | 0x0 | FileType | rdl | 350 | | Manage Data Sources | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/DataSourceList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x20 | FileType | rdl | 351 | | Manage Parameters | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/ParameterList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x4 | FileType | rdl | 352 | | Manage Processing Options | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/ReportExecution.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x4 | FileType | rdl | 353 | | View Report History | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/ReportHistory.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x40 | FileType | rdl | 354 | | View Dependent Items | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/DependentItems.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x4 | FileType | rsds | 350 | | Edit Data Source Definition | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/SharedDataSource.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x4 | FileType | rsds | 351 | | View Dependent Items | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/DependentItems.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x4 | FileType | smdl | 350 | | Manage Clickthrough Reports | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/ModelClickThrough.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x4 | FileType | smdl | 352 | | Manage Model Item Security | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/ModelItemSecurity.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x2000000 | FileType | smdl | 353 | | Regenerate Model | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/GenerateModel.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x4 | FileType | smdl | 354 | | Manage Data Sources | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/DataSourceList.aspx?list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x20 | FileType | smdl | 351 | | Load in Report Builder | | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/RSAction.aspx?RSAction=ReportBuilderModelContext&list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x2 | FileType | smdl | 250 | | Edit in Report Builder | /_layouts/images/ReportServer/EditReport.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/ReportServer/RSAction.aspx?RSAction=ReportBuilderReportContext&list={ListId}&ID={ItemId} | 0x0 | 0x4 | FileType | rdl | 250 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XsnLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xsn | 255 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | ProgId | InfoPath.Document | 255 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | ProgId | InfoPath.Document.2 | 255 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | ProgId | InfoPath.Document.3 | 255 | | Edit in Browser | /_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation={ItemUrl}&OpenIn=Browser | 0x0 | 0x1 | ProgId | InfoPath.Document.4 | 255 | | View in Web Browser | /_layouts/images/ichtmxls.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&DefaultItemOpen=1 | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xlsx | 255 | | View in Web Browser | /_layouts/images/ichtmxls.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&DefaultItemOpen=1 | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xlsb | 255 | | Snapshot in Excel | /_layouts/images/ewr134.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&Snapshot=1 | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xlsx | 256 | | Snapshot in Excel | /_layouts/images/ewr134.gif | /FRBlog/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?listguid={ListId}&itemid={ItemId}&Snapshot=1 | 0x0 | 0x1 | FileType | xlsb | 256 |
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