This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. For further information, contact the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) at (301) 447-1325 or by email at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov.
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September is the 6th annual National Preparedness Month (NPM) , “Prepare, Plan, Stay Informed.” The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) verified the NPM 2009 will focus on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and should help Americans understand what it truly means to be ready.
In partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council, FEMA’s Ready Campaign will sponsor this year’s NPM. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate’s video message “Be Part of the Team ,” emphasized the need for public preparedness. He explained that our entire emergency management team has a role to play when it comes to preparing for and responding to the next disaster. “One of the most important parts of that team is the public. The more prepared the public is now, by getting an emergency response kit, making an emergency response kit, making an emergency action plan, and getting a skill, the stronger our emergency response team will be.”
National Preparedness Month Coalition membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. The 2009 NPM will teach Americans that being ready includes the following:
More information about FEMA’s Ready Campaign can be seen at http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/index.shtm .
The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently released the Second Edition of “Law Enforcement Intelligence: A Guide for State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies .” (PDF, 5.3 Mb) “This Guide of nearly 500 pages serves as a road map to understanding criminal intelligence and its related methodology, standards, processes, management, and resources,” stated the former director of the DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). “It will reflect the most current issues and initiatives related to law enforcement intelligence at the state, local, and tribal levels.”
After reviewing the Executive Summary, the EMR-ISAC noted the second edition of the Guide captures the vast changes that have occurred in the four years since the first edition was published in 2004. Emphasis has been placed on cooperation and information sharing among local, state, tribal, and federal agencies.
Hard copies may be ordered from the DOJ COPS Response Center by calling 800-421-6770.
The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) confirmed the Citizen Corps offers possibilities to engage citizens through education, training, and volunteer service to strengthen America’s communities and increase their protection and resiliency to the wide array of natural and man-made hazards that threaten local safety and security.
According to Citizen Corps website, everyone can make families and communities safer through volunteer service . Citizen Corps engages individuals in volunteer activities that support first responders, disaster relief groups, and community safer organizations. Everyone can do something to support local law enforcements, fire, emergency medical services, community public health efforts, and the four stages of emergency management: prevention, mitigation, response and recovery.
The Citizen Corps partner programs give citizens the opportunity to get involved and enhance the capabilities of first responders through the use of volunteers. The five federally sponsored programs are the following:
The EMR-ISAC learned that successful response and recovery must be supported through well-coordinated planning, training, and preparation. Citizen Corps Councils are designed to bring together government, community leaders, first responders, emergency managers, businesses, non-profit and volunteer organizations, and other groups with direct interest in strengthening their communities. The Citizen Corps brochure (PDF, 2.0 Kb) states: “We all have a role to play in keeping our hometowns safe and secure and Citizen Corps helps you prepare, train, and volunteer.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will conduct the second National Dialogue on the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) beginning 31 August and continuing through 6 September. The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) was notified that the DHS Secretary specifically requests to hear from the leaders, owners, and operators of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies. “The work you do is directly related to what is in this review, and we encourage you and your colleagues to participate.”
According to QHSR coordinators, this second dialogue will be more interactive. It will ask participants to prioritize and comment on proposed homeland security objectives and to discuss what must be done to achieve these objectives. “Participation by ESS personnel will help inform the work of the QHSR study groups,” each of which is focusing on one of the following study areas:
DHS will provide a final week-long online collaboration session from 28 September to 4 October. Use the following link to join next week’s conversation: www.homelandsecuritydialogue.org/ . To learn more about the QHSR, go to www.dhs.gov/qhsr .
The U.S. Fire Administration/EMR-ISAC does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites, and does not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.
This INFOGRAM may contain copyrighted material that was not specifically authorized by the copyright owner. EMR-ISAC personnel believe this constitutes "fair use" of copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use copyrighted material contained within this document for your own purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
DHS and the FBI encourage recipients of this document to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to DHS and/or the FBI. The DHS National Operation Center (NOC) can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9685 or by email at NOC.Fusion@dhs.gov.
The FBI regional phone numbers can be found online at www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm
For information affecting the private sector and critical infrastructure, contact the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), a sub-element of the NOC. The NICC can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9201 or by email at NICC@dhs.gov.
When available, each report submitted should include the date, time, location, type of activity, number of people and type of equipment used for the activity, the name of the submitting company or organization, and a designated point of contact.
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August 27, 2009 InfoGram