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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The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) reviewed the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Alert, dated 10 September 2009, regarding the use of plain language. The document explained that the use of plain language in emergency response is a matter of public safety, especially the safety of first responders and those affected by the incident.
The NIMS Alert clarified the importance for all local responders to know and utilize commonly established operational structures, terminology, policies, and procedures, particularly for the benefit of those coming into an impacted area from other jurisdictions, other states, and the federal government. “This is what NIMS and the Incident Command System (ICS) are all about—achieving interoperability across agencies, jurisdictions, and disciplines.”
To further assist with plain language implementation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released in July 2008 the “Plain Language Guide—Making the Transition from Ten Codes to Plain Language.” This Guide represents a first step by DHS in a long-term commitment to help jurisdictions move toward the adoption of plain language. “It assists emergency responders in making the transition from the use of ’10-codes’ to ‘plain language’ during radio communication by explaining how plain language improves interoperability between agencies, explains the value in using plain language, and provides advice regarding the efforts, resources, and key actions to implement plain language in a state, territory, region, or agency.”
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the U.S. Fire Administration announced that the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend will be 2-4 October 2009. A plaque with the names of 103 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008 will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, MD. The names of 19 firefighters who died in previous years will also be added to more than 3,300 firefighters on the plaques surrounding the Memorial, which was established in 1981.
The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that 36 states experienced line-of-duty (LOD) deaths in 2008. These deaths resulted from many causes: vehicle accidents, training incidents, building collapses, diving incidents, natural disaster response, heart attacks, burns, helicopter and air tanker crashes, and being struck by objects (e.g., vehicles, trees, gunshots). Oregon and North Carolina suffered the nation’s largest number of LOD firefighter deaths in 2008, with 9 in each state.
Chief Dennis Compton, Chairman of the NFFF Board of Directors, stated: “Our country’s firefighters make a commitment day in and day out to protect others from the ravages of fire and many other life threatening hazards. Each year we gather at the site of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland, to pay tribute to those firefighters who paid the ultimate price in the performance of their duties. The fire service is honored and humbled to memorialize these fallen heroes and show our sincere appreciation for the sacrifices made by those they left behind.”
Visit the following for more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend:
Memorial Weekend Web Site, Press Kit (PDF, 11.2 Mb)
The Fire Corps released the second edition of the “Fire Corps Toolkit for Citizen Corps Councils.” (PDF, 342 Kb) Upon review, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) confirmed that the toolkit is compilation of the tools and resources needed to promote and support Fire Corps programs within local communities.
The Fire Corps was launched in 2004 to help fire and EMS departments, which have increasing demands from man-made and natural disasters and other emergencies. The toolkit explained the Fire Corp’s mission to increase the capacity of volunteer, career, and combination departments through the use of community volunteers in non-emergency roles. By recruiting non-emergency assistance, first responders can devote more time to emergency response and training. In addition, non-emergency volunteers can help departments to expand their services, such as enhancing fire prevention programs or supplying food and water to emergency personnel through a rehabilitation/canteen unit.
Available tools and resources to implement a program include the following:
The website states it serves as a gateway to information for fire and EMS departments looking to establish or expand a Fire Corps program. Additional information is available at www.firecorps.org or by calling 1-888-324-6361.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will conduct the third and final National Dialogue on the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) beginning 28 September and continuing through 4 October. The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) was notified that this last opportunity will allow the stakeholders of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) “to review the final study group content submission including the vision, goals, objectives, and key strategic outcomes from the mission studies.”
The QHSR is a congressionally mandated, top-to-bottom review of homeland security that will guide and inform the nation’s homeland security policies for the next four years. During the previous two Dialogues, DHS asked for input in reviewing pre-decisional study group materials. Participants provided more than 400 comments that were used to inform the DHS study groups.
Between 28 September and 4 October, ESS personnel can review the final proposed content and provide opinions in the following areas: borders, counterterrorism, disasters, immigration, planning, and risk. Interested individuals can register to participate using the form at www.homelandsecuritydialogue.org. Additional information about the QHSR can be seen at 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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September 24, 2009 InfoGram