InfoGram 33-10: August 19, 2010

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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National Preparedness Month

September is the seventh annual National Preparedness Month (NPM). Led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and The Advertising Council, NPM is a nationwide effort encouraging individuals, families, businesses, and communities to work together and take action to prepare for emergencies.

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) confirmed that NPM 2010 will focus on encouraging all Americans to take active steps toward getting involved and becoming prepared. "Americans have to work together as a team to ensure that individuals, families, and communities are ready," said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. "Disasters can hit any place, any time, so it's essential that we take concrete steps together, now, to ensure a better response later."

FEMA's Ready Campaign is asking organizations to take part by joining the NPM Coalition, committing simply to inform members, employees, and customers about the importance of being prepared for both large and small emergencies. The EMR-ISAC also verified that coalition members will be listed on the NPM website and receive a toolkit with templates, tools, and ideas. Interested organizations can visit Ready.gov for more NPM information.

Hospital Evacuation Decision Guide

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) was recently contacted by an Emergency Management Institute staff member regarding the potential value of the Hospital Evacuation Decision Guide (HEDG) (PDF, 195 Kb) for the nation's emergency management and emergency medical services disciplines.

This May 2010 guide is designed to provide hospital evacuation decision teams with organized and systematic guidance on how to consider the many factors affecting the decision to order an evacuation. It can also assist these teams in identifying some of the special situations that may exist in their facility or geographic area that could influence the determination to evacuate.

Intended to supplement hospital emergency plans, the HEDG is not a "cookbook" and specifically does not offer a formulaic approach to evacuation decision making. The EMR-ISAC observed it does provide assistance in those instances when the decision is not clear—"when the uncertainty of the event and its aftermath may result in compelling arguments both for and against hospital evacuation."

See the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for more information.

Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism

Research by the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) revealed that the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) has recently realigned programs and services to focus on the law enforcement profession by offering training, workshops, informational resources, and other services to the "line officer." MIPT provides training and professional development at no cost to qualified participants through the support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

MIPT is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security training partner serving the nation's uniformed officers and law enforcement leadership. Its mission is to enhance the public safety through training, professional development, and education under the Homeland Security National Training Program Cooperative Agreement. The EMR-ISAC particularly noted that the MIPT developed the "InCOP" program, which is a series of four training sessions and supporting services.

"The Institute's staff has direct experience in law enforcement disciplines including: intelligence gathering and analysis, major case management, counterterrorism, and informant development. MIPT subject matter experts are police officers with extensive experience and backgrounds in training and training development."

FY 2010 SAFER Program

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that the application period for the FY 2010 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) Program opened on Tuesday, August 17, and will close on Friday, September 17, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

SAFER was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained "front line" firefighters available in their communities. The EMR-ISAC corroborated that the goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response, and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 1710 and/or 1720) and Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA 1910.134). The Department of Homeland Security National Preparedness and Programs Directorate requested that NFPA make available excerpts to assist fire departments with the application process of the SAFER Act Grant.

The SAFER Grants Applicant Tutorial provides an explanation of grant priorities and the evaluation process. It also aids in identifying national standards and informing applicants about the purpose and goals of the SAFER grants. Applicants will learn what activities are fundable and which organizations are eligible for grants.