In the Public Eye
By Randy Southerland
It may just be one of the biggest trends in security. Amidst terrorist bombings and rising crime, the camera is moving out of the warehouse and office...
SIA Gears Up For Government Summit
May 17, 2007
This year's Security Industry Association (SIA) Government Summit, which takes place on June 11-13 at the Hilton Embassy Row hotel in Washington, D.C., is designed to keep participants up-to-date on policies driving federal procurement decisions and to create a strong, unified industry voice on Capitol Hill. At the Summit, industry leaders and government end-users will hear from the nation's leading policy experts on issues impacting the GSA Schedules Program, TWIC implementation, "earmarking" federal funds for physical security projects, and the SAFETY Act designation process. ...
DHS Announces Millions Available to Nonprofit Organizations
May 17, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Washington, D.C., hsa announced that nonprofit organizations in 46 designated areas are eligible to apply for funds as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2007 Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). This program will provide more than $24 million to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that are deemed high-risk for a potential international terrorist attack.
Grants will be awarded to nonprofit organizations through their eligible State Administrative Agency (SAA)....
Smart Card Alliance Wary Of Enhanced Driver's Licenses
May 3, 2007
The privacy and security of U.S. citizens would take a back seat to convenience if border states follow the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommendations to pilot long-range, vicinity-read RFID-based state driver's licenses that would double as border crossing cards, according to a statement released by the Smart Card Alliance.
The Alliance recommends that states working on enhanced driver's license pilot programs with DHS retain their right to contribute to the technology specification and consider using more secure contactless smart card technology. This is the same technology used in new, government issued e-passports. It would help states to achieve a fast and secure means for citizens to cross U.S. land and sea borders under the new Western Hemisphere Traveler Initiative (WHTI) guidelines....
DHS Awards Grants, Provides Technology To Emergency Responders
Apr 6, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded two multi-million-dollar grants to state emergency response agencies and emergency workers, in addition to creating a program aimed at delivering the latest technology solutions to first responders.
States and local governments will receive $194 million to help prepare and implement emergency management activities through the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program.
State emergency management agencies use EMPG funds to enhance their emergency management capabilities in areas of planning, equipping, training, conducting exercises and providing for all-hazards emergency management operations. In addition, the funds are used to pay for personnel who write plans, conduct training and exercise programs, maintain emergency response programs and educate the public on disaster readiness....
Blogging System Would Aid Communication During Disasters
Mar 22, 2007
Information technology experts from Indiana University (IU) are researching ways to improve communications during natural disasters, according to a university report.
Recently, a research team from the IU School of Informatics and the school's Pervasive Technology Labs (PTL) created the Bloomington Emergency Collaborative Information System (BECIS), a project in which bloggers monitor communication sources using the Internet, television and two-way radio traffic, and then contact authorities....
DHS releases state grants for emergency management
Mar 8, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security has released $194 million to help states and local governments prepare and implement emergency management activities through the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program. California was given the largest grant, at nearly $15.4 million....
'Winter Storm' tests first responder credentials
Mar 8, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security Office of National Capital Region Coordination (DHS ONCRC) and the Department of Defense Pentagon Force Protection Agency (DoD PFPA) joined public and private sector participants Feb.15 in a demonstration to validate the functionality of the First Responder Authentication Credential (FRAC).
The demonstration, known as Winter Storm, was a multi-jurisdictional test to verify the integration and interoperability of credential system attributes such as qualifications, authorizations, certifications and privileges....
Dolphins and sea lions may defend Navy base
Feb 22, 2007
Dozens of dolphins and sea lions trained to detect and apprehend waterborne attackers may be sent to patrol a U.S. Naval base in Washington State, the Associated Press reports....
Emergency Communications: Taking Command
By Carol Carey
The inability of first responders to communicate during an emergency is a scary proposition. Concern over communication among public safety agencies and...
Situational Awareness
By Ashley Roe
On a typical fire emergency call, as many as 18 firefighters from the North Aurora Fire Department near Chicago might be dispatched to a scene. As the...
Homeland security innovators compete in "Defend America Challenge"
Jan 25, 2007
The Chesapeake Innovation Center, America's first business accelerator for Homeland and national security, recently hosted the finalists for its first "Defend America Challenge," a competition to expedite the transfer of innovation into the marketplace.
The center received 50 applications for the challenge, ranging from three-page outlines to ...
Purdue University to create Homeland security training center
Jan 11, 2007
Purdue University is leading a $1.65 million effort to convert the National Guard's Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana into a Homeland security training center....
Communications interoperability remains a nationwide challenge
Jan 11, 2007
Only six major U.S. cities have achieved full "advanced implementation" of interoperable communications, according to a nationwide assessment conducted by the Department of Homeland Security....
Survey shows high levels of interoperability
Dec 14, 2006
Communications interoperability throughout the U.S. is on the rise, according to results from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nationwide survey of first responders and law enforcement...
Simulated Response
By Jacqueline Emigh
If a disaster strikes, will you really be ready? Through live presentations, aided by multimedia computer simulations, the U.S. Army's EPiCS (Emergency...
Accessible Video
Dec 1, 2006
San Diego County's juvenile detention center, like many across the country, is co-located with the sheriff's department and the probation center. Like...
Hit the Ground Running
Dec 1, 2006
Typically, a fire department knows very little before it answers a call to a building. The incident commander has to go to the alarm panel to determine...
Lessons in Disaster
By Michael Fickes
Hurricane Katrina went off like a bomb with a slow fuse. At 5:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, strong winds, tornadoes and surging waters laid siege...
Rails may be the answer in Midwest emergencies
Nov 30, 2006
Passenger rail service was discussed as a possible resource in planning for large-scale emergencies during a recent Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission meeting in St. Louis.
During the meeting, a report was distributed that concludes if improvements are made to the region's passenger rail system, rail can play a vital role in emergency evacuations of large metropolitan areas and supply delivery in the event of a disaster, the Columbus (Neb.) Telegram reports....
Congressional Democrats lining up security issues
Nov 30, 2006
Better communication systems, improved rail security and more rigorous oversight are high on the list of Homeland security issues Democrats plan to examine when they assume control of Congress in January.
"You'll see a committee that is not afraid to take on tough issues," Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the incoming chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told The Associated Press in an interview....
Chertoff promises interoperable communications in one year
Nov 30, 2006
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has said that the nation's 35 highest-risk cities must have systems enabling first responders to communicate in a disaster by the end of next year, Newsday reports. Every state must have such a system by the end of 2008, he added.
"The bottom line is we have to be able to communicate during a disaster," Chertoff told more than 1,000 state and local Homeland security officials assembled at the Washington Hilton. "We're going to get it done."...
Washington rail corridor to include high-tech surveillance
Nov 16, 2006
Scores of surveillance cameras and sensors will be installed along a key eight-mile rail corridor in Washington D.C., to help protect passenger trains and rail cars carrying hazardous materials.
The National Capital Planning Commission signed off on the $10 million pilot project this month, allowing the Department of Homeland Security to begin installation.
If the project works out, says William Flynn, the DHS director of risk management, it might be replicated in other parts of the country....
Firefighters receive funding for safety technology
Oct 19, 2006
The Department of Homeland Security has awarded $91.8 million in direct assistance grants to 860 fire departments and first responder organizations....
New York transit to upgrade chemical detection system
Oct 5, 2006
Two years after a chemical detection system was rushed into place at Grand Central Station in time for the Republican National Convention in the summer of 2004, officials at New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority are satisfied that they can use the equipment properly and have decided to spend $3.9 million to further upgrade the network of sensors at Grand Central Terminal and install a similar system in Pennsylvania Station....
