Case Study

Quad City Interoperability Pilot Bolsters Regional Response Capabilities Cooperation & coordination among and between numerous city agencies and the Raytheon Company produce a best-practice example of how the public and private sectors can, and should, pool their resources to upgrade their collective response capabilities. read

Forensic Evidence & Nuclear Radiation: A New Course of Action in the State of Washington FEMT may be hard to pronounce, but it is becoming a key legal and organizational concept in the war against international terrorism, thanks to the forward-looking instructional approach developed and used by the State of Washington's Department of Health. read

The TSP Program - A Valuable Insurance Policy The federal government has several ways for state and local jurisdictions to repair and/or restore their communications systems in times of disaster. But many jurisdictions either don't know how, or don't have the money; neither excuse is acceptable. read

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Government Update

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Launches Employee Screening Pilot Programs at Seven Airports This pilot program focuses on different elements at each airport and ranges from 100 percent physical employee and vehicle screening to evaluations for biometric access controls. read

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Offers Advice on Wi-Fi Security This article provides helpful tips on how to protect yourself and your computer from hackers when using a public Wi-Fi network. read

First National Security Cutter Delivered to U.S. Coast Guard Capable of executing the most challenging maritime safety and security missions around the globe, the USCGC Bertholf is the first of eight national security cutters planned to be built for the U.S. Coast Guard. read

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Industry Update

Biometric Time and Attendance Terminals to Schlage Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies will begin to use the Schlage brand security reinforcements on all HandPunch time and attendance terminals. read

Tiburon Awarded Contract to Provide Records Management System (RMS) to Nebraska State Patrol The new RMS will allow the State Patrol to consolidate and automate incident information that is currently kept in disparate databases or in paper files, thus providing more effective records and criminal investigations processing. read

Smiths Detection's Portable Gas and Vapor Detector Acquired by Yonkers Fire Department for Pope's Recent Visit Smiths advanced hand-held HGVI (Hazardous Gas & Vapor Identifier) system provides emergency-response workers with a reliable, cutting-edge device that quickly, safely, and accurately identifies unknown vapors and gases. read

Judge Orders Removal of TASER Electronic Control Device Reference From Three Death Certificates in Akron The Summit County (Ohio) medical examiner is required to change autopsy findings to remove all references to the TASER electronic-control device as a contributing cause of death in the three cases affected. read

ICx Technologies Awarded $4.8 Million for FIDO FIDO is an advanced, ultra-sensitive explosives sensor possessing sensitivity levels comparable to those of specially trained canines, which remain the "gold standard" for bomb detection. read

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Reports

U.S. Fire Administration and National Volunteer Fire Council Release Report on Emerging Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service This report, Emerging Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service, provides information on initiatives, programs, and strategies for reducing fatalities among volunteer firefighters. read

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Releases Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2008-2013 The plan supports one of the major goals Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff has set for the department: to strengthen the nation's preparedness and emergency-response capabilities. read

Public Health Emergency Response: A Guide for Leaders and Responders - a Report from the Department of Health and Human Services A guide on public-health responses to emergencies that is specifically tailored for public officials (e.g., mayors, governors, county executives, emergency managers) and first responders (e.g., policemen, firefighters, EMS technicians). read

The United States Fire Administration Releases a Series of Topical Fire Risk Reports The reports, which explore factors that influence risk, are based on 2004 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), and the U.S. Census Bureau. read

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State Homeland News

South Carolina and California "Overweight" Hercules transporters carry out successful landings & takeoffs in Hilton Head, S.C., to test crisis-mode emergency airlift plan. Los Angeles strengthens maritime security by installation of new floating-boom barrier. read

Illinois and Texas Chicago's public schools should be safer from now on, thanks to the use of real-time safety cameras. Dallas focuses on disaster-response efforts in conference with statewide and possibly national implications. read

California and Massachusetts California reports on the successful test of a new tsunami warning system for Humboldt County. Massachusetts fire chiefs join forces to urge passage of urgently needed legislation to upgrade rules/regulations on the processing of dangerous chemicals. read

Georgia and North Carolina Atlanta International will no longer be as attractive to terrorists when its K-9 security force is fully dogged & starts sniffing around. Brunswick County, N.C., beefs up citizen safety by signing up for a reverse-911 emergency alert phone system. read

Washington and New York Public Health Seattle & King County officials join forces with private-sector businesses to launch a new pandemic-flu training video. Additional security patrols planned as part of multifaceted anti-terrorism effort to improve Amtrak safety. read

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