Resilience / Recovery

Interoperability fund struggles to get off the ground
Congressional Research Service dings DHS for failing to reach a memorandum of understanding with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration; a 30 September deadline looms, and security officials worry about 2008 budget cuts
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California Highway Patrol boosts response capabilities
$6.4 million in grants from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security permits the force to purchase two fixed-wing aircraft, nine mobile command centers, and two water response vehicles
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University of Portsmouth to test antibacterial gown
Hospital garb is coated with an anti-microbial coating known as Permagard; effort intended to mitigate MRSA transmission; unique design also minimizes contact with nurses
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UC Irvine offers emergency planning course
University extension offers a series of lectures and tabletop exercises in disaster management; Irvine’s emergency management coordinator to provide instruction
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Hawaii a case study in cross-juristictional emergency cooperation
Earthquake last year offers a model of Hawaii’s can-do attitude; emergency response personell trained to respond to leadership, not rank; power failures doomed radio communications, so planners consider buying backup generators for the island’s radio stations
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Congress takes a serious look at Cyren Call
After an FCC rejection in November, the Commerce committee revisits the idea of creating a national wireless network for first responders; John McCain offers his support; critics, angry about the idea of giving away valuable spectrum, gird for battle
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Incident command systems aid in business continuity
Emergency planning is critical, but a rigid approach can only compound problems; ICSs permit flexible response while ensure a chain of command; predetermining roles and responsibility key to success
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GSA opens federal contracts to local emergency officials
Under new rule, states and municipalities will be able to order supplies from the Federal Supply Schedule in response to or anticipation of an emergency; 10 million goods and services will eventually be made available, but disaster relief and firefighting equipment will be first
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Iomai wins $128 million HHS contract for patch-based flu vaccine
Innoculation method could be mailed to patients; adjuvant stimulants allow the company to stretch out the nation’s vaccine supply; company looks for distribution partners, but many already see MedImmune as the most promising candidate
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Bell Helicopters takes a look at an Israeli flying rescue vehicle
Helicopter-like machine relies on fans rather than rotor blades, allowing for greater maneuverability in the urban environment; Urban Aeronautics sees a market for first responders and military; craft can sidle up to a building and evacuate residents out of a window
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Poor oversight hampers National Guard readiness
DoD lacks a system to track movement of equipment from stateside depots to overseas combat; disaster readiness a major concern; planners worry that a $21 billion Guard modernization program will be swallowed up by the war in Iraq
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FEMA solicits proposals for internal 911 service
Agency looks for a way to locate 911 calls within its dispersed office network; ideal system will permit identification of caller, office, and cubicle number; once identified, 911 system should automatically hand off caller to local dispatch office
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NSF provides $700,000 for a study on EMS and fire department creativity
The psychology and sociology of emergency responders now a growing academic discipline; researchers seek to learn how firemen improvise on the job; 9/11 and Oklahoma City bombing provide useful datasets
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DHS announces $10 million in firefighter grants
Assistance to Firefighters Grant program expected to disperse a total of $485 million; awards go to small towns such as Walls, Mississippi and Church Hill, Tennessee; equipment and vehicles top departments’ wish lists
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U.S. Army offers stimulating simulations for emergency responders
Eighteen customizable programs offer a thorough work-out of any agency’s response capabilities; military organziations can learn for free, but cities and states may find the fees reimbursable by DHS
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