Natural Hazards Observer
| July 2004 | Volume XXVIII | Number 6 |
FEMA Releases Recommendations for Major Incident Response
Drawing on reviews of the responses to the terrorist events of September 11, 2001, the anthrax incident in Boca Raton, Florida, in fall 2001, the bombing in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the preparations for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released Responding to Incidents of National Consequence: Recommendations for America's Fire and Emergency Services Based on the Events of September 11, 2001, and Other Similar Incidents. The report includes recommendations for emergency response leaders involved in the coordination or support of major multijurisdictional incident management at the local level, which have national consequences and may involve national resources, and is written to guide such leaders within the context of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) (see the Observer, May 2004, p. 6 and this issue, p. 1). The issues and recommendations were identified in after-action reports and interviews with involved parties and have been prioritized in an Issues-Recommendations Checklist containing four categories: Awareness/Prevention/Preparedness, Initial Response, Stabilized Event/Ongoing Recovery, and Post-event/Long-Term Recovery. Download a copy of the report at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/fa-282.pdf.
The completion of NIMS follows the October 2003 nationwide deployment of the Initial National Response Plan (INRP) (see the Observer, January 2004, p.5), which was the first step in consolidating and aligning incident management response and actions among all federal, state, tribal, local, and private participants. A final National Response Plan will soon replace the INRP, while NIMS will continue to provide the guidance for the management of incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies. NIMS is available on-line from the DHS web site at http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NIMS-90-web.pdf.
DMA2K Deadline Looms
As a precondition of postdisaster assistance, states and local governments must have FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plans in place by November 1, 2004. For disasters declared on or after this date, state mitigation plans will be required in order to receive nonemergency Stafford Act assistance, and local mitigation plans will be required in order to receive Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project grants. The requirements for both state and local mitigation plans are detailed in an Interim Final Rule dated February 26, 2002 (see the Observer, May 2002, p. 7), which implemented the mitigation planning section of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA2K).
Useful resources for the planning process include FEMA's mitigation planning "How-To" guides, which were designed to enhance hazard mitigation planning capabilities at the state and local levels.
- Getting Started: Building Support for Mitigation Planning (FEMA 386-1)
- Understanding Your Risks: Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses (FEMA 386-2)
- Developing the Mitigation Plan: Identifying Mitigation Actions and Implementation Strategies (FEMA 386-3)
- Bringing the Plan to Life: Implementing the Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA 386-4)
- Integrating Manmade Hazards into Mitigation Planning (FEMA 386-7)
These free guides are available on-line at http://www.fema.gov/fima/planhowto.shtm. Printed copies are available through the FEMA Publication Distribution Center at (800) 480-2520. FEMA's Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance, updated in March 2004, is available at http://www.fema.gov/fima/planning_toc4.shtm.
A draft of Alaska's new state mitigation plan; Nome, Alaska's FEMA-approved local mitigation plan; and a host of other resources have been made available by Alaska's Division of Emergency Services on their web site at http://www.ak-prepared.com/plans/mitigation/mitigationplan.htm to assist other governments in their planning efforts. A Draft Disaster Mitigation Plan for the City of Berkeley is also available on-line at http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/Manager/disastermitigation.html.
The Interim Final Rule is available in the February 26, 2002 Federal Register (Vol. 67, No. 38, pp. 8843-8854), which can be found in any federal repository library or on-line at http://www.access.gpo.gov/. The complete text of DMA2K (Public Law 106-390) is available in any federal repository library and on the Library of Congress web site at http://thomas.loc.gov/.
DHS Announces TOPOFF3
DHS has announced that the next Top Officials (TOPOFF) exercise will take place in April 2005. TOPOFF 3 will use a series of exercise activities of increasing complexity to simulate weapons of mass destruction (WMD) terrorist attacks in Connecticut and New Jersey. Additional TOPOFF activities will be conducted in the United Kingdom as part of a partnership to strengthen security in both nations.
TOPOFF 3 will be the third congressionally mandated WMD national exercise. The first was conducted in May 2000 and TOPOFF 2 was conducted in May 2003 (see the Observer, March 2004, p. 5). The objectives of TOPOFF 3 are to:
- Improve the nation's capacity to prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks in accordance with DHS protocols, the Interim National Response Plan and NIMS;
- Identify baseline capabilities and establish performance standards for a range of probable threats;
- Synchronize the goals and objectives of TOPOFF with those of the nation;
- Improve international coordination and cooperation in response to a terrorist event; and
- Assess and strengthen government, nongovernment, and private sector partnerships to prevent, respond to, and recover from WMD incidents.
Visit http://www.dhs.gov/ for further information.
New FEMA Courses
FEMA recently unveiled four new courses. Two new on-line Independent Study (IS) courses are Multi-Hazard Emergency Planning for Schools, IS 362, which helps educators and first responders develop effective emergency operations plans, and National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction, IS 700, which introduces NIMS and explains its purpose, principles, key components, and benefits. These IS courses can be accessed at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp.
Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Operations for the Structural Firefighter Self Study, Q618, enables urban firefighters with expertise in responding to structure fires to safely participate in a wildland/urban interface event. This on-line course is a joint effort of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group and FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy and is available at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/nfacsd/display.jsp?cc=Q618.
The final course, Partnering for Fire Defense and Emergency Services Planning, P507, is a two-week pilot course held at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland, which provides partnership opportunities for senior fire executives and their community planning partners, developing a systems approach for the fire defense and emergency services strategic planning process. For more information about this course, including dates, student selection criteria, and application details, visit http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fire-service/nfa/courses/oncampus/nfa_pilot_off_P-507.shtm.
Federal Agreement Review Process for Forest Health Projects
The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Interior (DOI), and Commerce have signed agreements that will expedite fuels reduction and other forest projects as required by the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (see the Observer, January 2004, p. 5) while ensuring protection of threatened and endangered species. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), DOI Fish and Wild-life Service or Commerce's National Oceanic Atmos-pheric Association (NOAA) must be consulted before any action is taken that would affect a listed species. The agreements reduce the complexity of environmental analyses required under ESA by allowing trained biologists in USDA, DOI, and Commerce to make initial determinations regarding the likelihood of adverse effects. Despite changes in the process, standards for determining whether an action threatens a listed species remain the same. For more information about the Healthy Forests initiative, visit http://www.healthyforests.gov/. A Healthy Forests Restoration Act Interim Field Guide (2004, 58 pp., free) is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/projects/hfi/field-guide/web/.
DHS Defines First Responder Interoperability Requirements
In recognition of the need to improve communications between public safety organizations, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate has released a Statement of Requirements (SoR) for public safety wireless communica-tions and interoperability. The main purpose of the SoR is to provide guidelines for effective communication and sharing of information (e.g., voice, data, image, video, multimedia) among public safety agencies, other organizations and agencies that they work with, and the public. It also encourages a greater consideration of public safety needs in discussions pertaining to communications re-search and development as well as laws and regulations.
The SoR is a product of the SAFECOM Program, a public safety practitioner-driven program established by the Office of Management and Budget to improve public safety response across disciplines and jurisdictions through more effective and efficient interoperable wireless communications. It was developed in conjunction with the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. Department of Justice's Advanced Generation of Interoperability for Law Enforcement Program.
The SoR, Public Safety Communications and Interoperability Statement of Requirements (v1.0) (2004, 173 pp., free), and more information about SAFECOM is available at http://www.safecomprogram.gov/.
Presidential Directive Targets Biodefense
On April 28, the president signed a presidential directive, Biodefense for the 21st Century, which provides a comprehensive framework for the management of biodefense. This new framework integrates the programs and efforts of the national security, medical, public health, intelligence, diplomatic, agricultural, and law enforcement communities into a dedicated national effort against the threat posed by biological weapons. The directive emphasizes threat awareness, prevention and protection, surveillance and detection, and response and recovery as the pillars of the new defense program. The full text of the presidential directive is available on-line at http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/HSPD10Biodefensefor21stCentury042804.pdf.
Emergency Management Assessment Milestone Achieved
FEMA recently completed its 25th state-level assessment as part of the National Emergency Management Baseline Capability Assessment Program (NEMB-CAP). NEMB-CAP is part of a national effort to establish a baseline measurement of the nation's emergency management capabilities and to target assistance to those areas that need it most. The program consists of a review and evaluation of 56 state and state-level emergency management systems and programs based on assessment criteria developed by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for emergency management programs, designed to provide a framework for accountability and continuous improvement (see the Observer, May 2003, p. 12). Partners in EMAP include FEMA, the National Emergency Management Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers, the National Governors Association, the National League of Cities, and the Council of State Governments. For more information, visit http://www.fema.gov/preparedness/baseline.shtm or http://www.emaponline.org.
Agencies Devise New Strategies for Wildland Firefighting Aerial Support
Based on recent findings and recommendations issued by the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) following investigations into three airtanker accidents, the USDA Forest Service and DOI cancelled the contracts of 33 large airtankers used in support of wildland firefighting. The findings indicated that there is no method in place to adequately ensure the safety and airworthiness of these older aircraft, posing an unacceptable risk to aviators, firefighters, and the public. Since neither the Forest Service nor DOI has the inspection and maintenance capabilities outlined by NTSB, the contracts were terminated to avoid using aircraft that cannot be documented as airworthy.
To continue providing safe and effective fire man-agement and suppression, the agencies have developed a new strategy for the 2004 firefighting season. This plan, based on an evaluation of existing resources, fire danger, efficiency, cost effectiveness, and NTSB findings, includes contracting with private companies and working with the military to acquire, or ensure access to, more than 100 additional aircraft to supplement the existing fleet of more than 700 firefighting aircraft equipped to drop fire suppressants. While some of the 33 tankers may be back in the air later this summer, if their private operators can prove that they are safe to fly, agencies are examining their alternatives and moving forward. With an eye on the future, they are developing long-term aviation asset management and acquisition programs and are exploring technologies to create a large fixed-wing airtanker specifically designed for firefighting and able to meet airworthiness requirements.
To read the recommendation letters issued by NTSB, visit http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2004/a04_29_33.pdf. More information about the Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management program is available at http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/.
NFPA Seeks Input
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is seeking input on a variety of issues related to fire safety codes and standards. The notice "National Fire Codes: Request for Comments on NFPA Technical Committee Reports" (see the Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 104, pp. 30622-30624) requests comments on the technical reports that will be presented at NFPA's May 2005 meeting. Forty-three reports are published in the 2005 May Meeting Report on Proposals and will be available on July 30, 2004. For a copy of the report, visit http://www.nfpa.org/ or request a copy from the NFPA Fulfillment Center, 11 Tracy Drive, Avon, MA 02322. Comments are due by October 8, 2004.
A second notice, "National Fire Codes: Request for Proposals for Revision of Codes and Standards" (see the Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 104, pp. 30621-30622), requests proposals from the public to amend existing fire safety codes and standards or develop new ones. The purpose of this request is to increase public participation in the system used by NFPA to develop its codes and standards. Proposal deadline dates vary.
For more information about the codes, proposal deadlines, or how to submit comments and proposals, visit http://www.nfpa.org/Codes/ or read the notices in the May 28, 2004, Federal Register, which can be found in any federal repository library or on-line at http://www.access.gpo.gov/.
DHS Uses NOAA All-Hazards Network for Alerts and Warnings
The DHS Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection Directorate and NOAA have signed an agreement allowing DHS to send critical all-hazards alerts and warnings directly through the NOAA All-Hazards Network. The network supplements existing alert and warning resources and serves as an additional delivery mechanism for disseminating emergency information nationally, regionally, or locally, protecting citizens from both natural and human-caused disasters.
The NOAA system, which is capable of reaching over 97 percent of the U.S. and its territories, will continue to broadcast weather forecasts and warnings, including news about severe storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanic activity, chemical spills, bio-hazardous releases, and, in some states, Amber Alerts. Radios and televisions equipped with Specific Area Message Encoding allow listeners to preselect the categories of alerts they wish to receive in the listening area(s) of their choice. Special populations, such as the disabled or the elderly, can connect NOAA all-hazards radios via plug-ins to attention-getting devices, such as strobe lights, pagers, bed shakers, personal computers, and text printers.
More information about NOAA's All-Hazards Network and NOAA Weather Radio is available at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/allhazard.htm.
Role of Media in Terrorism Response
DHS is collaborating with the National Academies to host a series of interactive workshops on the crucial role of the media in terrorism response. Titled "News and Terrorism: Communicating in a Crisis," workshops will be held in ten locations across the country.
Each workshop will feature an interactive table-top terrorist scenario involving government officials, members of the media, and technical experts, with the goal of focusing on the challenges faced by these groups during a crisis so that they are equipped to provide accurate and timely information to the public. In addition, the National Academies will provide information on weapons of mass destruction, including fact sheets on specific terrorist threats and a list of experts who are able to provide reliable information quickly in a time of crisis.
The first workshop is scheduled to take place in July 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. Additional workshops are scheduled in locations across the country through July 2005. A tentative schedule is available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3549. For more information, contact Kristin Gossel at DHS; (202) 282-8010; e-mail: kristin.gossel@dhs.gov or Randy Atkins at the National Academies; (202) 334-1508; e-mail: akins@nae.edu.