Natural Hazards Observer
| September 2004 | Volume XXIX | Number 1 |
National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month, a month-long campaign to engage Americans in emergency preparedness and provide a variety of opportunities to learn how to prepare for an emergency and become better informed about relevant threats. Supported by a coalition of more than 50 national organizations, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the America Prepared Campaign, and the American Red Cross, the effort features events hosted at the federal, state, and local levels and by individual communities, private businesses, and nonprofit organizations. For more information, contact Kristen Gossel or Lara Shane with DHS at (202) 282-8010. Useful Web sites include http://www.americaprepared.org/ and http://www.ready.gov/.
National Flood Insurance Reauthorized through 2008
On June 30, the president signed the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-264), reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30, 2008, and reforming the law to help states and communities mitigate repetitive loss properties. Established in 1968, the NFIP is a federal insurance program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that provides flood insurance to over 4.4 million property owners across the U.S.
FEMA has found that repetitive loss properties incur $200 million in losses annually (representing only one percent of insured properties, but 25 to 30 percent of all claims losses), and have become a significant monetary burden on the NFIP. The new law aims to address this and move the NFIP towards a more free-market insurance model by authorizing a five-year pilot program requiring owners of severe repetitive loss properties, as defined by the law, to either accept mitigation assistance, move, or face significantly higher premiums. Activities eligible for assistance in communities that choose to participate in the program include acquisition, elevation, relocation, demolition (with or without rebuilding), floodproofing, and minor physical flood control.
While authorizing the appropriation of $40 million a year for the pilot program, the new law also increases the amount authorized to be appropriated for the existing flood mitigation program by $20 million each year and authorizes the appropriation of an additional $10 million a year for mitigating potential flood damage to individual properties in states and communities that are not able to participate in the Flood Mitigation Assistance program or do not have the capacity to manage their own mitigation programs. Among the law's miscellaneous provisions are directives to FEMA to make information more accessible; simplify the claims process with new processes, forms and documents; and establish minimum training and education requirements for insurance agents.
For more detailed information, read the new law online at http://www.floods.org/PDF/FIRA2004_Act.pdf. Visit http://www.fema.gov/fima/nfip.shtm to learn more about the NFIP.
FloodSmart Campaign Targets Consumers
g, strategically targeted direct mail, and public relations efforts direct the public to a consumer Web site and a toll-free telephone hotline. The Web site, http://www.floodsmart.gov/, provides information on preparing homes for flooding, tools for assessing flood risk and estimating flood insurance rates, listings of insurance agents, and links to other useful information. The toll-free number, (800) 427-2419, connects consumers with insurance agents and provides additional information about flood insurance. An accompanying stakeholder relations program is designed to improve communications with the insurance industry, lenders, realtors, and emergency managers. Insurance agents can sign up for the Leads Program, which refers callers to the toll-free number to local flood insurance agents, by completing and submitting the application form available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/nfip/leads.pdf.
Individuals with Disabilities Integrated into National Preparedness Effort
Compelled by the attacks of September 11, 2001, the National Organization on Disability formed a task force comprised of U.S. government officials, disability community leaders, and disaster relief groups to identify the special needs of people with disabilities during emergencies and to recommend action. The task force concluded that preparedness for people with disabilities, just like for the general population, needs to be continuous and ongoing. As a result of the task force's efforts, on July 22 the president signed an executive order, seeking to fully integrate people with disabilities into the national emergency preparedness effort.
The order directs the federal government to address the safety and security needs of agency employees and customers with disabilities in disaster situations and calls for the creation of an Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities to coordinate and oversee the effort. The executive order, Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness is available online at http://www.nod.org/content.cfm?id=1546.
NIMS Guidance Available Online
FEMA has created a centralized Internet portal to help emergency managers and first responders navigate, understand, and work with the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The NIMS Web page at http://www.fema.gov/nims/ will offer emergency managers a complete listing of NIMS requirements, tools and resources, and general information about the incident management system. As NIMS implementation moves forward, issues such as the assessment process, compliance criteria, NIMS-related training, and implementation timelines will also be available. Questions or concerns about NIMS are welcome and should be sent to nims-integration-center@dhs.gov.
9/11 Commission Releases Final Report
On July 22, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States released its final report regarding the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The 9/11 Commission Report summarizes the commission's investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attacks, including preparedness and response, and provides recommendations designed to prevent or mitigate similar incidents in the future.
The aim of the independent, impartial, and bipartisan commission was not to assign blame, but to compile the fullest account possible of the events surrounding September 11 and to identify lessons learned. What the commissioners found was an underestimation of the gravity of the threat at the highest levels of government; failure to adjust policies, plans, and practices to deter or defeat it; and pervasive problems with the sharing and managing of information throughout the federal government.
The commission's recommendations represent a balanced strategy of preventing terrorism while preparing and protecting the nation and include a series of controversial reforms that would dramatically restructure the U.S. government. Proposed reforms include a global approach, which calls for integrating all elements of national power, such as diplomacy, intelligence, covert action, law enforcement, economic policy, foreign aid, homeland defense, and military strength, and reorganization of government, including the creation of a national counterterrorism center, unification of the intelligence community under a cabinet-level national intelligence director, strengthening of congressional oversight for intelligence and DHS, and implementation of a network-based information sharing system that transcends traditional governmental boundaries. On August 2, the president endorsed the creation of a national intelligence director position (outside of the cabinet) and announced that he will establish a national counterterrorism center.
The report (2004, 588 pp., $8.50) can be purchased from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/index.html and from bookstores nationwide. It is also available free online, along with an executive summary and a public statement by the chair and vice chair of the commission, at http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/.
Additional Preparedness Training for Emergency Responders Approved
DHS' Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP), in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), announced in early July the approval of additional preparedness training courses for emergency responders. The approved courses, offered by USFA and the National Fire Academy with the intent of developing the foundation for incident management teams at the state and local level, include Introduction to Unified Command for Multiagency and Catastrophic Incidents, All Hazards Incident Management, and Command and General Staff Functions in the Incident Command System.
This approval allows states and urban areas to use allocated Homeland Security Grant Program and Urban Area Security Initiative funding to conduct these courses locally or send responders to attend them elsewhere. This funding can also be used to reimburse overtime and backfill costs associated with attending these and other SLGCP approved courses. More information about USFA courses and schedules is available at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/applications/nfacsd/.
Information Sharing Easier with Homeland Security Operations Center
DHS' Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) was formally launched on July 8 as the nation's primary nerve center for threat monitoring, information sharing, and situational awareness for domestic incident management. The HSOC represents over 35 agencies, including state and local law enforcement as well as federal intelligence agencies, and serves as a clearinghouse for information to help deter, detect, and prevent terrorist activities. It has the ability to collect and integrate critical information both horizontally across departments and agencies and vertically between state and local governments as well as the private sector.
It is through the Homeland Security Information Network (see the Observer, May 2004, p. 8) that the HSOC shares threat information and provides real-time interactive connectivity with system participants, including mayors, governors, homeland security advisors, first responders, and critical infrastructure operators, in all 50 states and more than 50 major urban areas. A fact sheet further describing the HSOC is available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3814.
Antiterrorism Technologies Receive Stamp of Approval
Four antiterrorism technologies have been granted designation and certification under the Support Antiterrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 (the SAFETY Act). Designation and certification is granted to technologies that will prevent, detect, identify, or deter acts of terrorism, or mitigate the harm that such acts may cause. These four technologies represent the first such technologies to be recognized in an ongoing process conducted by DHS. These technologies are Lockheed Martin's Corporation Risk Assessment Platform, Michael Stapleton Associates' SmartTech System and Explosion Detection Services, Northrup Grumman's Biohazard Detection System, and Teledyne Brown Engineering's WaterSabre. Read more information about these technologies and the SAFETY Act at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3726.
FEMA Does Not Endorse Disaster-Related Products or Services
While DHS is endorsing antiterrorism technologies, FEMA does not endorse specific products or services (i.e., brands). Falsely advertised endorsements should be reported to FEMA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Alerts or complaints can be made to OIG, FEMA, 500 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20472; (800) 323-8603.
Project BioShield Becomes Law
On July 21, the president signed Project BioShield (Public Law 108-276) into law, enabling the purchase and provision of tools to improve medical countermeasures to protect Americans in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack. The goals of the project, which is being overseen by the secretaries of health and human services and homeland security and involving other federal agencies as appropriate, are to develop and make available effective drugs and vaccines.
Specifically, Project BioShield will expedite research and development on medical countermeasures conducted by the National Institutes of Health, give the Food and Drug Administration the ability to make promising treatments quickly available in emergency situations, and ensure that resources are available to pay for "next-generation" medical countermeasures. The complete text of Project BioShield is available in any federal repository library and on the Library of Congress Web site at http://thomas.loc.gov/.
Guidance for Continuity of Operations for Federal Departments and Agencies
FEMA recently updated and rereleased its Federal Preparedness Circular 65, Federal Executive Branch Continuity of Operations (2004, 50 pp., free), FPC 65, to reflect continuity of operations (COOP) procedures implemented since September 11, 2001. The updated FPC 65 also replaces FPC 66, Test, Training and Exercise Program and Continuity of Operations, and FPC 67, Acquisition of Alternate Facilities for Continuity of Operations. The purpose of the circular is to provide guidance to federal and executive branch departments and agencies in developing contingency plans and COOP programs that facilitate the performance of essential functions during emergencies or other situations that may disrupt normal operations. Annexes to FPC 65 cover plans and procedures; essential functions; delegations of authority; orders of succession; alternate facilities; interoperable communications; vital records and databases; human capital; test, training, and exercises; devolution of control and direction; and reconstitution. The revised circular is available on the FEMA Web site at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/fpc65_0604.pdf.
U.S. and Mexico Collaborate on Monsoon Research
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has teamed up with Mexico's Servicio Meteorlógico Nacional to conduct the North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME). The primary goal of NAME is to improve long-range precipitation forecasts during the North American monsoon season of June through September. Improved forecasting is critical to advance planning efforts since severe weather events associated with monsoons, such as floods and droughts, can negatively impact economies and populations, and monsoons play a vital role in dryland farming, ranching, and wildfire control.
The NAME 2004 Field Campaign kicks off the eight-year program by gathering atmospheric, oceanic, and land-surface observations in the core region of North American monsoons, which includes northwest Mexico, southwest U.S., and adjacent oceanic areas. Scientists from more than 30 universities, government laboratories, and federal agencies in the U.S., Mexico, and Central America are participating in the campaign, including the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Defense. More information about NAME can be found on the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Web site at http://www.joss.ucar.edu/name/.
Interoperability Moves Forward with RapidCom 9/30
By September 30, 2004, DHS' RapidCom 9/30, a crisis communications system enabling first responders to communicate with each other in a large-scale emergency, will be in place in ten high-threat urban areas: New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; the District of Columbia; Los Angeles, California; San Francisco, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Houston, Texas; Jersey City, New Jersey; Miami, Florida; and Boston, Massachusetts. The local knowledge and active involvement of officials in these areas is critical to the project as RapidCom 9/30 is designed to fit the unique needs of each urban area. Lessons learned in these cities will serve as a foundation for similar efforts in other urban areas as well as for the long-term goal of full interoperability.
In addition to specifying equipment needs, RapidCom 9/30 will engage public safety officials to identify and incorporate the crucial human factors of interoperability: frequency use, standard operating procedures, regional governance, and training and exercises. RapidCom 9/30 will also provide training and technical assistance as well as assist with the development of standard operating procedures, the planning and conducting of test exercises, and the establishment of regional governance structures. A RapidCom 9/30 fact sheet is available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3869.
Designing Educational Opportunities for the Hazards Manager of the 21st Century
With support from the National Science Foundation, the Hazards Center, in collaboration with the University of Colorado at Denver and the FEMA's Higher Education Project, held a workshop in October 2003 to address educational needs for emergency/hazards managers. The workshop report has been released as Working Paper #109 Designing Educational Opportunities for the Hazards Manager of the 21st Century.
As emergency/hazards management continues to be professionalized, the need for higher education opportunities is ever increasing. Based largely upon the workshop, WP#109 focuses on identifying core competencies for skills and knowledge, laying the foundation for a sample interdisciplinary curriculum, and identifying possibilities and challenges for incorporating basic hazard management principles into a curriculum. In addition to offering perspectives on course and curricula development, WP#109 identifies the need to nurture the emerging discipline of emergency/hazards management and promote and support the profession.
WP#109 and other working papers are available free online at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/wp/. They can also be purchased for $9.00 plus shipping from the Publications Administrator, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado, 482 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0482; (303) 492-6819; fax: (303) 492-2151; e-mail: janet.kroeckel@colorado.edu.