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Governmental Affairs Committee |
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GAC Resources For GAC documents, announcements, and information please click here to visit the microsite. Home Day 2007 Toolkit To download the Home Day 2007 Click Here Upcoming Events
HELP THE GAC!
Dear FAMA/FEMSA member: In January, you received an e-mail from the FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) asking you to complete a survey that will help the GAC and its consultants learn what congressional relationships FAMA/FEMSA member companies have established. This information is essential to the GAC’s work to increase FAMA/FEMSA’s dialogue with federal government agencies in an effort to educate key officials on the important role our industry plays in providing equipment and services to the nation’s first responders. To help us enhance these efforts, we once again ask you to take a few moments to complete the enclosed survey. Specifically, this survey will help the GAC compile a comprehensive list of FAMA/FEMSA members’ locations and the congressional senators and representatives for those locations, an important step in establishing an educational network with the members of Congress and the administration. Please note that the survey can be conveniently completed online here. We also ask that the survey be completed as soon as possible. We have tried to keep this survey as simple and straightforward as possible. We thank you in advance for your assistance in this important effort. Sincerely, FAMA/FEMSA Governmental Affairs Committee
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USFA Releases School Fires Report FEMA Guide for Accommodating People with Disabilities during Disasters Leadership Conference Focuses on Regions as the Public Face of FEMA Four Tips for Increasing Wireless Network Security ID Plan Would Limit Volunteers at Disaster Chertoff Speaks Out About Preparedness
USFA Releases School Fires Report WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has issued a "This week marks the return of many students to schools across this Between the years 2003 and 2005, an estimated, annual average of 14,700 The leading cause of school structure fires is incendiary or suspicious A copy of the full report can be downloaded from the USFA Web site at
Source: USFA FEMA Guide for Accommodating People with Disabilities during Disasters FEMA has released a new reference guide that outlines existing legal requirements and standards relating to access for people with disabilities. A Reference Guide for Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing and Human Services is the first of a series of disability-related guidelines to be produced by FEMA for disaster preparedness, response planners, and service providers at all levels. "Federal law is very clear about accommodating people with disabilities in emergencies and disasters. Everyone involved in emergency management needs to understand and know what their responsibilities are in preparedness, response, and recovery operations," FEMA Administrator David Paulison said. "This Reference Guide is an important tool for emergency planners, responders, and government agencies as they work toward meeting the needs of people affected by emergencies and disasters. FEMA is committed to ensuring that its programs and emergency operations meet the needs of people with disabilities." The reference guide summarizes equal access requirements for people with disabilities within Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services functions. It explains how applicable federal laws relate to government entities and non-government, private sector, and religious organizations. The development and publication of the Reference Guide is the first step in meeting the requirement of Section 689 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, to develop disability related guidelines for use by those who serve individuals with disabilities during emergency preparedness and disaster relief. A full copy of the guide may be accessed at www.fema.gov/oer/reference. Source: DHS Leadership Conference Focuses on Regions as the Public Face of FEMA More than 100 members of the FEMA leadership team met recently in Potomac, Md., to map the future of the agency, with a special focus on the 10 regional offices. In introductory remarks to the three-day 2007 FEMA Leadership Conference, FEMA Administrator David Paulison said the meeting would focus on “how we’re taking the new FEMA out to the regions,” with a particular emphasis on strengthening and integrating preparedness and operational capabilities. “My philosophy is, I want the regions to be the focal point for FEMA,” Paulison said. “I want a lot more responsibility and decision-making in the regions and I want people throughout the country to see what FEMA is all about.” Paulison said FEMA leadership will give regional administrators “tools, funds, and people” to accomplish these tasks, and needs their feedback. Secretary Chertoff, who spoke to the group on the final day of the conference, expressed his support for FEMA’s leaders. “FEMA is now better integrated into DHS than it was when I came,” he said. “Both benefit. At a time of distress when FEMA is the point of the spear, you will have the entire department to support you as you carry out your missions.” He cited the Coast Guard and CBP as two DHS components that are ready to assist FEMA. Source: DHS Four Tips for Increasing Wireless Network Security A University of Maryland assistant professor is urging organizations with wireless networks to re-think their security processes and protocols because, to truly protect the system, passwords aren’t enough. What are his four tips for beefing up wireless network security? In an article on the Dark Reading website, K.C. Jones says Michel Cukier, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and affiliate of the A. James Clark School of Engineering Center for Risk and Reliability and Institute for Systems Research, released a paper last week explaining the risks of wireless networks. Cukier says many employees who link to their organizations’ networks from home do so through their own unmanaged wireless networks. “If these secondary connections are not secure, they open up the entire network to trouble,” Cukier told Jones. “Unsecured wireless access points pose problems for businesses, cities, and other organizations that make wireless access available to customers, employees, and residents. Unsecured connections are an open invitation to hackers seeking access to vulnerable computers.” In the article, Cukier offers four steps to improve security and discourage what he calls “parasites” trolling for access and unsecured connections. Those steps include: Limiting the strength of wireless networks so outsiders cannot detect them beyond the walls of the home or office Disabling the Service Set Identifier (SSID) broadcasting Regularly changing encryption keys Setting up the wireless access points to only accept connections from a known MAC address
Source: Disaster-Resource Guide FCC Revises Radio Spectrum Auction Rules to Create Wireless Broadband Communications Network for Public Safety On July 31, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revised plans to auction portions of the 700 MHz band of radio spectrum in order to create a nationwide interoperable broadband network for use by public safety. For more than a decade first responders have had a clear need for additional radio spectrum in order to communicate more effectively. In 2006, Congress passed legislation making 24 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band available to first responders. The rest was scheduled to be auctioned to private entities no later than January 28, 2008. The revised FCC rule would combine 10 MHz currently scheduled to be auctioned with the 24 MHz already designated for public safety. The private entity that purchases the 10 MHz would enter into a partnership with public safety organizations to develop a shared nationwide interoperable network for commercial and public safety users. Public safety users would have priority access to the network during major emergencies. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) submitted comments to the FCC on two occasions over the past year supporting the creation of a nationwide interoperable broadband communications network that will provide thousands of rural volunteer fire departments access to broadband communications for the first time. The network will allow for interoperable communication between public safety agencies with different types of communications equipment.
Source: NVFC ID Plan Would Limit Volunteers at Disaster When a large-scale disaster like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina happens, everyday people often rush in to help right at the scene. And while their motives are noble, having untrained volunteers can often make a first responder’s job even harder. Will a new ID card change that? The Associated Press’ Devlin Barrett says the federal government is launching “an ambitious ID program for rescue workers to keep everyday people from swarming to disaster scenes. A prototype of the new first responder identification card is being issued to fire and police personnel in the Washington, D.C., area.” According to Barrett, proponents of the system say it will help get professionals to the scene quicker, as well as keeping untrained volunteers from muddling up the scene. But it is a touchy subject, Barrett adds, particularly for those devoted to helping in moments of crisis. The Federal Emergency Management agency says the ID cards could be checked at a disaster area with a card-reader device and used to verify a person’s unique skills. For example, if police officers have been trained to handle hazardous materials, officials at the scene could deploy them to an area where their skills were needed. To read the full article, click here: Link
Source: Disaster-Resource Guide Chertoff Speaks Out About Preparedness As Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Michael Chertoff is the man in charge of the nation’s state of preparedness. Now Chertoff is urging Americans to help him by taking charge of our own preparedness. Do we really need another reminder to be prepared? In an opinion piece published in New York State’s Post-Star newspaper, Chertoff cites a new Harvard study that found 31 percent of people in high-risk coastal areas would refuse an evacuation order in the event of a major hurricane. “Clearly, when it comes to disaster preparedness and response, millions of Americans remain in a state of denial – precisely when risks appear to be rising,” Chertoff writes. “Over the past year alone, across America, people have lost lives or property in incidents ranging from floods to tornadoes to wildfires. And that is apart from the threat from terrorists who could attack without warning and inflict serious damage and loss of life.” Chertoff is urging people to think about and prepare for emergencies right now. This includes getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan and being informed about the different emergencies to know how to respond. Chertoff’s piece cites the start of National Preparedness Month in September as a time for most Americans to start working on personal preparedness and ensure they are all ready for a disaster. To read the full article, click here: Link
Source: Disaster-Resource Guide The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Paul Cahill Name: Warren Payne Fire Department: Boston Fire Department Incident Description: Firefighters Paul Cahill and Warren Payne both Funeral Arrangements: Pending Memorial Fund Contact and Address: Pending Tribute is being paid to Warren Payne and Paul Cahill at Source: USFA |
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