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Governmetal Affairs Committee |
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GAC Resources
In Other News The FAMA / FEMSA GAC would like to thank all the members who participated in the 2006 Home Day Program. Many of you had incredible results, and we encourage you to share those experiences with your fellow members. The GAC has posted a small website with information about some of the Home Day activities by FAMA and FEMSA member companies. Remember - Every Day is Home Day! Please click here to see the site.
Upcoming Events CFSI Annual Dinner. March 28-29, 2007. Washington, DC Hilton. Get your tickets early! Click here for more information. |
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Awards for Fiscal Year 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Announced Only four big U.S. cities ready for crisis: report DHS Proposes New Rules to Secure High-Risk Chemical Facilities DHS Awards Contract for Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center Awards for Fiscal Year 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Announced The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today $7,014,267 in direct assistance grants to 63 fire departments and first responder organizations through the department's Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Additional phases will soon be announced that will total $485 million in AFG grant awards to approximately 5,000 fire-related organizations nationwide. To view the latest round of AFG award annoucements, please visit: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/awards Source: DHS Only four big U.S. cities ready for crisis: report The Department of Homeland Security report, due to be released officially on Wednesday, listed Washington, D.C.; San Diego, California; the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area of Minnesota; and Columbus, Ohio, as the major urban areas that achieved "most advanced" status. The study awarded the same status to the smaller metropolitan areas of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Laramie, Wyoming. Portions of the report obtained by Reuters said federal officials surveyed the emergency communications systems of 75 urban and metropolitan areas. New York City, which was hardest hit by the 2001 attacks that killed 3,000 people, did not appear among those with the most advanced systems. Neither did Chicago, another city seen as a potential target. The report ranked Chicago in the early stages of communications development and cited political divisions between the city and surrounding Cook County as the reason. The inability of police and fire officials to communicate during the September 11 attacks was blamed for the deaths of New York City firefighters despite a police warning when the World Trade Center towers began to collapse. The September 11 commission, which investigated the attacks, recommended "interoperability" of the communications systems of urban emergency services. The new Homeland Security report said 75 urban and metropolitan areas have policies governing interoperability. But it said leadership and planning have lagged and emergency services in some areas were still in need of regular training. Homeland Security awarded most-advanced status to areas that have standard procedures for interoperable communications, proven familiarity with the equipment during emergencies and a strategic plan for meeting further communications goals. Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Source: Reuters DHS Proposes New Rules to Secure High-Risk Chemical Facilities DHS on Dec. 22 asked the public to comment on an aggressive and comprehensive set of proposed regulations that will improve security at high-risk chemical facilities nationwide. The proposed regulations, to be published in the Federal Register as Advanced Notice of Rulemaking, will be available for public comment until Feb. 7. “The consequences of an attack at a high risk chemical facility could be severe for the health and safety of the citizens in the area and for the national economy,” said Secretary Chertoff. “Congress has provided the department with a critical new authority to set performance standards that are both sensible and disciplined …We’re grateful for this new authority, and we intend to implement it quickly and apply it aggressively.” The proposed regulations require that chemical facilities fitting certain profiles complete a secure online risk assessment to assist in determining their overall level of risk. High-risk facilities will then be required to conduct vulnerability assessments and submit site security plans that meet the department’s performance standards. The proposed regulations provide chemical facilities with two quick and simple opportunities to challenge the disapproval of a site security plan. Failure to comply with performance standards may result in civil penalties up to $25,000 per day, and egregious instances of noncompliance could result in an order to cease operations. More information about this announcement is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1166807052891.shtm. Source: DHS DHS Awards Contract for Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center DHS announced Dec. 21 the selection of Battelle National Biodefense Institute to conduct scientific programs and operate the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC). The $250 million contract award includes a five-year period of performance, with the potential for five subsequent one-year extensions, bringing the projected award cost to $500 million. “Scientific research is fundamental to reducing the high consequences of a biological attack,” said Jay Cohen, Undersecretary for Science and Technology. “Our threat picture is ever-changing, and this state-of-the-art center will provide an enduring biodefense capability against the biological threats we face.” The department’s Science and Technology Directorate will oversee the management of the NBACC. Upon completion in 2008, the NBACC will offer a safe and secure bio-containment laboratory space for biological threat characterizations and bio-forensics analyses. The facility will comprise roughly 160,000 gross square feet with a staff of approximately 120. Source: DHS The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatalities: Name: Phillip Townsend Fire Department: Denison Fire Department Incident Description: Firefighter Townsend was severely injured while performing fire attack duties with a hose line at a working commercial structure fire. An awning on the front of an appliance store in a strip mall collapsed on top of Townsend and Fire Chief Weger. Although fellow firefighters were able to rescue both from underneath the rubble, Townsend, who was reported to have been trapped for thirty minutes, did not survive and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Fire Chief Weger was treated for injuries at the hospital and released. Funeral Arrangements: A funeral service was held 1/02/2007 at 1300 hours at The Truth Tabernacle Church, 3411 Hwy 75 South, Exit 67, Denison, Texas 75020. Memorial Fund Contact and Address: In honor of Firefighter Phillip
Townsend and care of his three surviving children, any donations may be
sent c/o Denison Fire Department, 700 West Chestnut Street, Denison, TX
75020. Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Phillip Townsend at Provisional total of On-Duty-Firefighter-Fatalities in the USA for 2006 The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has received notice of the following firefighter fatality: Name: Steven Jones Fire Department: Barnstead Fire & Rescue, Inc. Incident Description: Firefighter Jones had been requested by the Department Chief to report to the station to pickup a piece of apparatus, and take it to the shop for maintenance. While enroute to the station, he began experiencing difficulty in breathing, severe chest pains, and had to pull off the road. Help was summoned and his department's ambulance transported him to the hospital where he succumbed to a fatal heart attack. Funeral Arrangements: A viewing will be held on 1/06/2007 at 1000-1400 hours at the Barnstead Fire & Rescue Station #1, 305 Parade Road, Barnstead with a funeral to follow at 1400-1500 hours. A marching procession will be held from the station to Riverview Cemetery. To obtain more information, please visit http://www.bfr06.com/ Memorial Fund Contact and Address: The family has asked that in lieu of
flowers, donations may be made in memory of Firefighter Steven Jones to
Barnstead Fire & Rescue, Inc. Any messages of condolence may be sent to
bfr@metrocast.net Tribute is being paid to Firefighter Steven Jones at Provisional total of On-Duty-Firefighter-Fatalities in the USA for 2006 Source: USFA
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