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Emergency Alert System in Morris County, N.J., to Link 39 Cities via Social Media

In March, a powerful storm pummeled New Jersey, forcing police, utility and emergency crews to scramble as the severe weather sapped power, delayed trains and triggered floods. But publicly available information about the storm’s effects was scarce, and citizens searching for updates were left high and dry.

To avert such communication failures in the future, Morris County, N.J., has activated a shared emergency information network, using social media tools — Facebook and Twitter — to deliver crucial updates around the clock.

This is a great example of leveraging technology to provide widespread distribution of information!

See the entire article at: http://www.emergencymgmt.com/safety/Emergency-Alert-System-Social-Media.html

U.S. Plans Cyber Shield for Utilities, Companies

The control room at a nuclear-power plant in Limerick, Pa. The National Security Agency's 'Private Citizen' program will detect cyber assaults on critical infrastructure, but could also help companies in other fields, such as Google, which sustained a major attack late last year. (photo Bloomberg)

Wall Street Journal reports the federal government is launching an expansive program dubbed "Perfect Citizen" to detect cyber assaults on private companies and government agencies running such critical infrastructure as the electricity grid and nuclear-power plants, according to people familiar with the program

Full Article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704545004575352983850463108.html

Widgets, Twitter to fuel FEMA emergency alerts

Social media strategy aims to disseminate disaster preparedness, response messages in near-real time.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has announced a new widget for disaster preparedness on its  Facebook page page as part of a series of releases to publicize its social media and Gov 2.0 tools for emergency readiness and response.

Full article at: http://gcn.com/articles/2010/06/23/fema-pushes-widgets-twitter-for-disaster-preparedness.aspx

InfraGard Houston President testifies at TX House of Representatives Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness about the ER-ITN system

Bob Janusaitis the current InfraGard Houston president testified at a hearing about the ER-ITN system for re-entry of critical infrastructure personnel after a crisis.  The system being implemented by the Pegasus Program was extensively tested by several Gulf Coast InfraGard chapters, and local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. 

Link to full InfraGard Houston blog article

Secretary Napolitano Announces New Standards for Private Sector Preparedness

Washington, D.C.—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the adoption of the final standards for the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep)—a major milestone in DHS' implementation of a program recommended by the 9/11 Commission to improve private sector preparedness for disasters and emergencies.

PS-Prep site: http://www.fema.gov/privatesector/preparedness/index.htm

Downtown Houston Emergency Response Plan

The downtown district has revised its Emergency Operations Plan for downtown businesses.  The plan describes the role of each party during an emergency.  Each organization within the downtown area, and elsewhere within the city should acquaint itself with the plan prior to an actual event.

A copy of the plan is available at: http://www.downtownhouston.org/site_media/uploads/attachments/2010-05-26/Downtown_Emergency_Response_Plan_2010.pdf

NOAA Expects Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season

May 27, 2010

Hurricane Ike, 2008. High resolution (Credit: NOAA)

An “active to extremely active” hurricane season is expected for the Atlantic Basin this year according to the seasonal outlook issued today by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service. As with every hurricane season, this outlook underscores the importance of having a hurricane preparedness plan in place.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is projecting a 70 percent probability of the following ranges:

• 14 to 23 Named Storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:
• 8 to 14 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:
• 3 to 7 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

Full article

Janusaitis to speak at US-CERT GFIRST conference

Bob Janusaitis is scheduled to present "Social Networking and Protecting Critical Infrastructure" at the US-CERT GFIRST conference in San Antonio, TX in August 2010.

For more information on the conference: GFIRST conference site

FDNY, Marines train for chemical attack

NEW YORK – The New York City Fire Department and the Marines’ Chemical Biological Incident Response Force responded to a simulated exploded bus, a subway chemical attack, a building collapse and two IED attacks, April 22.

A FDNY firefighter sprays water on simulated victims of a chemical attack in the subway, as Marines from the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) lead them out of the subway, at FDNY Fire Academy on Randall's Island, N.Y, April 22. FDNY and Marines from the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) joined together for a training exercise after a weeklong training evolution between the two units. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Randall A. Clinton)

The all-day exercise was the culmination of a weeklong training evolution at FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island pairing Marines and firefighters. The Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF), based in Indian Head, Md., has a history with the FDNY going back to the unit’s founding in 1996. Deputy Chief and Marine veteran Raymond Downey helped develop the original training for the unit. After he died in the World Trade Center rescue effort, their training facility was named after Downey.  Full article: US NorthCom

Resources for Emergency Planning for Schools

Emergency Planning resources from the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. 

This page provides information that can help school leaders plan for any emergency, including natural disasters, violent incidents and terrorist acts. For more information about what families and communities can do to be ready for an emergency, please visit School Resources