Business911 International, Inc.

Emergency Communications No matter what the emergency......

Emergency Communications

No matter what the emergency, communications remain a vital component to keeping America safe, secure, and resilient.

https://www.dhs.gov/topic/emergency-communications

Trump first president to protect electric grid from EMP, cyberattacks

by Paul Bedard | Dec 20, 2017, 12:03 PM 

President Trump became the first national leader to call for protecting the U.S electric and communications grid against an electromagnetic attack like one practiced in North Korea.

Deep in his new national security strategy released this week, he made good on a campaign promise to move quickly to make the fixes that proponents have long called for.

Full article: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-first-president-to-protect-electric-grid-from-emp-cyberattacks/article/2644025

Dispatchers facing delays answering 911 calls in Harris County

Weeks after Harvey, the Harris County Sheriff's Office says they are facing delays answering 911 calls. In some cases, it could take minutes to speak with an operator.

The sheriff's 911 operators were relocated to the Greater Harris County 911 Emergency Center after flooding at the sheriff's emergency dispatch center.

Full article: http://abc13.com/dispatchers-facing-delays-answering-911-calls-in-harris-co/2436636/

 

Study Finds FEMA Flood Maps Missed 75% Of Houston Flood Damage Claims Between 1999 And 2009

 

 

Marcus Yam/Getty Images Flooding along Interstate 10 in Houston as a result of Harvey

A recent study found that FEMA failed to capture 75 percent of flood damages within their flood maps between 1999 and 2009. The FEMA flood maps are the primary source for how the government and insurance companies evaluate flood risk and insurance premiums. There are collectively trillions of dollars worth of property that rely on these maps being accurate.

Full article: https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2017/09/18/fema-flood-maps-missed-claims-harvey-houston/amp/

 

 

Arkema Chemical Plant media briefing

 Great example of handling the media by the HCFMO.

Statement starts at: 1:05

Response to questions starts at" 6:15 

 

EarthEx

Black Sky video: http://eiscouncil.org/VideoEarthEX

 

CMS Issues New Emergency Preparedness Rule

Survey & Certification- Emergency Preparedness Regulation Guidance

Guidance for Surveyors, Providers and Suppliers Regarding the New Emergency Preparedness (EP) Rule

On September 8, 2016 the Federal Register posted the final rule Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers. The regulation goes into effect on November 16, 2016. Health care providers and suppliers affected by this rule must comply and implement all regulations one year after the effective date, on November 16, 2017.

Full article: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertEmergPrep/Emergency-Prep-Rule.html

Texas Senator Bob Hall Introduces Legislative Bill to Protect the Texas Electrical Grid

Senator Bob Hall of Texas has introduced legislation for the next legislative session to protect the Texas electrical grid.

S.B. No. 83

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the protection of energy critical instrastructure from electromagnetic, geomagnetic, terrorist, and cyber-attack threats.

 

Text of Texas EMP legislation bill: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/html/SB00083I.htm

Details on TDOS Attack on 911 system in Maricopa County, AZ

Cyber Attack on 9-1-1 System Leads to Quick Arrest An 18-year-old was arrested last week after carrying out a cyberattack on the Maricopa County 9-1-1 system. The man posted a link in Twitter which supposedly directed people to a site called “Meet Desai.” However, when people clicked the link it would continually call 9-1-1 and not let the caller hang up. Law enforcement found him quickly using the GPS on his phone, arrested him in class, and confiscated his electronics. The accused said he was on the trail of bugs and viruses that he could change and manipulate. Once he manipulated this one, he set it to call 1+911. He claims he created this to basically make a name for himself in the programming and hacker world, and with the hopes Apple would pay him for finding bugs. He said during questioning the bug was meant to be “funny” and claims its release was accidental. He now faces three felony counts of computer tampering. The volume of calls could have shut down the 9-1-1 system but didn’t and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Division was able to shut down the application, ending the threat. For now. With a subsection of hackers potentially looking for bugs, programs, and viruses they can either alter or “piggyback” other applications or programs on to, it is anyone’s guess what the next one will look like. Hopefully this particular bug has been patched by now.

Full article: https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2016/10/27/teen-launches-cyberattack-on-911-system-maricopa-county-cybercrime-unit-makes-quick-arrest/

 

BEST PRACTICES CHECKLIST FOR DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACKS AGAINST 9-1-1 CENTERS

https://www.nena.org/news/120618/Best-Practices-Checklist-for-Denial-of-Service-Attacks-Against-9-1-1-Centers.htm

 

NICS, A Communication Platform For First Responders, Now Available Worldwide

Release Date: 

August 8, 2016

DHS S&T Press Office, John Verrico, (202) 254-2385

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has announced the Next-Generation Incident Command System (NICS,) an information sharing tool for first responders, is now available worldwide.

NICS is a mobile, web-based communication platform that enables responders on scene at a developing incident to request and receive assistance from remote experts, such as a university researcher or topographic expert, in real time. Conversely, experts can observe an evolving situation and volunteer relevant material or resources.

After successful beta-implementation, NICS has transitioned to the open-source community for wide accessibility, freely available for any interested party.

Full article: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2016/08/08/news-release-nics-communication-platform-first-responders-now