radiological monitoring course
I took radiological monitoring course in the 1970's.It was worth it
Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments : Browse Recent Ideas
What are your recommendations for the most appropriate way to collectively assess our capabilities and capability gaps? What portion of national preparedness risk determination should be made at the federal level and how much at the state and local level?
Moderators
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled1 vote
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Add your comment for Idea: radiological monitoring course -
I agree
Voting is Disabled
3 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Crisis Management Systems must be affordable, useable, scalable and championed at the regional level.
There are probably thousands of jurisdictions in the USA that have no access to Crisis Information Management Systems (CIMS) due to excessive software and I.T. support labor costs. Even those with access to CIMS commonly don’t use them due to the application’s difficulty of use and/or a lack of cohesive training programs. Counties or States should maintain a CIMS which is available to all first responder organizations ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Crisis Management Systems must be affordable, useable, scalable and championed at the regional level.There are probably thousands of jurisdictions in the USA that have no access to Crisis Information Management Systems (CIMS) due to excessive software and I.T. support labor costs. Even those with access to CIMS commonly don’t use them due to the application’s difficulty of use and/or a lack of cohesive training programs.
Counties or States should maintain a CIMS which is available to all first responder organizations in their operational area, at either no or low cost to each organization. This CIMS should be efficiently scalable so as to be able to handle hundreds of organizations and thousands of users on a single server platform. Per-user software licensing costs should be either zero, or dirt cheap, to encourage exponential growth and Op Area adaptation at low marginal expense.
Access to this CIMS must be very easy for end users… no VPNs or domain logins should be required; just a simple username and password on a webpage, accessible from anywhere at anytime from any browser. And keep the interface simple and uncluttered; only the critical tools should be listed on a main menu, and those tools should be simple to use but powerful enough to manage both a local jurisdiction as well as an operational area.
While the concept of us all becoming elite “knowledge workers”, self-educating ourselves on all technologies, is a nice goal; it’s a bit lofty. First responders have practical job responsibilities and sometimes that doesn’t involve much computer use. The Op Area managing the CIMS needs to lead and promote the training, adoption and integration of the CIMS into every EM organization in their region. Learning Management Systems, while useful for forcing all employees to go though annual sexual harassment training, is not the correct tool to spark interest in a CIMS, train CIMS users or integrate CIMS use into hundreds of tabletops and FTXs. Only warm bodies can champion CIMS. The ideal CIMS champion has solid EM knowledge, reasonable IT/Web design skills and strong teaching skills. Being a good networker doesn’t hurt either!
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
3 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Improving Community and Industry Involvement
Add your comment for Idea: Improving Community and Industry InvolvementImprove industry involvement with governmental agencies in conduting both table top and field exercises using their techniucal expertise personel,
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
6 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Radiologic monitoring post-attack
The real elephant in the room is radiologic monitoring and sheltering. About a decade ago the US government got out of the radiologic monitoring business on US civilian nuclear battlefields. Since this time 1 hostile country has tested nuclear devices and another which has made repeated threats against the US is nearing that point. Considering the probability of retaliation in kind it would seem likely that such an attack ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Radiologic monitoring post-attackThe real elephant in the room is radiologic monitoring and sheltering. About a decade ago the US government got out of the radiologic monitoring business on US civilian nuclear battlefields. Since this time 1 hostile country has tested nuclear devices and another which has made repeated threats against the US is nearing that point. Considering the probability of retaliation in kind it would seem likely that such an attack would likely be done using 'terrorist' operatives. This would almost certainly involve a surface burst (or more) with much local fallout. Without at least 1 high level survey meter per 1000 population already in place it will be necessary to assign police and fire personnel to do surveys in the fallout field (This WILL be fatal for the involved personnel.) in order to obtain vital information needed to protect our population. Our population is our most critical asset and the most difficult to replace quickly.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
2 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Coherent FEMA Support Process Policy
Coherent FEMA Support Process Policy FEMA needs to quickly develop and approve a coherent across the board policy on NRC, RRCC, JFO support process doctrine as a solid core to allow credentialing and training that reflect the process and doctrine as it does not exist at present. This needs to be done with input from all levels to promote acceptance and use. As FEMA is basically a Multi Agency Coordination Group supporting ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Coherent FEMA Support Process PolicyCoherent FEMA Support Process Policy
FEMA needs to quickly develop and approve a coherent across the board policy on NRC, RRCC, JFO support process doctrine as a solid core to allow credentialing and training that reflect the process and doctrine as it does not exist at present. This needs to be done with input from all levels to promote acceptance and use. As FEMA is basically a Multi Agency Coordination Group supporting state operations, as outlined in the existing NIMS Doctrine it would be prudent to shape it around it. Given the small size of the number of personnel in FEMA, this will allow FEMA to train full time and Reserve personnel to be able to effectively surge to help any region with little training time to be effective as the support processes will be the same FEMA wide.
Forms different from the ICS forms for front line tactical response also need to be developed that will work more effectively in the NRC, RRCC, JFO support processes.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
0 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »medical resources
Add your comment for Idea: medical resourcesInvestigate the resources that are available for medical emergencies from manufacturers of materials that are within a three month expiration that might be utilized in a mass casualty event. Rather than discard these materials they could be used before the expiration and save the manufacturers the cost of discarding them.
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
6 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Funding Post-Emergency Response Research
A recent article on Newsweek (http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/30/is-research-into-the-oil-spill-s-impact-skewed.html) describes some of the problems that researchers are having with funding and physical access to begin independent studies of the oil release in the Gulf of Mexico. Any major incident requiring national level emergency response is going to require studies by academics to get a clear understanding of the ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Funding Post-Emergency Response ResearchA recent article on Newsweek (http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/30/is-research-into-the-oil-spill-s-impact-skewed.html) describes some of the problems that researchers are having with funding and physical access to begin independent studies of the oil release in the Gulf of Mexico. Any major incident requiring national level emergency response is going to require studies by academics to get a clear understanding of the causes, immediate effects and the long term effects on the economy and ecology of the area affected as well as the personal and political effects on the people living in and responding to the area. These studies could provide the information necessary for planning a more effective response to future incidents.
FEMA ought to have a small office, an Office of Response Research, dedicated to ensuring that immediate funds and clearances are available to researchers for immediate response data collection purposes. Particular attention should be given to studies that provide immediate documentation of the area; audio-visual recordings, environmental sample collection, and oral-history documentation of the survivor’s and responder’s experiences.
Researchers could register their interest with this office in advance for different types of incidents. Additional procedures would be established for the evaluation of short notice research proposals for unusual situations. Procedures would be established for ensuring transport to and within the affected area.
Detailed lessons learned could be incorporated back into the emergency response planning process as well as the preparedness process. Really understanding what happens in a disaster situation will provide a much sounder basis for the preparation for and response to future disasters.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
5 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Using members to provide actionable intelligence from the ground
It would be very beneficial to organize and have members within a certain region responsible for providing (if information is available) information and assessments from their specific area of residence. This can be in the form of an INTSUM (intelligence summary), and/ or a monthly meeting including designated persons within a particular region. This would then be sent up to delegated persons to disseminate and be able ...more »
2 comments for Idea: Using members to provide actionable intelligence from the groundIt would be very beneficial to organize and have members within a certain region responsible for providing (if information is available) information and assessments from their specific area of residence. This can be in the form of an INTSUM (intelligence summary), and/ or a monthly meeting including designated persons within a particular region. This would then be sent up to delegated persons to disseminate and be able to provide actionable Intelligence estimates and products on a monthly basis for evaluation. The ability to effectively manage and provide information pertaining to Intelligence gaps and situations that effect a region is best produced by assets on the ground.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
-2 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Building Resilient Communities Through Education & Grants
ICOR believes that change can be made through education. ICOR (The International Consortium for Organizational Resilience - www.theicor.org) is a non-profit (501c3) international education and credentialing organization. Our mission is to develop resilient communities through education. See our Resilient Community model http://www.theicor.org/rescomm.html which was developed based on the United Nations definition of ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Building Resilient Communities Through Education & GrantsICOR believes that change can be made through education. ICOR (The International Consortium for Organizational Resilience - www.theicor.org) is a non-profit (501c3) international education and credentialing organization. Our mission is to develop resilient communities through education. See our Resilient Community model http://www.theicor.org/rescomm.html which was developed based on the United Nations definition of a disaster resistent community.
Our educational program is based on the 10 disciplines that support resilience - see ICOR University at http://www.theicor.org/university.html.
ICOR also supports the PS-Prep initiative as an outgrowth of PL 110-53 Title IX. There are many ways to educate people to ensure that they are mitigating risk and planning for continuous operations but much more needs to be done. Currently there is no incentive for the private sector to comply - requiring PS-Prep certification for government contract work would be one incentive. Reducing insurance premiums would be another incentive.
Business Continuity, Risk Management, Crisis Management and such is still seen as a cost center and not good business practice and having incentives would help to make more private sector businesses use these solid business practices to make their organizations more resilient.
If FEMA provided grants to education bodies so that they could develop and deliver quality education to the small business, non-governmental agencies, volunteer organizations, etc., at a low cost then they would have the same access as those in the private sector to learn how they can be prepared.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
-1 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Federal Emergency Management Assistance Compact (FEMAC)
Develop and implement a Federal Emergency Management Assistance Compact (FEMAC) to support the National Response Framework based on Emergency Support Functions, including the ability for Federal agencies to request and receive assistance from other agencies. Additionally, the capability for "FEMAC" to link to Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), so state EMAC members to see pending and ongoing Federal support ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Federal Emergency Management Assistance Compact (FEMAC)Develop and implement a Federal Emergency Management Assistance Compact (FEMAC) to support the National Response Framework based on Emergency Support Functions, including the ability for Federal agencies to request and receive assistance from other agencies.
Additionally, the capability for "FEMAC" to link to Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), so state EMAC members to see pending and ongoing Federal support efforts, should be considered.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
7 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Local plans also needed for agroterrorism, agricultural disasters
Before submitting my 5 cents’ worth to this “National Dialogue on Preparedness,” I performed a content analysis: Among 150 posted ideas, an online word-search resulted in no hits – zero – for the following: agriculture, agricultural, farm, ranch, crops, cattle, and livestock. It didn’t surprise me, either. Many planners in homeland security (HS) and emergency response simply don’t think much, if at all, about agriculture. ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Local plans also needed for agroterrorism, agricultural disastersBefore submitting my 5 cents’ worth to this “National Dialogue on Preparedness,” I performed a content analysis: Among 150 posted ideas, an online word-search resulted in no hits – zero – for the following: agriculture, agricultural, farm, ranch, crops, cattle, and livestock. It didn’t surprise me, either. Many planners in homeland security (HS) and emergency response simply don’t think much, if at all, about agriculture. This is not a criticism; rather, it’s about demographics. The majority of Americans are born and raised in urban or suburban areas. Food simply appears on supermarkets’ shelves. Holstein cows, so loveable in their black and white, have achieved near-iconic status in national advertising and pop art (which I wouldn’t have believed possible 40 years ago, shoveling their manure on a dairy farm in Oklahoma).
The “agriculture and food sector,” as USDHS calls it, includes the processing, packaging, marketing, distribution, and wholesale and retail sales of agricultural products—but, it all starts down on the farm and the ranch. Even the most heavily urbanized states have local agricultural assets, whether family-owned or corporate. Agriculture is one of the most important of the critical infrastructures, yet emergency-response planning for natural disaster, man-caused disaster, and terrorism ( “agroterrorism”) generally is left to federal agencies (primarily USDA, FDA, CDC, and DHS) and states’ agricultural agencies. Local (read: county or parish and municipal) elected leaders and public-safety staffs are closest to these farms and ranches, but they probably do not have much of a role—and maybe, no role—in the ag-response plans of these primacy agencies. So, when federal and state responders and subject-matter experts are dealing with something really scary, like a possible outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD), they predictably might be reluctant to let anybody else into their incident command post. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Local-level planning for agroterrorism and other animal/agriculture disasters can be done and does not require a great deal of money. With the buy-in and input of federal and state primacy agencies, such plans can help ensure local governments’ subordinate cooperation and support in the multi-agency response to something like a suspected FMD outbreak in cattle and sheep or avian-flu outbreak in poultry. In fact, such plans already exist in the San Antonio, Texas, area. Since 2007, USDHS grant money has funded two locally written, operational plans: Animal-Agriculture Disaster Response Plan for Wilson County, Texas, and its derivative, (Template) Local Animal-Agriculture Disaster Response Plan for the Alamo-Area Counties. That totals 12 counties, out of 254, in the nation’s #2 state for farm and ranch produce. I was the project manager at the corporate consultant hired for both of these plans. Each was written with due diligence toward NIMS and ICS. A related article appears via this hyperlink: http://ipaperus.ipaperus.com/HomelandSecurityToday/October2009/ , then “Frontlines,” page 7.
The goal here is to plant a seed: If we can do local-level response planning down around San Antonio, then other HS planners in their jurisdictions across the United States can do it, too. The federal government (through USDHS) set that precedent.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
13 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »E-Learning and Online Training
2 comments for Idea: E-Learning and Online TrainingInstructor Facilitated Online Training is one of the solutions for most of the problems faced by First Responders, Families, Government and Business Owners
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
1 vote
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Task Force for Joint Exercises
I recommend that a committee of personnel be established that will have the responsibility of designing exercises that will test the joint coordination of all agencies, i.e.- military, federal, county, and state, and to ensure that the exercise tests all the response and interagency functions that are required when a real-world event actually happens. This committee does not need to be personnel that are already with ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Task Force for Joint ExercisesI recommend that a committee of personnel be established that will have the responsibility of designing exercises that will test the joint coordination of all agencies, i.e.- military, federal, county, and state, and to ensure that the exercise tests all the response and interagency functions that are required when a real-world event actually happens. This committee does not need to be personnel that are already with FEMA, but a task force of personnel that have the necessary skills, training and capabilities to develop, plan, write and execute any and all MESL's and MTEL's that are required to fully test all capabilities.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
-4 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Truth is Truth?
There is no Security Management System,=The Emergency Broad Casting System In The United States of America! If You Have, Satellite TV, Dish Net Work, or So Called, Direct TV, or The Inter Net? The Emergency Broad Casting System And Has Never Been A Test Given if there was one! ERRRRRRRRRT , ERRRRRRRRRRRT, ERRORS, There is NO TEST of The Emergency Broad Casting System = NON~ The Sick Facts About The Government That ...more »
2 comments for Idea: Truth is Truth?There is no Security Management System,=The Emergency Broad Casting System In The United States of America! If You Have, Satellite TV, Dish Net Work, or So Called, Direct TV, or The Inter Net? The Emergency Broad Casting System
And Has Never Been A Test Given if there was one! ERRRRRRRRRT , ERRRRRRRRRRRT, ERRORS, There is NO TEST of The Emergency Broad Casting System = NON~ The Sick Facts About The Government That WE THE PEOPLE pay For (By not Having a Job, Fair Pay, Fair Health Care), And What WE Do NOT GET FROM IT!
It Has Left USA OUT! LESS 4 YOU=MORE 4 THEM! =?????????????????????????????
+ Do You Really Think An Nuclear Attracts Will come To D.C.?= I think it will Happen on Freon Soil, And Will Implicate US as the Culprit!
Because It Would Take So little To turn the World Against US! , Because It is All about GREED, FROM THE TOP OF ARE GOVERNMENT TO THE TOP BUSINESS, AND THEY HAVE REALLY OVER LOOKED THE PEOPLE FOR THERE OWN AGENDA!
"Psychopaths are individuals who lack conscience. They lack remorse, they lack guilt," he said. "That's one of the reasons why they terrorize society so much."
What is different from, Government -V- Psychopath? = When Caught A Psychopath Will tell the truth about his Damage, The Top & Government Will Pay To cover it Up,
or Destroy Someone Just For Asking About The Truth, even Use There Diplomatic Immunities? In America? Call This A People Run Government?
As a Disabled American, I have Been Neglected, By the Steeling of My IDEAS that Could Have Helped Me to Work, And You To Save Money To Run This Country as A Hole, and Put on the Breaks to stop it from Going Deeper in the Hole!
So My IDEAS STAY IN MY HEAD! I can Not say More of How I Could Help, But Just Know You Over Looked The PEOPLE of THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA, That Made, =
A Cire Ma, Use To Be America?
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
4 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Keep the Children in Mind
Add your comment for Idea: Keep the Children in Mind- Federal, state, and local disaster plans should include specific protocols for management of pediatric casualties and pediatric survivors
- Pediatricians, especially those with expertise in pediatric emergency medicine and disaster medicine, should be included in planning at every organizational level
- Disaster teams should include pediatricians and other personnel skilled at evaluating and treating children
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
-2 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Capability and Gaps
I am currently writing a doctoral dissertation on emergency terrorism preparedness in school districts. The objective is to assess the availability, capability and gaps. Currently, research data shows the lack of community/citizen integration in what the school districts are doing. Other than local emergency responders, how should the neighbors be involved, what kinds of communications need to go out to them to avoid ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Capability and GapsI am currently writing a doctoral dissertation on emergency terrorism preparedness in school districts. The objective is to assess the availability, capability and gaps. Currently, research data shows the lack of community/citizen integration in what the school districts are doing. Other than local emergency responders, how should the neighbors be involved, what kinds of communications need to go out to them to avoid panic, is the community the same as parents?
Another aspect is inter-agency communication and participation during drills...what is the trigger and how do we measure success in terms of response.
Thanks ---EU
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
3 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »LEO sensitive info sharing
Add your comment for Idea: LEO sensitive info sharingFor high profile university communities and other hiogh risk potential targets Include local fire rescue and EMS agency leadership in LEO intelligence inormation regarding threats and risk assessments
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
0 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »TSA Chlorine Dispersion Modeling Study
The Transportation Security Agency is currently working on preparing a study to look at the differences between the currently accepted chlorine gas dispersion models and the actual results of two catastrophic chlorine releases from railcars. Since such models form an important description of the hazards associated with the transport of chlorine gas by railcar, they provide the basis for any planning for the emergency ...more »
1 comment for Idea: TSA Chlorine Dispersion Modeling StudyThe Transportation Security Agency is currently working on preparing a study to look at the differences between the currently accepted chlorine gas dispersion models and the actual results of two catastrophic chlorine releases from railcars. Since such models form an important description of the hazards associated with the transport of chlorine gas by railcar, they provide the basis for any planning for the emergency response to such an accident. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should be involved in the planning of this study to ensure that the final product will be of use to emergency response organizations and will be readily available to such organizations once completed.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
11 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Counter-Terrorism Emergency Response Plan - CFATS
While DHS-ISCD manages the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Stanadards (CFATS) program and insures that high-risk chemical facilities have a well thought out and executed Site Security Plan, there are no provisions for an emergency response plan at the state and local level to respond to the consequences of a successful terrorist attack on these high-risk facilities. ISCD and FEMA should ensure that the LEPC has an emergency ...more »
Add your comment for Idea: Counter-Terrorism Emergency Response Plan - CFATSWhile DHS-ISCD manages the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Stanadards (CFATS) program and insures that high-risk chemical facilities have a well thought out and executed Site Security Plan, there are no provisions for an emergency response plan at the state and local level to respond to the consequences of a successful terrorist attack on these high-risk facilities. ISCD and FEMA should ensure that the LEPC has an emergency response plan for such eventuality prepared, reviewed and exercised before ISCD can sign-off on the facility's SSP.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
14 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Capabilities-Based Planning Using the Target Capabilities List
Continue to promote the capabilities-based preparedness planning paradigm. A candid assessment is the necessary foundation for effective improvement planning. The target capability list (TCL) is a fair starting point. However, DHS should move forward with TCL 3.0, which uses classes to introduce risk into the process and avoid the one-size-fits-all approach of the current TCL 2.0 performance metrics. The process becomes ...more »
1 comment for Idea: Capabilities-Based Planning Using the Target Capabilities ListContinue to promote the capabilities-based preparedness planning paradigm. A candid assessment is the necessary foundation for effective improvement planning. The target capability list (TCL) is a fair starting point. However, DHS should move forward with TCL 3.0, which uses classes to introduce risk into the process and avoid the one-size-fits-all approach of the current TCL 2.0 performance metrics. The process becomes more flexible and accurate by allowing a jurisdiction to select the class it belongs to along with the associated performance metrics for each capability.
Implementation of any planning paradigm at the national, state, and local levels takes time. Any cyclical system should be fine tuned with every iteration and as a result the data will become more accurate. However, to be embraced at the local level, where personnel, funding, and time is in short supply, a capability assessment tool has to be easy to use and provide meaningful data. If the basic preparedness planning paradigm becomes a constantly moving target, states and local jurisdictions are unlikely to adopt it.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
5 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Threat Re-D0
Add your comment for Idea: Threat Re-D0Create a matrix of natural hazards and human-caused risk assessment databases and tools. We have HAZUS, ACAMS, DMA2K, Infrastructure Silos. We have new ideas coming from FEMA and DHS all the time, but I have not seen a building on what we have.
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
10 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Railway Security
I am an Emergency Management Student and during a discussion between classmates and myself, we discussed the lack of security to railways in America. The discussion led to conversation about railways within cities, for example, a railway running underneath a conference center and the fact that you could hear and feel vibrations from its passing. Unforuntely, this is a dangerous situation due to the great potential of ...more »
1 comment for Idea: Railway SecurityI am an Emergency Management Student and during a discussion between classmates and myself, we discussed the lack of security to railways in America. The discussion led to conversation about railways within cities, for example, a railway running underneath a conference center and the fact that you could hear and feel vibrations from its passing. Unforuntely, this is a dangerous situation due to the great potential of terrorism in this country. I do not personally know of any protective plans for these systems. We need to look into placing better protective measures to Our Country's rail systems.
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
11 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Assessing Capability and Gap Analysis - Institutionalizing the Processes
•How do we collectively assess our capabilities and gaps? Create a national system with a specific "non-share percentage" gap analysis grant managed by the state EM agency that measures gaps and holds all stakeholders accountable to filling those gaps. The program would start off by leveraging the updated 3-year HIRA data produced by the states and locals. Using a three year cycle, the state would hold X number of ...more »
2 comments for Idea: Assessing Capability and Gap Analysis - Institutionalizing the Processes•How do we collectively assess our capabilities and gaps?
Create a national system with a specific "non-share percentage" gap analysis grant managed by the state EM agency that measures gaps and holds all stakeholders accountable to filling those gaps. The program would start off by leveraging the updated 3-year HIRA data produced by the states and locals. Using a three year cycle, the state would hold X number of workshops using the new grant funding bringing together federal, state, local, private, non-profit and faith-based organizations that would review one third of the state's identified hazards. During the workshops, all capabilities of the stakeholders would be identified and documented. Gaps would also be identified and all existing methods to fill those gaps would be identified. If the gap could not be filled via internal methods, then the stakeholders would submit IJ's via the HSGP, HMEP, BZPP, EMPG and others including state and local funding streams to fill those gaps. The state's strategy, HSSS, and enhancement plans would be updated. The next following year the process is repeated addressing the second 1/3 of the hazards and the IJ's funded would start. In the third year, the process is again repeated addressing the last 1/3 of the hazards. The state's control group (EM commission) would track projects to ensure they are on track, completed, and fill the gaps identified. DHS via the FEMA Region grant section (with support from FEMA Region Ops, Log, and Recovery sections) would integrate gap, capability, LCAT, and grant auditing to ensure the federal tax dollars are spent appropriately and that the gaps are being filled.
This idea is actually part of the grant process, FEMA gap analysis, as well as EMAP accreditation, but states are not fully institutionalizing the process because:
- state control groups either don't have the authority or do not pick up the torch;
- state EM agencies do not have adequate funding, personnel, or authority to do the job right; or
- cost-sharing and/or percentage sharing 80/20 prohibit funds to be spent to fill gaps identified at a local/regional level with state oversight
« less full details »
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
39 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Understanding Risk and Vulnerabilities is Critical
5 comments for Idea: Understanding Risk and Vulnerabilities is CriticalIt seems so often that we fail to complete a comprehensive community all hazard risk assessment, that includes the nature, vulnerabilities, probability, consequences, and severity. Agencies complain that it is too hard; if they would leverage existing data and institutional knowledge, it is do-able. I have seen it provide an incredibly solid footing to begin designing and implementing mitigation strategies.
-
I agree
Voting is Disabled
24 votes
I disagreeThis idea is active.Preparedness Capabilities and Assessments »Get and App for that
7 comments for Idea: Get and App for thatFind a way to incorporate location technology in cell phones to allow agencies to send emergency messages. Is there an app for that?