National Dialogue on Preparedness Browse Trending ideas

While the Emergency Alert System is in place to provide warning of an imminent threat and for follow up during an emergency, radio chould play a more significant preparedness role. It's portability, pervasiveness, the the fact that it can be listened to my millions simultaneously without degrading the speed of delivery (unlike the Internet), make it an overlooked resource for preparedness. A system, perhaps modeled... more »

Educate citizens on basic preparedness tips like packing a kit and having a home inventory and private documents secured.

Find a way to incorporate location technology in cell phones to allow agencies to send emergency messages. Is there an app for that?

Allow for State and local juridictions to use UASI and SHSGP funds to hire emergency managers. Currently, only Intelligence Analysts can be hired and paid through UASI and
SHSGP funds. Emergency Managers can only be hired through EMPG, but that is a much smaller grant that not all jurisdictions receive. In an All-Hazards context, emergency managers are far more important than intelligence analysts, so it would be a great... more »

Create an easier way for for-profit technology companies to directly engage with DHS and FEMA to participate in early adoption and R&D efforts - this will foster greater investment, competition and ultimately better solutions in the marketplace.

Ability for UASI and other grants to fund technology projects beyond just the grant year allowing for off-premise, cloud-based or other SaaS-type offerings. Currently most customers want to buy premise-based solutions with large, upfront costs because they fear their grants will run out and they can not afford long-term, lower monthly fees. This puts an undue burden on customers to purchase hardware, maintenance, IT... more »

Establish teams to deploy and engage the locals in required learning. Current practice of acquiring "Awareness Courses on line" is convenient for some, but difficult for others. General preparedness starts with the locals, the method for reaching that goal has to remain a combination of education and experience. Determining the capabilities and providing assessments should be done more like the military accomplishes... more »

It 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.

LAW ENFORCEMENT INTELLEGENCE CARDS

I suggest we use our resource in combating terrorism in this country more efficiently. Let us take a look at the numbers. Our biggest membership in this country is our law enforcement personnel. The number surmounts even that of our military. Our law enforcement personnel are our greatest resource and our country’s front line of defense while our hero soldiers are battling terrorism... more »

Whereas tornadoes seem to get every body's attention, and whereas, there is at least an occasional threat of a tornado in many places around the country, and whereas the actions of public safety and individuals before and then rarely after an actual tornado are so very similar to what should happen for most threats and actual hazards. Therefore let it be resolved that all jurisdictions and all of their agencies and all... more »

I suggest you make sure all outreach is made accessible to people with disabilities such as availability in alt. formats, etc and that you work with disability organizations at the local and national levels in any educational outreach activities.

•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 »

I think that it ould be very imporatnt to include private sector representatives from the critical infrastructure groups who are charged with emergency management and contingency planning. I spent over 28 years in state law enforcement and found that the communication process, although improved over that time frame, was very lacking between government and key private industry stakeholders. As the person responsible... more »

The following is input submitted to a recent ASTHO Survey on H1N1 Policy Barriers. It may be useful to submit the same input to this DHS/FEMA venue. Thank you.

The nation could benefit from something akin to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), but for medical countermeasures. Such a group (an advisory committee on medical countermeasures or “ACMC”) would follow the ACIP model in structure and methods.... more »

Require agencies that have access to interoperable radio systems to include their use in their written policies.

I work as a police/fire dispatcher for a local agency in Colorado. I'm a big fan of our radio system. The mutual aid channels are set up well and easy to understand. Working in the Denver metro area, I have the ability to communicate with any agency in the state.

The big problem is that we have the technology,... more »