INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
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Monthly Updates - September 2007

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ICC Monthly Highlights

Draft National Response Framework Released for Public Comment

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released the draft National Response Framework (NRF), successor to the National Response Plan, for a 30-day public comment period (September 10 — October 10, 2007). The Framework, which focuses on response and short-term recovery, articulates the doctrine, principles and architecture by which our nation prepares for and responds to all-hazard disasters across all levels of government and all sectors of communities. The Framework is responsive to repeated federal, state and local requests for a streamlined document that is shorter, less bureaucratic and more user-friendly.

The Framework is intended for senior elected and appointed leaders, such as federal agency heads, state governors, mayors, tribal leaders and city managers. Simultaneously, it informs emergency management practitioners by explaining the operating structures and tools routinely used by first responders and emergency managers at all levels of government.

"The Framework recognizes that most incidents are managed locally," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "But when needed to support state and local officials as they respond to a disaster, the Framework establishes the playbook for the federal coordination of resources and assets to manage disasters of all sizes and scope."

The Framework incorporates a number of key recommendations from more than 700 individuals representing federal, tribal, state and local governments, non-governmental agencies and associations, and the private sector, who participated in a review process that began in September 2006. In addition to the core Framework, supporting documents, including Emergency Support Functions, Support and Incident Annexes and other appendices have also been updated, expanded and remain an integral part of the Framework. These documents are available at the newly-created NRF Resource Center, which is available online at www.fema.gov/nrf. This resource center will be continuously updated as additional supporting materials are created or revised.

The 30-day comment period provides interested parties with the opportunity to provide feedback on the document. A comment form has been circulated to various departments, agencies and key stakeholders. Individuals who wish to submit comments can obtain a comment form and instructions for submission online at www.fema.gov/nrf.

In addition to the core Framework, supporting documents, including Emergency Support Functions, Support and Incident Annexes and other appendices have also been updated and remain an integral part of the Framework. There will be a 60-day comment period for these supplemental documents. During this period, the existing National Response Plan remains in effect.

DHS Releases National Preparedness Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the publication of two important tools to organize and synchronize national efforts to strengthen preparedness: (1) the National Preparedness Guidelines, which establish a vision for national preparedness and provide a systematic approach for prioritizing preparedness efforts across the Nation; and (2) the Target Capabilities List, which describes the collective national capabilities required to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.

"The National Preparedness Guidelines and Target Capabilities List are the culmination of extensive efforts to define the specific plans and capabilities our nation must possess in order to address catastrophic threats," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "These documents will help focus policy, planning and investments at all levels of government and the private sector in order to strengthen our collective capabilities and better prepare for major incidents."

Publication of the Guidelines and Target Capabilities List fulfills a major component of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8, "National Preparedness," and establishes a framework for understanding what it means for the nation to be prepared for all hazards. There are four critical elements to the National Preparedness Guidelines:

  1. The National Preparedness Vision, which provides a concise statement of the core preparedness goal for the nation.
  2. The 15 National Planning Scenarios, which collectively depict the broad range of natural and man-made threats facing our nation and guide overall homeland security planning efforts at all levels of government and with the private sector. They form the basis for national planning, training, investments and exercises needed to prepare for emergencies of all types.
  3. Universal Task List (UTL), which is a menu of 1,600 unique tasks that can facilitate efforts to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from the major events that are represented by the National Planning Scenarios. Although no single entity will perform every task, the UTL presents a common language and vocabulary that supports all efforts to coordinate national preparedness activities.
  4. Target Capabilities List (TCL), which defines 37 specific capabilities that states and communities and the private sector should collectively develop in order to respond effectively to disasters.

Developed through an extensive process that involved more than 1,500 federal, state and local officials, and more than 120 national associations, the Guidelines replace the Interim National Preparedness Goal issued on March 31, 2005. They also integrate lessons learned following Hurricane Katrina and a 2006 review of states’ and major cities’ emergency operations and evacuation plans.

For more information on HSPD-8 and the National Preparedness Guidelines, visit http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1189720458491.shtm.

FEMA Pilots Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)

Executive Order 13407, signed by President George W. Bush in July of 2006 sets forth the policy of the United States to "have an effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive system to alert and warn the American people in situations of war, terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other hazards to public safety and well-being (public alert and warning system), taking appropriate account of the functions, capabilities, and needs of the private sector and of all levels of government in our Federal system, and to ensure that under all conditions the President can communicate with the American people." The goal of IPAWS, in support of the implementation of this Order, is to build a comprehensive national warning system that transmits voice, video and text alerts to all media, including telephones, computers and cell phones. In early September, Secretary Chertoff was in Alabama to kick off a pilot of IPAWS in the Gulf Coast States. The pilot runs through December 2007. For more information on the IPAWS pilot, visit: http://www.washingtontechnology.com/print/22_17/31440-1.html.

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ICC Monthly Updates

US Department of Homeland Security

DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Participation in TOPOFF 4

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will conduct the largest and most comprehensive counterterrorism exercise to date from Oct. 15-19 in Arizona and Oregon, and the U.S. territory of Guam. Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4) is the fourth in a series of congressionally-mandated exercises and involves various federal agencies as well as the governments of Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

"The National Intelligence Estimate and recent activity overseas reinforce that we are in a period of increased risk," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Exercises like TOPOFF help test response capabilities at all levels, strengthen national preparedness, and deepen international coordination. By responding realistically to these simulated attacks, we’re able to identify our strengths and weaknesses, build better partnerships, and gain valuable knowledge for securing the nation against terrorist attacks and other natural disasters."

TOPOFF 4 will involve more than 15,000 participants from all levels of government, international partners and the private sector in a full-scale, simulated response to radiological dispersal device attacks.

Over the past year and a half, CRCL has been actively participating in TOPOFF 4 planning. As a result of this participation, the exercise scenario includes situations designed to focus on issues that individuals with disabilities and other special needs will face during an emergency. Claudia Gordon, Senior Policy Advisor, and Cindy Daniel, FEMA Disability Coordinator, will be on-site at the Oregon venue of TOPOFF 4. Additionally, CRCL staff based in Washington, DC, will be actively monitoring and providing input to the exercise scenario as it unfolds.

CRCL is also an active contributor to the TOPOFF 4 Long Term Recovery Tabletop Exercise planning team. The goal of the long term recovery exercise is for participants to gain an increased awareness of issues surrounding recovery from a radiological incident and identify areas for potential improvement in relevant national policy, guidance, and plans. The tabletop exercise is scheduled for December 2007.

For more information on TOPOFF 4, visit the Department of Homeland Security Web site at www.dhs.gov/topoff4.

National Citizen Corps Council

The Community Preparedness Division’s Citizen Corps Program is hosting a meeting on October 4, 2007 from 11:00 am- 4:00 pm to bring together leaders of emergency responder disciplines from the National Citizen Corps Council to provide feedback on an important research project from ORC Macro. This meeting represents an important phase in a research process designed to explore and identify priority response and preparedness measures that citizens should know, and have the skills and supplies on hand to undertake, during the first 15 minutes to 2 hours of an event. The first phase of the research process began with a literature scan of preparedness recommendations to the public by national organizations including FEMA, American Red Cross, CDC, Citizen Corps, DHHS, Home Safety Council, OPM, RAND, Ready, National Education Coalition and the Office of Disability Employment Policy. The second phase incorporated FEMA expertise for review of the materials cultivated and scrubbed the content for relevance and content that would be most appropriate for review by the leaders of the emergency responder disciplines. During the October 4th meeting, participants will identify those measures that will save the most lives and minimize injury during the first crucial moments of specific disasters. Over the next two months, the project will utilize the work conducted during this meeting to gain feedback on these priority measures from both the first responder community in the field as well as from the public. The results of the meeting and additional steps are intended to lead to collaborations and common messages that will add value to all our work.

For further information, please contact Penny Burke at 202-786-9610 or at penny.burke@dhs.gov.

National Preparedness Month

Each year, September is designated as National Preparedness Month by DHS. This year, there were several weekly “themes” suggested for individuals and organizations engaging in readiness activities. The theme for the week of September 23-30 was home and family preparedness, including pets, older Americans and individuals with disabilities and special needs. Many events were planned by the more than 1700 organizations signed up to participate in National Preparedness Month. For additional information on these and other events held during the month, visit: http://www.ready.gov/america/npm07/index.html and select National Preparedness Month Journal.

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Recently Released Resources

"Working with People with Disabilities- A Guide for Responders" Training DVD

The DVD is now available from Baltimore County Fire Department. This 26-minuted training DVD produced in cooperation with the Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities is designed to help personnel from emergency medical services, fire, police and others work effectively and compassionately with persons with disabilities. The training is endorsed by the Maryland Department of Disabilities, Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, Maryland State Firemen’s Association (MSFA)), and the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions, as well as other public agencies and non-governmental disabilities and advocacy groups. The DVD is available at no charge for training purposes.

To obtain a free copy, contact Fire Director James M. Korn at jkorn@baltimorecountymd.gov.

Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP)

EIIP is a voluntary association of organizations and individuals, seeking to enhance their effectiveness in coping with disasters and emergency situations, by exploring the opportunity for sharing information and ideas made possible by electronic technology. On September 26, 2007, EIIP hosted an interactive presentation on the topic of Retention and Recruitment for the Volunteer Emergency Services. More information can be found at: http://www.emforum.org/.

Quick Response Grants

Each September, the Natural Hazards Center solicits proposals for the next round of Quick Response (QR) grants. These small grants are intended to enable social and behavioral science researchers from the United States to conduct short-term studies immediately following a disaster. Grants average between $1,000 and $3,500 and are intended to cover food, travel, and lodging expenses.

If, during the course of the next year, a disaster matching an applicant's pre-approved proposal occurs, the grant can be activated and the researcher is able to immediately travel to the site. Grantees are required to submit a report of their findings to be shared with the hazards community. Reports are published by the Natural Hazards Center and are available free online.

Proposals for natural, technological, and human-induced events are considered for funding. Physical science- and engineering-based proposals are not eligible. To learn more about the program and to find out how to apply, visit www.colorado.edu/hazards/research/qr/, or request a program announcement from Corey Reynolds at (303) 492-4180 or corey.reynolds@colorado.edu. The deadline for proposal submission is October 26, 2007. Only complete proposals that meet all of the criteria outlined in the 2008 announcement will be considered.

Natural Hazards Center Announces New Online Publication

The Natural Hazards Center is proud to announce the availability of Research Digest, a quarterly online compilation of recent research related to hazards and disasters. It provides the complete references and abstracts (when available) for current research in the field. The aim of Research Digest is to advance and communicate knowledge on hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery within all-hazards, interdisciplinary framework.

The first issue includes more than 125 articles cataloged between April and mid-August. Additional issues will follow in December and March. The issues are compiled and edited by library and research staff and include more than 35 peer-reviewed publications. Check out the first issue online at www.colorado.edu/hazards/rd.

Public Health Information Rapid Exchange (PHIRE)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a system to send important health information in real-time to subscribers, including alerts about any evidence of suspected pandemic influenza in the United States. The CDC Public Health Information Rapid Exchange (PHIRE) will disseminate important and timely information concerning actual or potential public health emergencies. More information can be found at: http://cdc.gov/phire/.

Call for Papers: Humanity & Society Special Issue

Humanity & Society invites submissions for a special issue dedicated to the study of the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina-related evacuation for both evacuees and service providers both in New Orleans and in the cities where many evacuees have remained.

This special issue, titled "Civil Society and the State: Katrina Evacuees and Services," will explore the ways in which Katrina evacuees interacted with service agencies, both public and non-governmental, and the nature and outcome of their experiences. Topics include but not limited to:

  • The process by which Katrina evacuees did and did not receive help at various points both at the time of the storm and after their evacuation
  • Governmental and non-governmental policies and the ramifications for a major disaster
  • Local responses to both short-term and long-term needs of evacuees
  • The ways in which gender, race, and class interacted with evacuation and resettlement experiences and with residence in host communities
  • The experiences of evacuees with public agencies including schools, health departments, and the criminal justice system
  • The ways in which the Katrina experiences compare with other disasters, both domestic and international

Manuscripts should not exceed 30 double-spaced pages of text, plus notes and references, and should follow the "Notice to Contributors" guidelines supplied at http://www.humanistsociology.org. Address queries to Laura Lein at lein@mail.utexas.edu

Deadline for submission is January 2, 2008.

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Upcoming Events

October 10-11, 2007
Preparing for the Unknown: "Are You Ready?" Emergency Preparedness Conference
Joint Commission Resources
Alexandria, VA
Earthquakes, tornados, heat waves, floods, oil spills, fires, nuclear accidents, dirty bombs, pandemic flu, hurricanes, blackouts, blizzards, the list is endless – and continues to grow. On average, disasters cause 185 deaths per day and the loss of human life, the physical and environmental damages, the disruption to school, homes, business, productivity and the financial impact can be devastating to any country, city, and/or town. But the impact of these, and many disasters, can be sharply reduced if we make an effort to assess risk, develop and test contingency plans and respond to a disaster before it happens, rather than after the damage has been done. The message is clear, regardless of the disaster – similar considerations can provide good planning for most events encountered. The bottom line is that all hospitals, all organizations can be and should be prepared to operate in a state of constant readiness. For more information please visit: http://www.jcrinc.com/24835.

November 11-14, 2007
International Association for Emergency Managers (IAEM) 55th Annual Conference
Reno, NV
The IAEM Annual Conference provides a forum for current trends and topics, information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security, and advances IAEM committee work. Sessions encourage stakeholders at all levels of government, the private sector, public health, and related professions to exchange ideas on collaborating to protect lives and property from disaster.
For more information please visit: http://www.iaem.com/.

April 1-2, 2008
Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference
Tacoma, Washington
Call for Presentations: Researchers, scholars, and practitioners in emergency management are invited to participate in the Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference. Over the past 10 years, this conference has grown into the largest emergency management conference in the Pacific Northwest, bringing together non-profit organizations, public agencies, business and industry, military, healthcare, and schools to explore emergency management issues, principles, and practices. The theme for the 2008 conference is "It's a different world: Looking to the future." The Conference Steering Committee is particularly interested in presentations focused on business disaster preparedness and on translating disaster-related research into information useful to practitioners. Presentation sessions are generally 75 minutes in length; a limited number of double sessions may be available. If you are interested in making a presentation at the 2008 conference, please provide an abstract, proposal, or brief description of your topic no later than September 1, 2007, to:

Sarah Miller
Curriculum Committee Chair
Partners in Emergency Preparedness Conference
PartnersCurriculum@gmail.com
(206) 222-1923

Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop
July 12-15, 2008
Broomfield, Colorado, USA
Omni Interlocken Resort
Boulder, Colorado.
The Natural Hazards Center invites proposals for session topics for the 2008 Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop. The annual workshop is designed to bring members of the research and applications communities together for face-to-face networking and discussion of cutting-edge issues related to hazards and disasters and society's efforts to deal with them. To submit a session idea, go to http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/workshop/current.html. Session topics must be submitted by November 2, 2007, to be considered.

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Join the ICC Listserv!

The Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC) has created a listserv. Please join our listserv to receive the ICC's Monthly Updates and Quarterly Newsletter, Emergency Preparedness NOW, and access other information pertinent to emergency preparedness and individuals with disabilities.

To join please visit http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/archives/icc-dispreppubs-l.html or go to http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/ and click "Online Mailing List Archives," then select "ICC-DISPREPPUBS-L" and complete the subscription form. For more information about the ICC please visit www.disabilitypreparedness.gov.

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About the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties oversees the implementation of Executive Order 13347, Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, which was signed by President Bush in July 2004. This Executive Order is designed to ensure the safety and security of individuals with disabilities in all-hazard emergency and disaster situations. To this end, the Executive Order created an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. The ICC is comprised of senior leadership from more than 20 Federal departments and agencies. Its mission is to ensure that people with disabilities and their specific needs are fully integrated into all aspects of our nation's emergency management system; including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Secretary of Homeland Security is the Chair of the ICC, and he has delegated that role to Mr. Daniel Sutherland, the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The Council has concentrated its work in eight major areas:

  1. Emergency Communications;
  2. Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace;
  3. Emergency Transportation;
  4. Health;
  5. Private Sector Coordination;
  6. Research;
  7. State, Local and Tribal Government Coordination; and
  8. Technical Assistance and Outreach.

For more information about the ICC please visit http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov.

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