Topics: Public Safety Technology

Public Safety Technology Council Leadership

The Public Safety Technology Council addresses the challenges facing cities and counties as they seek to improve service delivery through the deployment of new public safety technologies.

Chair
Kent Koehler
Senior Project Manager, Division of Information and Operations
Sedgwick County, KS

Vice Chair
Wesley Reid, Director
Guilford Metro 9-1-1
1201 Coliseum Blvd.
Greensboro, NC 27403
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
336-373-2122 Office, 336-373-4753 Fax

PTI Staff Member
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Assistant Executive Director for Research and Government Services

Public Safety Technology Council Mission

PTI’s Public Safety Technology Council focuses on developing and applying practical approaches to the utilization of technology in the public safety arena.

It includes leadership teams associated with police, fire protection, emergency response, corrections and other public safety officials in localities across the nation.

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700 MHz D-Block: Public Safety Application Needs Assessment

Public Safety Spectrum ReportProduced by PTI for the Public Safety Foundation of America, this paper serves as a resource on critical application needs for public safety pertaining to the D-block of the 700 MHz spectrum.

When and how the 700 MHz D Block is ultimately allocated is critical to the deployment of advanced public-safety applications.

This spectrum band is exceptionally well suited for the new and demanding requirements of a new generation of video/data/voice devices.

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Critical Infrastructure & Key Resources Protection

A Guide to Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Protection at the State, Regional, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Level

This Department of Homeland Security publication helps interpret the requirements of the U.S. National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) at non-Federal levels and outlines the attributes, capabilities, needs, and processes that a state or other governmental entity should include in establishing its own Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources protection function so that it integrates with the NIPP.

Published September 2008. PTI makes this publication available at no charge on Scribd.

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Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines

Local Government Energy Assurance GuidelinesA soft-cover full-color edition of the PTI publication Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines is now available for $33.49 on Amazon.com at this link.

The publication helps city and county officials to address energy assurance and security concerns for mission-critical government facilities.

"Protecting and enhancing the resiliency of the energy sector from natural and human-caused disasters requires local governments to be vigilant and aware of the interdependencies of the system," said PTI executive director Alan Shark.

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Frequency Coordination for Local Governments

PTI Staff Contact: Alan Shark, 202-626-2445.

On April 22, 2009, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International announced a partnership between its frequency coordination subsidiary, APCO-AFC, and PTI.

APCO-AFC will provide support to PTI’s local government entity and agency members. Specifically, APCO-AFC will provide frequency coordination, engineering and licensing services, and licensing management to PTI’s Private Land Mobile Radio (CFR47, Part 90) licensees.

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Public Alert and Warning Systems

Key documents and links concerning the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) adopted in April 2008 by the Federal Communications Commission.

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Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Threat Assessments

This Congressional Research Service report is an excellent backgrounder on the threat of High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and High Power Microwave (HPM) devices on the national infrastructure including the electrical grid, computing and communication networks.

It summarizes the Sage / Instant Access Networks study of EMP damage and recovery times in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore-Richmond metropolitan area. PTI makes the report of that study available separately at this link.

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Kansas Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan

This initial Kansas Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) has been developed to educate interested partners on the status of communications planning throughout Kansas.

The Kansas SCIP is in the early stages of development, and as such should not be considered as complete as it will be at the point of implementation.

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Public Health, Safety and Security for Mass Gatherings

Mass GatheringsA 64-page Congressional report, released in May 2008, examines homeland security challenges for mass gatherings.

It details 30 recommendations for what should be done by federal, state and local governments and the private sector to protect the public should an act of terrorism or disaster occur.

The recommendations focus on countering biological terrorism and other threats to human health, planning for emergencies and sharing information and resources.

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Economic Assessment of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Impact

Initial Economic Assessment of Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Impact upon the Baltimore-Washington-Richmond Region
by Sage Policy Group, published by Instant Access Networks LLC

This impact assessment concludes that an EMP attack affecting the Baltimore-Washington- Richmond region would result in economic output loss potentially exceeding $770 billion, or 7 percent of the nation’s annual gross domestic product.

Even under the most favorable assumptions, including both shielded and unshielded critical infrastructure, an EMP might still result in damage that would require one month of recovery and economic loss of $9 billion and $34 billion respectively.

This case study is intended to be illustrative of the economic damage that EMP could inflict and presents a range of low, medium and high estimates all within bounds accepted by a broad range of EMP experts.

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Successful Response Starts with a Map

Successful ResponseSuccessful Response Starts with a Map:
Improving Geospatial Support for Disaster Management

Committee on Planning for Catastrophe:
A Blueprint for Improving Geospatial Data, Tools, and Infrastructure
Mapping Science Committee, Board on Earth Sciences and Resources
Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council

This report is about the maps that are an essential part of search-and-rescue operations.

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Tallahassee Innovation Lab Application

The following is a successful application for Innovation Lab recognition.

City of Tallahassee, Florida Public Safety Systems Integration Project

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Risk Communication and Message Mapping Resources

Use these links to find risk communication information and training materials. The links especially pertain to Message Mapping, a tool that enables public safety and environmental protection personnel to quickly and concisely deliver pertinent information in an emergency.

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Energy and Water Distribution Interdependency Issues

EPA Energy WaterEnergy & Water Distribution Interdependency Issues:
Best Practices and Lessons Learned

The EPA National Homeland Security Research Center, the DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, and PTI held a workshop in 2005 to identify best practices and lessons learned from previous crisis incidents that impacted both the energy and water infrastructures.

This report provides recommendations for minimizing the effects of energy emergencies on drinking water distribution.

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Spring 2007 Meeting Report

Denver, CO, Sunday, May 6, 2007

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EPA Homeland Security Research Update

Presented by EPA National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) at PTI’s 2007 Technology Leadership Conference, Denver, CO.

NHSRC expertise and products are used to prevent, prepare for and recover from public health and environmental emergencies arising from terrorist threats and incidents.

This presentation describes NHSRC structure, facilities and programs.

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Introduction to EMP All-Hazards Public Safety Planning

Introduction to EMP All-Hazards Public Safety Planning and Emerging Requirements for 911 Emergency Communications Centers by Charles L. Manto, Instant Access Networks LLC

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Call for Authors

CIO Leadership for State Governments

Seeking experts with a track record studying or engaged in all aspects of state CIO leadership.

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"With this important
new book,

PTI brings much needed advice, support and companionship to the lonely government CIO!" — Bill Schrier, City of Seattle CTO

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