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Fire Service Operations for the Southeastern Tornados – April 2011
Fire Service Operations for the Southeastern Tornados – April 2011 (PDF)
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has completed a review of fire service operations surrounding the challenges faced in April 2011 as fire departments in the southeastern United States responded to a significant weather event.On April 27, 2011, a devastating series of tornados struck Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. The dollar loss has been roughly tallied at $6 billion in insured losses and a total of over $10 billion for all losses. An estimated 336 lives were lost in the region’s tornados and related events, with 239 of those in Alabama. At least 10,000 homes were heavily damaged or destroyed and dozens of public facilities were rendered inoperative. Many areas that were isolated by road closures and power outages extended over two weeks in some rural areas. At least five tornados were rated at EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale).A series of meetings was held in the summer of 2011 to look at fire department and emergency medical services (EMS) organization activities in Alabama and Georgia during the tornados. Over 50 representatives of impacted departments attended and each had an opportunity to respond to specific questions as well as provide a free range of their own inputs.The report, Fire Service Operations for the Southeastern Tornados – April 2011 (PDF,1.5 Mb), condenses those meetings and inputs and provides an insight into the routines, challenges and needs of local fire and EMS agencies during preparation for, response to and recovery from, natural disasters. It serves as a benchmark to provide USFA an opportunity for evaluation to ensure we are providing the services that the first responder community requires for success, as well as to guide directions for future activities.
USFA Announces 2011 Onduty Firefighter Deaths
USFA Announces 2011 Onduty Firefighter Deaths
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) announced today the release of the report Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2011. There were 83 onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2011. This represents a continuing decline in the overall number of firefighter fatality deaths in recent years and an almost five percent decrease from the 87 fatalities reported for 2010. When analyzing the overall trend in the United States going back to 1977, accounting for the Hometown Heroes added to totals since the law changed in 2004, the 2011 total represents the lowest year of record for the second year in a row.
The 83 fatalities occurred in 33 states, one U.S. territory, and one overseas U.S. military facility. Texas experienced the highest number of fatalities (7). North Carolina experienced six firefighter deaths and was the only other state with five or more firefighter fatalities.
Heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 50 firefighters (60 percent) in 2011, nearly the same proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke (63 percent) in 2010. Ten onduty firefighters died in association with wildland fires, the lowest number of annual firefighter deaths associated with wildland fires since 1996. Fifty-four percent of all firefighter fatalities occurred while performing emergency duties.
Four of the firefighters who died while responding to incidents in 2011 were killed by trauma caused by motor vehicle collisions, including three in privately-owned vehicles and one in a fire department apparatus.
Operational Templates and Guidance for EMS Mass Incident Deployment
Operational Templates and Guidance for EMS Mass Incident Deployment (PDF)
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), supported by the DHS Office of Health Affairs (OHA) and the National Emergency Medical Services Management Association (NEMSMA), announces the release of a new guide for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers: Operational Templates and Guidance for EMS Mass Care Incident Deployment (PDF, 1.5 Mb).
"This guide provides important information on preparing for events that can impact EMS preparedness and response in local departments," said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell. "The model policies and practices referenced in the guide will lead to a better prepared EMS deployment to mass care incidents."
The guide is intended to provide information to local-level EMS and fire departments on the development and enhancement of the organization and preparedness for mass care incidents, including natural and man-made disasters, large gathering and pandemic events, and other emergencies potentially resulting in large numbers of patients.
Improving the Public’s Awareness and Reporting of Suspicious Activity : Key Research Findings from Literature Review, Household Surveys, Focus Groups and Interviews
Improving the Public’s Awareness and Reporting of Suspicious Activity : Key Research Findings from Literature Review, Household Surveys, Focus Groups and Interviews (PDF)
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency (via International Association of Chiefs of Police)
The results of this research add new insights into the motivators and barriers of why individuals do or do not report suspicious activity, as well as the technology and resources that can be used to help encourage suspicious activity reporting. With this information, law enforcement and community partners can better develop and adapt strategies to improve community outreach and education efforts that enhance the public’s awareness and reporting of suspicious activity.
Based on data and insights from this research, IACP and FEMA created A Resource Guide to Improve Your Community’s Awareness and Reporting of Suspicious Activity: For Law Enforcement and Community Partners. The resource guide offers recommendations for local outreach campaigns, explains how to effectively develop and disseminate messages in order to help the public better understand their role in reporting suspicious activity, and helps law enforcement agencies and community partners to understand, navigate, and use the many resources available to help build and sustain local initiatives. A copy of the resource guide can be downloaded from www.theiacp.org or www.ready.gov/terrorism.
Community members have long been one of law enforcement’s best sources of information on what is out of place or suspicious in their communities. Through effective motivation and education, community members can become even more active partners with law enforcement, ultimately keeping our communities stronger and safer from the threats of terrorism.
U.S. Naturalizations: 2011
U.S. Naturalizations: 2011 (PDF)
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals after fulfilling the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). After naturalization, foreign-born citizens enjoy nearly all the same benefits, rights and responsibilities that the Constitution gives to native-born U.S. citizens, including the right to vote. This Office of Immigration Statistics Annual Flow Report presents information on the number and characteristics of foreign nationals aged 18 years and over who were naturalized during 2011.
Data were obtained from administrative records of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the Department of Homeland Security. These records consist of information from applications for naturalization.
In 2011, the total number of persons naturalizing was 694,193 (see Table 1 and Figure 1). The leading countries of birth of new citizens were Mexico (94,783), India (45,985), the Philippines (42,520), the People’s Republic of China (32,864), and Colombia (22,693). The largest numbe r of pe r sons natur a l i z ing l i ved in Ca l i for ni a (151,183), Florida (87,309), and New York (76,603).
DHS Northern Border Strategy
Northern Border Strategy (PDF)
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
From press release:
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the release of the DHS Northern Border Strategy (NBS). The NBS is the first unified DHS strategy to guide the Department’s policies and operations along the U.S.-Canada border – providing a framework for enhancing security and resiliency while expediting lawful travel and trade throughout the Northern border region.
…
The DHS NBS is the first Department-wide strategy to guide policy and operations at the Northern border. The NBS identifies three key goals for the Northern border:
- Deterring and preventing terrorism and smuggling, trafficking, and illegal immigration;
- Safeguarding and encouraging the efficient flow of lawful trade, travel, and immigration; and
- Ensuring community resiliency before, during, and after terrorist attacks and other disasters.
DHS’s strategy for the Northern border is built on the premise that security and lawful trade and travel are mutually reinforcing. Separating higher-risk traffic from lower-risk traffic, utilizing advance information, and inspecting people and goods bound for our shared borders at the earliest opportunity enables officials on both sides to expedite the processing of lawful travel and trade while preventing illegal crossings and activities, as well as diseases and dangerous goods from entering either country.
To accomplish these goals, DHS will leverage resources to improve information sharing and analysis within DHS, as well as with key partners. The Department will also enhance coordination of U.S.-Canada joint interdictions and investigations, deploy technologies to aid joint security efforts along the border, and continue to update infrastructure to facilitate travel and trade.
Refugees and Asylees: 2011
Refugees and Asylees: 2011 (PDF)
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
A total of 56,384 persons were admitted to the United States as refugees during 2011 (see Figure 1). The leading countries of nationality for refugees were Burma, Bhutan, and Iraq. During 2011, 24,988 individuals were granted asylum, including 13,484 who were granted asylum affirmatively by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and 11,504 who we re granted asylum defensively by the Department of Justice (see Figure 2). The leading countries of nationality for persons granted either affirmative or defensive asylum were China, Venezuela, and Ethiopia. In addition to these affirmative and defensive asylees, 9,550 individuals were approved for derivative asylum status while located abroad and were issued travel documents to enter the United States. The leading countries of nationality for the recipients of follow-to-join travel documents were China, Nepal, and Haiti.
USFA, Office of Health Affairs Release Funding Alternatives for Emergency Medical and Fire Services
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), supported by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Health Affairs (OHA), and in partnership with the International Fire Services Training Association (IFSTA), announce the revision and release of Funding Alternatives for Emergency Medical and Fire Services (PDF, 3.7 Mb). The latest edition provides the most up to date information regarding funding for local level Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and fire departments. The document includes sources of federal funding as well as other new and innovative funding sources not discussed in previous editions.“Adequate funding is one of the most challenging issues facing EMS and fire departments today,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell. “This document provides valuable information for local-level departments facing financial challenges.”A key part of the project initiative was an enhanced study of critical funding issues for both fire and non-fire service based EMS systems.
+ Full Document (PDF)
USFA, Federal Highway Administration Complete Study of Traffic Incident Management Systems
USFA, Federal Highway Administration Complete Study of Traffic Incident Management Systems
Source: U.S. Fire Administration and Federal Highway Administration
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration, working in partnership with the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) have, through a study of current traffic incident management practices and policies, updated the 2008 edition of the Traffic Incident Management Systems (TIMS) (PDF, 5 Mb) manual. The 2012 edition provides the most current technical information and training programs in traffic incident management for fire and emergency service providers in this area as well as guidance to local fire departments on compliance with the latest edition of the DOT Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
“Effective traffic incident management can enhance roadway safety for firefighters and other emergency responders of which too many have been killed on duty from being struck by vehicles,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Ernest Mitchell. “The USFA was pleased to work with the DOT Federal Highway Administration and IFSTA towards reducing this number.”
This project included research into effective roadway operations safety and management examining such technology and practices as:
- roadway safety vests and other personal protective equipment,
- effective distance of placement of roadway warning signs,
- correct amount and type of emergency vehicle warning lighting (e.g., intensity, color, etc.), and
- roadway operations safety training.
+ Full Document (PDF)
Deportation of Parents of U.S.-Born Citizens
Deportation of Parents of U.S.-Born Citizens: Fiscal Year 2011 Report to Congress — Second Semi-Annual Report (PDF)
Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS; via Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service)
The data provided in this report are based on a reporting period of January 1, 2011, through June 30, 2011.
During the reporting period, ICE sought orders of deportation, exclusion, or removal in the cases of 39,918 aliens who claimed to have at least 1 USC child. ICE removed 46,486 aliens who claimed at least 1 USC child.
USFA Releases Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Report
USFA Releases Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) Report
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) United States Fire Administration (USFA) issued a special report today examining the characteristics of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings. The report, Civilian Fire Fatalities in Residential Buildings (2008-2010) (PDF, 916 Kb), was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center and is based on 2008 to 2010 data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
According to the report:
- Ninety-two percent of all civilian fatalities in residential building fires involve thermal burns and smoke inhalation.
- The leading specific location where civilian fire fatalities occur in residential buildings is the bedroom (55 percent).
- Fifty percent of civilian fire fatalities in residential buildings occur between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. This period also accounts for 47 percent of fatal fires.
- Thirty-six percent of fire victims in residential buildings were trying to escape at the time of their deaths; an additional 35 percent were sleeping.
“Other unintentionally set, careless” actions and “smoking” (each accounting for 16 percent) are the leading causes of fatal residential building fires.
Approximately 44 percent of civilian fatalities in residential building fires are between the ages of 40 and 69. Thirteen percent of the fire fatalities in residential buildings were less than 10 years old.
+ Full Report (PDF)
CBP Issues Updated Bonded Warehouse Manual
CBP Issues Updated Bonded Warehouse Manual
Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announces today the release of the updated Bonded Warehouse Manual for Customs and Border Protection Officers and bonded Warehouse Proprietors. Bonded Warehouses provide storage facilities for imported cargo that is pending importation into or exportation from the United States. The Bonded Warehouse Manual was last updated in 1990.
The Bonded Warehouse Manual was developed by CBP to serve as a comprehensive guide to understanding bonded warehouse operations. The publication brings together many different references into one document including laws, regulations, other agency issuances, and rulings dealing with bonded warehouses.
The majority of the manual deals with bonded warehouse operations and procedures, however, information is included regarding centralized examination stations (CES) and container freight stations (CFS).
+ Full Document (PDF)
DHS — Media Monitoring Capability — Analyst’s Desktop Binder 2011
Media Monitoring Capability Desktop Reference Binder (DHS; redacted)
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (via Electronic Privacy Information Center)
The MMC has three primary missions:
- First – to continually update existing National Situation Summaries (NSS) and International Situation Summaries (ISS) with the most recent, relevant, and actionable open source media information
- Second – to constantly monitor all available open source information with the goal of expeditiously alerting the NOC Watch Team and other key Department personnel of emergent situations
- Third – to receive, process, and distribute media captured by DHS Situational Awareness Teams (DSAT) or other streaming media available to the NOC such as Northern Command’s (NORTHCOM) Full Motion Video (FMV) and via open sources
These three missions are accomplished by employing various tools, services, and procedures that are described in detail in this document.
DHS’ Role in Nominating Individuals for Inclusion on the Government Watchlist and Its Efforts to Support Watchlist Maintenance
The Department of Homeland Security has opportunities to interact with, observe, and gather information from individuals seeking to enter the United States. Such information could contribute to external U.S. government watchlisting efforts, which are used to inform the federal government’s interaction with U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. We reviewed these activities for seven department components to determine whether effective processes and standards exist; whether information the department collects and disseminates to federal partners is relevant, timely, and accurate; and which external federal departments and agencies receive component-generated information.Although the department is predominantly a consumer of watchlist information, all seven components contribute to nominating individuals and to enhancing and maintaining watchlist information. The department recently established a Watchlisting Cell to serve as the central coordination point for all department nomination and maintenance efforts.As the cell further refines its operational capabilities, it is necessary to develop guidance, provide advanced analysis, and ensure that departmental efforts do not contradict current component interactions with federal watchlisting entities. The Watchlisting Cell has demonstrated value and is streamlining processes in collaboration with department components. The department’s most significant contribution to the watchlisting community is the collection and analysis of encounter packages. This information is critical to enhancing existing watchlist database records; however, quality and legibility issues exist with how this information is currently collected. The Watchlisting Cell should ensure that its resources are sufficient to provide relevant, accurate, and timely information to internal and external watchlisting partners. We are making ten recommendations to improve the department’s contributions to the federal government’s watchlisting process.
Annual Report to Congress on States’ and Urban Areas’ Management of Homeland Security Grant Programs Fiscal Year 2011
Public Law 110-53, Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, requires the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, to audit individual states’ management of State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grants, and annually submit to Congress a report summarizing the results of those audits. This report responds to the annual reporting requirement and summarizes audits of seven states completed in fiscal year 2011. The seven states were: Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and California (Urban Areas Security Initiative only).The objectives of the state audits were to determine whether each state distributed and spent the grant funds (1) effectively and efficiently and (2) in compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations. We were also to address the extent to which grant funds enhanced the states’ ability to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. The audits included a review of approximately $1.7 billion in State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative grants awarded to the seven states during fiscal years 2006 through 2009.Generally, the states did an efficient and effective job of administering the grant requirements, distributing grant funds, and ensuring that all of the available funds were used. Most states used reasonable methodologies to assess threats, vulnerabilities, capabilities, and needs, and allocated funds accordingly. We identified five innovative systems that could be considered for use by other jurisdictions.We identified two major areas for improvement: strategic planning and oversight of grant activities. We also identified almost $7.5 million in questioned costs. We made 70 recommendations addressing these areas. In its corrective action plans, the Federal Emergency Management Agency concurred with 64 of the recommendations, and concurred with the intent of the remaining 6 recommendations.
Allegations of Misconduct and Illegal Discrimination and Retaliation in the Federal Air Marshal Service
Allegations of Misconduct and Illegal Discrimination and Retaliation in the Federal Air Marshal Service (PDF)Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General
In January 2010, CNN reported allegations of misconduct and illegal employment discrimination and retaliation in the Federal Air Marshal Service’s Orlando field office. The reports included descriptions of an agency rife with cronyism; age, gender, and racial discrimination; and unfair treatment in promotions, assignments, and discipline. Also included were photographs of a game board modeled after the television show “Jeopardy!” created and displayed by supervisors there, with categories containing derogatory nicknames referring to veterans, females, African Americans, Hispanics, and lesbians and gays. Senator Bill Nelson and Congressmen Edolphus Towns and Darrell Issa asked us to review the allegations in Orlando and throughout the agency as well as the circumstances surrounding the game board.
Although individual employees may have experienced discrimination or retaliation, our review does not support a finding of widespread discrimination and retaliation within the Federal Air Marshal Service. However, employees’ perceptions of discrimination and retaliation are extensive, and we heard too many negative and conflicting accounts of events to dismiss them. Many Federal Air Marshals and some supervisors think they have been discriminated against, fear retaliation, and believe there is much favoritism. There is a great deal of tension, mistrust, and dislike between non-supervisory and supervisory personnel in field offices around the country. We identified factors that contributed to strained relations and became the basis for the allegations. Limited transparency in management decisions is also at the center of fears of retaliation and perceptions that management is mistreating its workforce.
These issues pose a difficult challenge for the agency, but they do not appear to have compromised the service’s mission. Transportation Security Administration and Federal Air Marshal Service senior leadership are committed to addressing these issues and have implemented several proactive initiatives to address them. We are making several recommendations to help the agency mitigate these issues.
See also: Spotlight: Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (PDF)
Secretary Napolitano Highlights DHS’ Progress in 2011
Secretary Napolitano Highlights DHS’ Progress in 2011
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano on Monday toured operations and received briefings at DHS facilities in the National Capital Region. The Secretary toured Transportation Security Administration and Customs and Border Protection operations at Washington Dulles International Airport, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Cyber Crimes Center in Virginia, the Secret Service’s James J. Rowley Training Center in Beltsville, Md. and the FEMA IMAT and the Fairfax USAR team in Herndon, Va. – highlighting the major steps the Department has taken this year to enhance America’s capabilities to guard against terrorism; secure the nation’s borders; engage in smart enforcement of our immigration laws; safeguard and secure cyberspace; prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; and to mature and strengthen the homeland security enterprise.
CBP, ICE Release Report on 2011 Counterfeit Seizures
CBP, ICE Release Report on 2011 Counterfeit Seizures
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Theft of American intellectual property is a serious crime, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced today that their vigorous, ongoing efforts to protect America from the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods during fiscal year 2011 resulted in 24,792 seizures, a 24 percent increase over 2010.
Many fake goods seriously threaten the health and safety of American consumers and our national security. With this in mind, CBP and ICE continued to step up enforcement against these dangerous products resulting in a 44 percent increase in the number of seizures of health and safety products that could have harmed Americans. The value of these seizures soared to more than $60 million due to increases in pharmaceutical and perfume seizures.
Despite the significant increase in the number of seizures, the domestic value for seizures in fiscal year 2011 decreased by five percent to $178.9 million and the manufacturer’s suggested retail price declined slightly to $1.1 billion. This is primarily due to a shift toward using international mail, express courier and consolidated shipping services to import counterfeit and pirated goods.
“The growth of websites selling counterfeit goods directly to consumers is one reason why CBP and ICE have seen a significant increase in the number of seizures at mail and express courier facilities,” said Acting CBP Commissioner David V. Aguilar. “Although these websites may have low prices, what they do not tell consumers is that the true costs to our nation and consumers include lost jobs, stolen business profits, threats to our national security, and a serious risk of injury to consumers.”
+ Full Report (PDF)
USFA Releases 2010 Fire Estimate Summary Series
Source: U.S. Fire Administration
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) issued the 2010 Fire Estimate Summary Series today which presents basic information on the size and status of the fire problem in the United States as depicted through data collected in USFA’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS). The data summary series was developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center and is further evidence of FEMA’s commitment to sharing information with the American public, fire departments, and first responders around the country to help them keep their communities safe.
Major Management Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security
Major Management Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security (PDF)
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General
At its establishment in 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) faced the difficult task of building a cohesive, effective, and efficient Department from 22 disparate agencies while simultaneously performing the mission for which it was created. That mission, to secure the nation against the entire range of threats that we face, is itself an arduous assignment. The Department has made progress in coalescing into an effective organization, as well as addressing its key mission areas to secure our nation’s borders, increase our readiness and resiliency in the face of a terrorist threat or a natural disaster, and implement increased levels of security in our transportation systems and trade operations.
As in previous years, the Department’s major challenges lie in nine broad areas, which we address below:
- Acquisition Management
- Information Technology Management
- Emergency Management
- Grants Management
- Financial Management
- Infrastructure Protection
- Border Security
- Transportation Security
- Trade Operations and Security
