Our report on federal funding for first responders continues to generate discussion. America's First Responders and the Federal Budget: A Study of Rhetoric Versus Reality was featured on journalist David Corn's website.

We appreciate his mentioning of our report, but do need to clarify that we believe responsibility for funding shortfalls can be shared by both Democratic and Republican elected officials. Mr. Corn raises an interesting question about our federal priorities. What do you think? Are our current federal budget priorities corrrect?

The Department of Homeland Security's SAFECOM Program has released a step by step plan that local communities can use to achieve interoperability. The Statewide Communications Interoperability Planning (SCIP) plan is available here.

The plan is based on the strategic planning approach jointly developed and
tested by the Commonwealth of Virginia and OIC/SAFECOM to create the Virginia
statewide plan in 2004. It offers ten steps:

Establish Key Relationships and Funding
-Gather Information
-Create Project Plan and Roadmap
-Identify Roles and Responsibilities for the Project Team
-Recruit Focus Group Participants and Meeting Preparation
-Conduct Focus Group Interviews
-Analyze Data and Prepare for Strategic Planning Session
-Prepare and Conduct Strategic Planning Session
-Develop Statewide Communications Interoperability
-Strategic Plan
-Guidelines for the First 90 Days of Implementation

The key compenent is the detailed, step-by-step explanations for each
phase-including critical tasks, timelines, planning resources, sample documents, and
templates for communication materials. It also reflects best practices and lessons learned
to guide new planning committees. Let us know if you are planning to use this planning tool, we will post updates as we get them.

The 11th International Conference of Fire Service Women commences on Tuesday, March 29, and closes on Sunday, April 3. There is still time to register if you have the time and will be in the area of the Marriott Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

The event has a schedule that covers every topic imaginable from urban to wildland firefighting, from communications to management.
Women in the fire service will come together to a continue to accomplish the WFS's purposes which include creating networks and providing support for women in the evolving fire service workforce and advocating for constructive changes within the fire service by establishing coalitions with other fire service groups, providing a voice for women on national policy making-bodies, and providing assistance for individual women in dealing with institutional barriers.

This event coincides with the Fire Recruit Expo 2005 which is scheduled for the same conference center on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

We hope you can make plans to attend these events.

Everyone knows that you would never run into a burning building or put yourself in harm's way without a good backup team. After 9-11 we remember all the promises made by the politicians about getting the funding we need for new equipment, solving interoperability, and homeland security. Well we decided to take a look at how the reality of increased funding matches up with the rhetoric, and see if our elected officials are backing up first responders who are on the front lines.

We are pleased to report that today we are releasing a new study of Federal funding for first responders. The report, America's First Responders and the Federal Budget: A study of Rhetoric versus Reality details an alarming and growing $100 billion gap in federal support of first responders.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11^th, the United States government and people from all sectors of society praised the dedication and sacrifice of the nation's first responders. With these accolades came a promise of increased funding, better equipment, and expanded training to better prepare first responders for potential future disasters and improve America's first line of defense. Policymakers from both parties stated emphatically that first responders would get whatever they needed, that no cost was too great. However as the report makes clear, the complicated federal budget process and a surprising lack of commitment by elected officials have resulted in this less-than-adequate funding and a continuation of obstacles that hinder first responders. In our review of current federal funding for first responders, the overall trend of federal support was declining not increasing.

This alarming situation must be corrected, and we need your help. In Washington it is often the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, so it's time for us to make some noise. Please send a letter today to your federal officials to let them know that First Responders need to come first.

Gene Stilp
Volunteer Firefighter
First Response Coalition

The ComCare Alliance, http://www.comcare.org/, is hosting the launch of the National Emergency Alerting and Response Systems initiative and you can be part of it. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday March 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Hall of the States, 444 North Capitol Street, Washington, D.C. You can rsvp Melonie Wilson at mwilson@comcare.org

Their release says it all: "There are more than 100,000 independent US emergency agencies. Today, the vast majority cannot share emergency data messages, much less other forms of data. The National Emergency Alerting and Response Systems (NEARS) initiative is an effort supported by a growing coalition of emergency response organizations. Together they plan to demonstrate and deploy interoperable emergency data messaging, using national emergency message and data standards, commercial information technologies, and a shared, electronic directory of agencies such as the Emergency Provider Access Directory (EPAD). This directory gives agencies the ability to distribute emergency messages based on geography, incident or agency type, for all types of emergency events.

NEARS is a three-track initiative that demonstrates this emergency messaging concept, develops a production version of the EPAD with its simple messaging component, gives partners the resources to populate the directory, and deploys this new enabling tool in several regions prior to national deployment. When complete, NEARS has the potential to cut costs for emergency response agencies, improve the efficiency of emergency operations and facilitate information sharing - allowing agencies to save time and lives within the communities they serve."

If you can't attend, email them and see how you can join.

The number of people that have seen the television commercial for the government preparedness program, Ready America, is surprising. A friend asked me what I thought about the commercial and that lead me to the Ready America web site at http://www.ready.gov/.

Most of the basics for a fast education on preparedness are laid out on the web page. The list of partners who are helping get the word out are: The American Red Cross, the Association of Directory Publishers, the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association. The Outdoor Advertising Association of America, the U.S. Postal Service, the Yellow Pages Integrated Media Association, Metro Networks, the Salvation Army, the Boy Scouts and Minor League Baseball.

I was surprised not to see any of the national first responder organizations on the list. I am probably overlooking something.

I know that first responders have much more training compared to the average citizen. That is why it may be good for first responders not only to help publicize the Ready America effort but also to provide preparedness training in their individual communities.

And while we are on the subject of getting ready, we must also remember that communication is a key element. Communication is often the first thing that the general public looses when a disaster strikes. Information eases the chaos that often ensues. Www.Ready.com, which is not a government address, has a section on radio gear that lists hand cranked radios and solar charged radios. These can help the public monitor the broadcasts that allow the victims of a disaster make the right choices.

It might also make good sense for your organization to have one or two of these radio items on hand.

"Transferring Knowledge to Transform Organizations" is how the Washington, D.C. based Performance Institute describes their mission. They also say that they specialize in: focusing on outcomes, identifying breakthrough strategies, evaluating program effectiveness, aligning resources to results, facilitating stakeholder dialogues, managing organizational change and enhancing employee performance.

O.K. But what do they do for the rest of the day?

Seriously. Their mission touches directly on first responder issues and that is why they sponsor some very interesting summits.

From April 6to 8 in Arlington, VA they are sponsoring the Law Enforcement Grant Summit http://www.performanceweb.org/CENTERS/Law_Enforcement/Events/L166/L166.htm. They are working with folks from the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Missouri based Hawthorne Institute to cover every aspect of the law enforcement grant process.

One other summit of the many management type summits they offer is the upcoming Emergency Communications Summit 2005. http://www.performanceweb.org/CENTERS/Law_Enforcement/Events/L149/L149.htm

It also will be in Arlington, VA from June 13 to 15. NIMS standards, spectrum issues, equipment compatibility and P-25 workshops will be offered along with presentations on CapWIN and the Virginia communications system.

I have not attended one of their workshops yet. If you have, it is easy to share your experience. Just click on the comment link below and comment. Thanks

Wheteher you are a police, fire or emergency medical first responder you should be aware of the recent letter and release that came out of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer's office on March 8th.

The release said, "Today Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent a letter to Secretary Michael Chertoff opposing the Department of Homeland Security's plan to remove hazardous materials placards from freight rail cars and urged DHS to work more closely with local governments to ensure first responder teams have all they need in the event of a derailment or terrorist attack. Exterior hazardous material (HAZMAT) placards inform first responders of the contents of freight train cars and are essential to inform critical decisions on community evacuation and treatment for victims."

That is right, no hazmat placards on rails cars.

I know you can go and get the shipping documents from the folks on the train but what would you rather have? The rail car number, commodity reference or special permit number always seemed to be handy to spot with your binoculars.

I know that DHS is approaching this from a security point of view, but it would good to give your Congressperson your thoughts on this. After all you are the one on the street.

Communications between first responders and all the public safety agencies is very crucial in the nation's capitol area. Not only is there the District of Columbia but the surrounding counties in the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia. They must all work together.

When major events occur the communications have to happen rapidly and seamlessly. The recent presidential inauguration was an event that required enormous planning and coordination. Everything went smoothly.

So how did the public safety agencies accomplish this massive communications task?

The Capitol Wireless Integrated Network (CapWIN) is the answer. Sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Domestic Preparedness and Project SAFECOM, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the Maryland State Highway Administration, CapWIN accomplished the mission.

Every public safety agency under the sun was involved: D.C. Fire and EMS, the United States Park Police, the United States Capitol Police, Prince George's County Fire and EMS, the Maryland State Police, the F.B.I., Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, the Maryland State Highway Administration, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and many more.

CapWIN's objective continues to be "to provide the best integrated interoperable mobile data platform for transportation and public safety agencies in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia."

Do yourself a favor and visit their web site http://www.capwin.org/. You can let other responders know your views on this or any topic by using the comment link below

Interaction between first responder units whether volunteer or paid sometimes involves competition. Getting to a call ahead of the first due brings its share of comments and criticism. I am always amazed at the various topics that folks use for comparison between their department and the next.

When good natured ribbing turns into trash talking is when tempers heat up and long term relations between departments and individuals can be damaged.

A while ago a personal pledge was written by Christine Richie-Myers of the Oakland, California Fire Department. It was adopted by Women in the Fire Service, Inc. in 1989.

I am posting it here in its entirety and suggesting that it apply to all first responders.

"I pledge to respect my fellow firefighters, female and male, regardless of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or creed. I recognize that I have a responsibility to my fellow firefighters as comrades and as human beings. I promise from this day forth to try to understand them and accept them, regardless of the differences that exist between us. I promise never to defame or make a derogatory remark about another member of the fire service, or to be party to such practices, and I will stop them from occurring whenever possible. We recognize that there is strength in our unity and that while our differences make us unique, we do share the common goal of being the best we can in our chosen career."

Things take time and it is good to study a situation as much as possible before committing significant time and funding to implement an entire program.

This is the approach that is being taken under certain sections of the National Intelligence Reform Act passed late last year which implements certain recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

Section 7404 of the law sets up a "Pilot Study To Move Warning Systems Into The Modern Digital Age." The funds for the pilot study are aimed at setting up a warning system that would be similar to the AMBER Alert communications system now in operation.

The warning system would allow the Secretary of Homeland Secretary to issue public warnings throughout the system when terrorist activity threatens a region or is threatening national harm. I image highway electronic signs, just like the regional alerts that one would see when a kidnapping occurs, would be one of the ways an alert would be conveyed. Our readers probably have a thousand and one suggestions on how to move our warning systems into the digital age. You are welcome to make you suggestions or comments by clicking the comment link below.

The findings are due to be reported to Congress this year. The implementation of the recommendations will take another block of time.

These are crucial months for high school students across the country. The last three months of the school year determine which way a lot of kids' futures go. If they are seniors and have a good final quarter of the school year it could mean college or a good technical school or a good basic job when they graduate.

This does not apply to all first responder organizations. Obviously, police departments do not have junior members that go to the local high school.

However, volunteer fire companies and volunteer ambulance companies depend on the raw recruits that come in from the local high schools. They may have joined because a family member was or is currently in the company. They may join because a friend is a member. Who knows? But these youngsters are the future of all departments. They will grow in knowledge and skill if properly trained.

But all that training has to be based on a good high school education that touches the basics. Reading, writing, science, math, computer, technical classes, etc., are all a very necessary foundation for the lessons and skills to be learned in the fire service and emergency medical service.

This is the time for the officers and administration in the fire house and ambulance station to take a long hard look at the junior members and to see who is doing well at school and who is having a few problems.

Identify the subjects that are giving the young person the problems. Work with the school and parents to find a tutor or mentor for the problem subjects. You may have a good tutor right there at the station, someone who already has a good rapport with the student.

You have twelve weeks to pull the youngster to a passing grade or increase the final grade to a higher level.

Education is just one area. Young folks often have emotional concerns and social concerns during these years. Keep an eye open for any help you can give or any wise advice.

What am I saying? What teenager is going to listen to advice from an adult? Well you never know. A few words here or a question of concern or encouragement there may be just what the youngster needed.

Our effort to "Fix the Radios" is aimed at helping first responders communicate during times of emergency. The smarter the personnel are on those radios the better for the victims and other first responders. Getting your juniors to apply themselves in high school is crucial for the future functioning of your department. Even more important, you may have helped them with their own futures.