Preparedness

ASIS International Developing Business Continuity and General Risk Assessment Guidelines

ASIS International recently began development of two preparedness standards, one related to business continuity management and the other to general risk assessment. 
The Business Continuity Management standard will address preparedness, crisis management, business and operational continuity and disaster management. The General Security Risk Assessment standard will provide a basis for the analysis of organizational risk management strategies, addressing operational risk as opposed to financial risk.

For additional information on these standards, visit: http://www.asisonline.org

ASTM Issues New Work Item Related to First Responder Family Support

ASTM International recently filed a new work item, WK20535: Standard Guide for Responder Family Support Services. This guide will establish a standard approach for providing care and services to first responder families during an emergency or disaster. ASTM is currently identifying a chair and task group members for this effort.

For additional information on this standard’s development, visit: http://www.astm.org

Communications and Information Management

APCO Releases Guide Outlining Effective Practices for Wireless 9-1-1 Deployment and Management

On July 18, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International released APCO ANS 1.103.1-2008: Wireless 9-1-1 Deployment and Management Effective Practices Guide, a standard outlining effective practices for deploying and managing wireless 9-1-1. These Effective Practices (EPs) are designed to increase the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) managers’ understanding of the technology application and the ability to better manage wireless calls, as well as public and responder expectations. This guide provides background for each EP, outlines the recommended practice and provides resources to assist the PSAP manager.

For additional information on this standard, visit: http://www.apcointl.com/

IEEE Approves Standard for Mobile Broadband Wireless Access 

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) recently released IEEE  802.20: Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks - Standard Air Interface for Mobile Broadband Wireless Access Systems Supporting Vehicular Mobility - Physical and Media Access Control Layer Specification. The standard specifies interface requirements for mobile broadband wireless access systems. The standard can support wireless exchange of public safety data for vehicles within a metropolitan area. 

For additional information on this standard, visit: http://www.ieee.org

Resource Management

ASTM Releases Radiological Emergency Response Standard

ASTM International recently released ASTM E2601: Standard Practice for Radiological Emergency Response, a standard which addresses decision making considerations for radiological response. It provides information and guidance for what to include in response planning and what activities to conduct during a response. This standard is intended as a supplement to the United States (US) Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) and is targeted to emergency services departments having responsibility for radiological response. 

For additional information on this standard, visit: http://www.astm.org

Previous Edition

See the June 2008 NIMS Standards Quarterly Brief for news on the following: 
* ASTM International’s development of standards for school  preparedness and emergency operations center development
* Updates to NFPA 1221 Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems
* Publication of NFPA 1026: Standard for Incident Management Personnel Professional Qualifications
* Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) standards addressing the use of ICS for critical incident response

Update: NFPA 472: Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents and NFPA 473: Standard for Competencies for EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents have recently been adopted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate.

Update: Approval and publication of the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) Emergency Data Exchange Language (EDXL) standards for Resource Messaging (EDXL – RM) and Hospital AVailability Exchange (EDXL – HAVE) standards are expected by the end of 2008.

Spotlight on ASTM Standard Guide for Resource Management

ASTM International recently completed balloting on its proposed Standard Guide for Resource Management in Emergency Management and Homeland Security. This proposed standard provides guidance on standardized operating processes for managing resources during a major incident. The standard guide was created by ASTM’s Resource Management Standard Development Task Group (RMSDTG), an inter-agency group with representatives from all levels of government. 

The proposed standard integrates resource managements concepts and practices from various incident management publications and other standards including: the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the National Response Framework (NRF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1561 and 1600, NIMS, and the Emergency Management Standard by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). The guide contains introductory material explaining its scope and defines terminology. It is then divided into two sections, Resource Management Preparedness, which addresses activities that occur prior to an incident, and Operational Process Model, which addresses steps associated with resource management during and after an incident. The document provides guidance on identifying, ordering, mobilizing, tracking, and demobilizing resources. 

For additional information and to track the status of this proposed standard, visit: http://www.astm.org