Douglas Bass, DirectorOffice of Emergency Management

Fairfax County, VA

Sharing Information At All Levels of Government Involved In Homeland Security

• Local-State-Federal Governmental Agencies (National Capital Region)

• Emergency Responders• Appointed & Elected Officials• Local Government Employees

and ESF Support Agencies• Emergency Partners• Business & Industry• Citizens & Community Groups• Media (Joint Information Cnt)

Current Methods of Sharing Information Between Governmental Agencies Throughout NCR

• NAWAS (Hardwired Conferencing System)

• RICCS (Wireless Notification System)

• SAT Phones (Satellite Based Radio & Telephone System)

• 800 MHz Emergency Radio System (For Fire & Law Enforcement)

• Computerized Databases • Commercial Telephones

(Landlines/Cell phones/Direct Connect)

Intra/Inter Governmental Communication Interoperability Issues

• Not All Governmental Agencies Have Connectivity

• Security Clearances & Security Barriers

• Affordability• Internet-INET• NVR Jurisdictional

Restrictions• Lack of Vision –Keeping

Pace With Technology Growth

Why Does It Work ???

• Renewed Emphasis on Emergency Management & Homeland Security

• Strong Commitment & Cooperation From All Levels of Government To “Make It Work”

• NCR Frame of References• Regional Joint Planning, Training &

Exercises• Utilization of Emergency

Operations Centers & NIMS• UASI Regional Grant Funding

Initiative • Expectations of Public & Elected

Officials• New Presidential Directive

Presidential Directive (EO 13356)

Fairfax County’s Interoperability Enhancements

• New Alternate EOC– Video Teleconferencing– EMNet to Media– Live Video Feed To TV 16– Redundant 800 MHz &

Computer Aid Dispatch System

– Redundant Telephone System (Land & Cell)

New EOC Information Management Software

Watch Center Staffed 24/7Wireless Alert & Notification

System (RICCS/EAN/CEAN)

Fairfax County’s Interoperability Future Enhancements

• New Public Safety Transportation Operations Center

• County Wide Area Fiber Network (INET)

• New Public Safety IT Architect Employed

• New Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)

• Link EOC Information Management Software

• Visits to EOCs in US and Canada

Lt Governor Kaine Tours Fairfax County Technology Center. & AEOC

New Regional IT Committees Lead NCR Interoperability Efforts

GOALS

• Provides a secure, private technology infrastructure required to facilitate interoperability for voice, data and video communication for emergency support functions across the region

• Interconnects EOCs, PSAPs, and government offices that participate in decision making, incident management and response

• Assures a standards and services based information exchange architecture - compliant with emerging Department of Homeland Security data exchange standards - that is used for any required systems and applications of ESFs used for on-line collaboration and regional coordinated response

Field Mobile Operations

Data & Applications

OfficesEOCs

Government Centers

Operational Centers

“Tracks”

“Tracks” “Tra

cks”

“Users”

“Trains”

“Users”

Core Elements Shared Services Standards Governance Outreach

ESF2 Future Enhancements to Regional Interoperability Communications

Infrastructure

Initiative Outcomes

• An ubiquitous standard, regional framework and protocol for how ESFs integrate operations and supporting systems, regardless of any participating entity’s specific system or application

• Interconnect EOCs and PSCCs and other office locations for private voice communication and sharing data between EOC and CAD systems

• Assures communications capability and capacity is secure and available

• Enables: CAD to CAD; integrated ‘EOC’/incident tracking; voice and video teleconferencing; extended enterprise and remote access; and full communications capability to responders at any incident scene

Field Mobile Operations

Data & Applications

OfficesEOCs

Government Centers

Operational Centers

“Tracks”

“Tracks” “Tra

cks”

“Users”

“Trains”

“Users”

Core Elements Shared Services Standards Governance Outreach

ESF2 Interoperability Communications InfrastructureESF2 Future Enhancements to Regional

Interoperability Communications Infrastructure

Enables

• CAD to CAD Interoperability

• integrated ‘EOC’/incident tracking

• voice and video teleconferencing

• extended enterprise and remote access

• full communications capability to responders at any incident scene

Field Mobile Operations

Data & Applications

OfficesEOCs

Government Centers

Operational Centers

“Tracks”

“Tracks” “Tra

cks”

“Users”

“Trains”

“Users”

Core Elements Shared Services Standards Governance OutreachESF2 Interoperability Communications Infrastructure

ESF2 Future Enhancements to Regional Interoperability Communications

Infrastructure

Advantages

• Baseline communications infrastructures to be interconnected

• Planning and design work substantially underway

• Competencies and experience already exist in several NRC jurisdictions in development of cross governmental boundaries data exchange

• Project endorsement and collaboration established with Emergency Managers & Public Safety responders

• Protects jurisdictions current investments and efficiencies in embedded applications

• Sustainable

Field Mobile Operations

Data & Applications

OfficesEOCs

Government Centers

Operational Centers

“Tracks”

“Tracks” “Tra

cks”

“Users”

“Trains”

“Users”

Core Elements Shared Services Standards Governance OutreachESF2 Interoperability Communications Infrastructure

ESF2 Future Enhancements to Regional Interoperability Communications

Infrastructure

Thanks For Your Attention