Reporting Developments of Interest to Stakeholders in
Disaster Management Interoperability Services

CONTENTS:

  1. Update on DMIS
  2. Disaster Management Interoperability Services (DMIS) Outreach
  3. COG Manager's Corner
  4. Of Special Interest - Notes on the SIG
  5. DisasterHelp.gov Enhancements
  6. Upcoming Events
  7. Upcoming EIIP Virtual Forum
  8. About the Disaster Management E-gov Initiative
  9. About the Interoperations Newsletter

Updated Purpose Statement re: DMIS Interoperability Backbone

The DMIS Interoperability Backbone provides interoperability interfaces for sharing of alerts, situation reports, common operational picture snapshots, and other emergency related information. These interfaces provide interface structures and rules of operation designed to enable information sharing between diverse systems, both commercial and governmental. In general, these interfaces conform to open messaging standards as defined through the Emergency Management Technical Committee sponsored by the OASIS standards organization and through the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM). There is no charge for the use of the interfaces. They are Federal Government infrastructure provided by the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology directorate, Office or Interoperability and Compatibility, Disaster Management Program. The particular interface set will grow and evolve over time as standards are developed and agreed upon by industry representatives on the Technical Committee. The platform connects using a directed distribution (sending node specifically chooses receiving node) paradigm to vetted network nodes which represent responder organizations specifically vetted through the DHS Disaster Management Program. These nodes may be represented by a variety of commercial and government software. These nodes may also represent other networks which may use alternative distribution methods (e. g., rule-based, geography based, publish-subscribe, or their own form of directed distribution) for re-distributing information.

There are two prerequisites that must be met for a network-to-network connection before it is made operational:

• The node must be sponsored (for accountability purposes) by a vetted responder organization.
• The type of redistribution paradigm must be identified so that other users of the platform are aware of the redistribution method that may apply to their information should they choose to direct their information to a network connection node for redistribution purposes.

The goal is to provide for the widest possible sharing capability for unclassified (also sensitive but unclassified) emergency management information, including network-to-network dissemination, within a vetted environment. As part of that goal, a major objective is to lower the barrier to entry to employing broadly-used technology (XML) and interoperability standards for commercial applications of all kinds.

Commercial systems representatives or responder organization customers of commercial systems can inquire about the status and capabilities of the Backbone from the DMIS External Systems Interoperability Coordinator, Gary A. Ham, Senior Research Scientist, Battelle Memorial Institute, 540-288-5611 (office), 703-869-6241 (cell), email hamg@BATTELLE.ORG .

“We Must Share Information”

“Connectivity with other agencies is a necessity – we must be able to share information,” says Captain Allan Turner, Colorado State Patrol. As Commander of Troop 8-C, Hazardous Materials Transport Safety & Response, Captain Turner and his officers have Designated Emergency Response Authority (DERA) for federal, state, and county roads, outside of a municipal city limits in the State of Colorado. The 24 State Troopers that make up 12 two-person teams are troopers first and hazardous materials technicians second. Enforcement is the key to this successful program and commercial vehicle inspections are part of the daily work accomplished by this law enforcement group. According to Captain Turner, their mission includes response to incidents involving hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction, anthrax / bio-hazard threats, suspicious packages, etc.

Turner is a long-time proponent of technology and has used various software solutions related to incident reporting and information sharing over the years. He turned to DMIS some time ago and is now using it as a means of reporting hazardous materials incidents via the DMIS National Incident Summary Map (NISM). By logging and archiving all incidents, the tool allows respective State agencies access to this information so they can check it out at their convenience. Turner is working with the Colorado Department of Transportation, Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), the National Guard Civil Support Team, and others that need to know about his department’s mission-specific incidents. For example, he recently set up DMIS access for the CDPHE Hazardous Materials and Waste Management Division (HMWMD) as he encourages daily utilization of DMIS among a number of agencies to share information across the State. His vision is to be better prepared for those times when major disasters and emergencies make connectivity so vital to everyone. He is also working closely with DMIS staff by inputting suggestions for making the DMIS toolset more useful to him and others.

(Captain Allan Turner can be contacted by telephone at 303.239.4552, or by e-mail at allan.turner@cdps.state.co.us. Please note that Captain Turner will be sharing his DMIS experience in the February 1 DMIS SIG Special Event, “Use It or Lose It.”)

Outreach Activities

• DM assisted DHS at its facilities at Mt Weather, the National Response Coordination Center and the Homeland Security Operations Center with installation of DMIS 2.2 and CAP message transactions in compliance with OMB requirements.
• Staff continued planning to upgrade the DMI-Services Web site and interactive training.
• DM provided MS Live Meeting training session for emergency managers and worked with NOAA in preparation for NOAA HazCollect Operational Acceptance Test (OAT).
• DM worked with Department of the Interior (DOI) and others to map strategy and provide support training and utilization of DMIS among Native American Tribes.
• Staff worked with Cerro Gordo County, Iowa to prepare to implement the DMIS CERT Pilot Program.
• DM registered a new DHS-FEMA NIMS Integration Center regional testing facility at Eastern Kentucky University as a new DMIS COG.

3. COG Manager's Corner

The DMIS Collaborative Operations Group (COG) Management Team continues to process new registration requests from First Responders and Emergency Managers at a steady rate of 3 per day (online DMIS COG registration is at http://www.dmi-services.org/register_how.htm ). We are working very hard to improve the efficiency of the COG registration process, and have thus been able to dedicate more time to working hands-on with new DMIS group administrators. These efforts, combined with those of the new and very successful DMIS Special Interest Group (SIG), seem to be having a very positive effect. We saw a dramatic up-tick in the DMIS usage rate in December 2005. As presented in other sections of the Interoperations, the SIG had a very successful and beneficial MS Live Meeting presentation on January 4, 2006. During that event, the SIG Steering Committee conducted a poll, asking participants whether they would be interested in a monthly national DMIS testing day. The idea would be to set a day and time (same day & time every month) when all DMIS users would be invited to participate in a BRIEF test of the alert function of DMIS. Very basic, very easy, very short time commitment, but very critical to let users practice the functionality, identify any bugs/issues and solve them. If you are not a member of the DMIS SIG and wish to subscribe to the Listserv, please send an email to asebring@emforum.org requesting subscription to the DMIS SIG listserv. You will receive an email confirmation of your membership.

If you have any questions related to the status of a DMIS registration request or information on other registered DMIS COGs in your area, please call or email Dick Shelton at 540-288-5625. If you can’t reach Dick or have questions related to DMIS COG development and DMIS Tools use, please call or email Rick Hauschildt, DMIS COG Manager, at (540) 288-5671.

REMINDER: Updated DMIS v2.2 training materials are available in the Training Section of the DMI-Services Website http://www.dmi-services.org/training_v2.html

A DMIS Special Interest Group (SIG) Special Event was conducted on Wednesday, January 4, 2006, 12:00 Noon EST. The topic was Achieving Data Interoperability with Emergency Data eXchange Language (EDXL) Messaging Standards with Chip Hines, Program Manager, Disaster Management eGov Initiative, DHS. As explained by our speaker, EDXL is an umbrella set of standards that is focused on the exchange of specific inter-professional, inter-agency emergency messages used to accomplish mission tasks. Current efforts include standards for distributing files, requesting resources, and reporting hospital status. Future efforts may include GIS messaging and situation reporting standards. As these standards are officially adopted, they may be incorporated into DMIS and any commercial software products to enhance data interoperability. When developed, standards are submitted to the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) international standards organization for incorporation into their process. These standards are also coordinated with the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) to ensure that standards produced are sponsored at the federal level as well. (See slides from the 1/04/06 DMIS SIG presentation at http://www.emforum.org/DMIS/DMIS-SIG/Presentations/060104EDXL.ppt .)

DMIS SIG Special Events are regularly scheduled monthly programs for DMIS users and anyone interested in the functionality of DMIS and related topics. Please make plans to join us on Wednesday, February 1, 2006, 12:00 Noon Eastern for Use It or Lose It featuring “real-world” DMIS users sharing their experiences in the daily use of DMIS.

The DMIS SIG Steering Committee meets January 18, 2006, 12:00 Noon Eastern with Maryanne Anthony, Chair of the Committee, for their first official meeting. Please feel free to attend this meeting – watch for further instructions for participating as the meeting date approaches. If interested in serving on the committee, or for further information, contact Maryanne at 410-294-0844 or Maryanne@integritybasedsolutions.com .

To receive announcements of future DMIS SIG events and activities plus share information with other DMIS users, please subscribe to the DMIS listserv. Send an email to asebring@emforum.org requesting subscription to the DMIS SIG listserv.

To prepare for monthly DMIS SIG meetings using MS Live Meeting and the teleconference bridge, review the Connection Instructions and Participant Guidelines in advance for complete instructions:
http://www.emforum.org/dmis/dmis-sig/meetings/LiveMtgInstruct.doc

5. DisasterHelp.gov Enhancements

If you are a first responder or otherwise involved in disaster management, please check out the DisasterHelp.Gov portal. If you are not a registered user, please learn more about this online resource by going to https://disasterhelp.gov/portal/jhtml/index.jhtml .

What’s New at DisasterHelp.gov?

The Disaster Management e-Gov Initiative (DM) provided the following updates, support and / or outreach related to the growth and use of DisasterHelp.Gov:

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS): The IRS now has a Community Page on DisasterHelp with information about relief provisions designed to assist those in disaster areas.
• FEMA: New publications in the Multi-Hazard Risk Management Series.
  (1) FEMA 430 – Primer for Incorporating Building Security Components in Architectural Design;
  (2) FEMA 453 – Multihazard Shelter (Safe Havens) Design
  (3) FEMA 455 – Rapid Visual Screening for Building Security
  (4) FEMA 459 – Incremental Rehabilitation to Improve Security in Buildings
• CDC: Updated information for emergency preparedness and response to ricin.
• California Wildfires Recovery: Information from the interagency team working on the recovery effort from the California Wildfires.
• Office of Personnel Management (OPM): Emergency Preparedness Guides for Federal Employees, their Families, and Federal Managers and Supervisors
• DMIS Special Interest Group (SIG): Latest DMIS SIG Special Event on the EXML Standard and Live Meeting instructions is featured in the DMIS Responder Forum page.
• Addressed user feedback.
• Ongoing verification of newly registered users and DisasterHelp.gov user accounts.
  

February 11-15, 2006: National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) 2006 Mid-Year Conference. Alexandria, Virginia. See http://www.nemaweb.org/?1508 .

February 19-23, 2006: Firehouse World Conference and Exposition. San Diego, California. The program will address educational needs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. See http://firehouseworld.com/.

March 31-April 4, 2006: American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) 2006 - The Sky’s the Limit: Idealism and Innovation in Public Service. Denver, Colorado. For further information, see http://www.aspanet.org/scriptcontent/index_aspaconference.cfm .

7. Upcoming EIIP Virtual Forum

Welcome to the EIIP!

The EIIP Virtual Forum provides 'live chat' presentations and interactive Q&A with subject matter experts on timely topics on two Wednesdays each month, 12:00 Noon Eastern.

January 25, 2006: The EIIP Virtual Forum features Elizabeth A. Davis, EAD & Associates, LLC - Emergency Management & Special Needs Consultants, in a discussion about the latest developments and issues regarding Special Needs Populations. To read the transcript of Lloyd Bokman’s January 11 presentation on the latest update to NFPA 1600 Technical Committee on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, please see the EIIP Virtual Forum Web site http://www.emforum.org .

About the EIIP: The EIIP is an educational non-profit association of individuals and organizations seeking to enhance their effectiveness in coping with disasters and emergency situations by exploring the opportunity for sharing information and ideas made possible by electronic technology. The EIIP also shares its vision and educational opportunities through the EIIP Community on the DisasterHelp.gov Web site http://www.disasterhelp.gov .

8. About the Disaster Mangement E-gov Initiative (DisasterHelp.gov and DMIS)

The Disaster Management E-Gov Initiative is part of the President's Management Agenda for making government more focused on people and results. Its goal is to provide an easy-to-use, unified point of access to disaster management knowledge, services and toolsets to achieve an accelerated and improved quality of disaster mitigation and response. There are two major parts of the initiative: Disaster Management Interoperability Services (DMIS) and the DisasterHelp.Gov portal. DMIS is focused on the responder/emergency management profession, while the portal provides information and services to citizens, business, federal, state, and local government and non-profit organizations relating to disaster and emergency response.

9. About the Interoperations Newsletter

The Interoperations Newsletter reports on the developments of interest for the disaster management community. Reader comments, questions, and notifications to cancel this newsletter can be forwarded directly to the Editor, Avagene Moore at (931) 762-4768, or the Responder Liaison, Scott Eyestone, at (540) 288-5622; or provided via the DMI-Services Web site at http://www.cmi-services.org/. Your feedback is welcome and appreciated.