First responders in Miami-Dade County, Florida, are on the air with 700 MHz Band 14 LTE and are poised to take advantage of the benefits of next-generation wireless broadband technology, provided by Harris Corporation. The program, one of the first of its kind, demonstrates the potential for real-time access to databases and video for the 35 municipalities of Miami-Dade - putting integrated, mission-specific information into the hands of Miami-Dade County police officers who respond, on average, to roughly 12 million calls each month.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed that companies be required to report to EPA all new uses, including in domestic or imported products, of five groups of potentially harmful chemicals. This action is part of EPA's work to ensure chemical safety in order to protect Americans' health and the environment.
President Barack Obama has released his executive order on national defense resources preparedness. The United States must have an industrial and technological base capable of meeting national defense requirements and capable of contributing to the technological superiority of its national defense equipment in peacetime and in times of national emergency.
Avon Protection is reaching out to all law enforcement and emergency service departments, currently unable to purchase or upgrade safety critical respiratory protection for their dedicated teams, by offering an affordable means of bridging budget shortfalls. This initiative, Avon promises, will make the re-equipping a simple and highly cost-effective process while ensuring that vital public emergency services are not diminished or personnel safety standards jeopardized.
More than 60,000 emergency responders across 37 states have received training, provided by TRANSCAER® (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response), in the safe handling and distribution of anhydrous ammonia. The Anhydrous Ammonia Training Tour is the first nationwide, product-specific training module of its kind.
Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by imported food appeared to rise in 2009 and 2010, and nearly half of the outbreaks implicated foods imported from areas that previously had not been associated with outbreaks, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Officials said it is too early to determine if the recent numbers obtained pertaining to foodborne illness represent a trend; however, the CDC will continue to monitor for future outbreaks.
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and AmeriCorps Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) have announced an innovative partnership designed to continue to strengthen the nation's ability to respond to and recover from disasters while expanding career opportunities for young people.
"Private organizations across the country play a vital role in bolstering our disaster preparedness and response capabilities," said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. "I commend AT&T for achieving PS-Prep certification, and encourage other private sector partners to work with the PS-Prep program to further enhance the readiness and resiliency of our Nation."
The American Red Cross (ARC) and Dell have launched a new Digital Operations Center, believed to be the first social media-based operation devoted to humanitarian relief, demonstrating the growing importance of social media in emergency situations. The ARC also announced establishment of a Digital Volunteer program to help respond to questions from and provide information to the public during disasters.
"The need to securely share actionable, timely, and relevant classified information among state, local, tribal, and private sector partners in support of homeland security is critical as we work together to address evolving threats," said Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. "This directive strengthens this effort by instilling uniformity and consistency in the application of security standards when classified information is shared."
