Strengthening The Response to Terrorism
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), in conjunction with the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, recently convened the Third Annual Conference on Strengthening the Public Safety Response to Terrorism and Other Hazards outside Washington, DC.
The conference included a broad range of representation from the first-responder community. These individuals were selected, by invitation, from their respective national professional membership organizations, including the IAFC, American Public Works Association (APWA), International Association of Police Chiefs (IACP), National Association City and County Health Officials (NACCHO), and other emergency-responder organizations.
The topics covered included an understanding of the threat of terrorism, an overview of the national perspective, a review of the National Response Plan (NRP), an overview of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and a review of the Incident Command System (ICS). Attendees included representatives from all levels of government, from local to state and federal.
These topics were previously identified by interdisciplinary focus groups. All focus groups had federal observers, who took careful note on ways to improve intergovernmental relations, as well as all aspects of these first-responder management issues.
This conference represents the partnership, from an intergovernmental perspective, that exists among first-responders to emergencies, and the systems that back them up during times of a disaster. The conference promotes awareness of what resources and programs are available during the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Roger L. Kemp, PhD, a career city manager, attended the conference on behalf of the International City/County Management Association, Washington, DC. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].