NFPA 1600 and Emergency Communications

1. NFPA 1600 and Emergency Communications Presented by David Thompson, TIA December 14, 2005

2. Background on NFPA 1600 • NFPA 1600 - Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs • NFPA 1600 is an approved American National Standard developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and is endorsed by: • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) • National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) • International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) • ANSI-HSSP workshop endorsed the standard and recommended it to the 9/11 Commission (included in their final report) • Recommended to the 9/11 Commission by DHS Secretary Tom Ridge in his Testimony of May 19, 2004 • Recognized in US National Intelligence Reform Bill

3. Background on NFPA 1600 • Recommended by the 9-11 Commission in their final report to the President and the Congress: From the text of the Commission’s report (page 398): • Recommendation: We endorse the American National Standards Institute’s recommended standard for private preparedness … We believe that compliance with the standard should define the standard of care owed by a company to its employees and the public for legal purposes. Private-sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business in the post-9/11 world. It is ignored at a tremendous potential cost in lives, money, and national security • Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004– Section 7305 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS ON PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS- It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Homeland Security should promote, where appropriate, the adoption of voluntary national preparedness standards such as the private sector preparedness standard developed by the American National Standards Institute and based on the National Fire Protection Association 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs. • Beginning with the 2000 Edition of NFPA 1600, it has been used in the Public Sector, as the Base Standard for the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). Recognized in US National Intelligence Reform Bill

4. What is NFPA 1600? • It’s not a “how-to” guide • Does not prescribe a development process • Specifies the necessary elements and management of a program for effective emergency management and business continuity • Criteria addresses programs to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies. • Mandatory requirements are spelled out in only 3 pages

5. Summary of NFPA 1600 • NFPA 1600 is considered an excellent benchmark for planners in both the public and private sectors • Presents a common set of criteria that entities, regardless of size or sector, can use to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters • Provides numerous methodologies for defining and identifying risk and vulnerabilities within a community or business/service organization, as well as through planning guidelines

6. Contents of NFPA 1600 • Specific subject matter addressed includes areas such as: • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment • Resource Management • Planning • Direction, Control and Coordination • Communications and Warning • Logistics and Facilities • Training • Exercises, Evaluations & Corrective Actions • Finance and Administration

7. Chapter 5 “Program Elements” • 5.9 Communications and Warning • 5.9.1 Communications systems and procedures shall be established and regularly tested to support the program. • 5.9.2 The entity shall develop and maintain a reliable capability to notify officials and alert emergency response personnel. • 5.9.3 Emergency communications and warning protocols, processes, and procedures shall be developed, periodically tested, and used to alert people potentially impacted by an actual or impending emergency. • 5.9.4 The program shall address communications including, but not limited to, the following: • (1) Communication needs and capabilities to execute all components of the response and recovery plans • (2) The inter-operability of multiple responding organizations and personnel

8. Future Directions on NFPA 1600 • 2005-2007 Synopsis of Activity: • There was meeting this June to discuss public proposals that were submitted • That meeting produced a revised draft document and the revisions will be available, starting on December 23rd for public comment • The public comment period runs from December 23, 2005 to March 3, 2006 • The committee meets again in Vancouver, B.C., from March 21-23rd to address the public comments and to finalize a draft document • After that it will be submitted to the NFPA membership for approval at the annual convention and if approved, is scheduled for publication in April of 2007 • Next revision cycle is 2006 (3 year cycle); Published April, 2007 • ISO TC 223 Technical Advisory Group (utilize 1600 as basis) • Spanish translation (2000 edition); French translation proposed – working with Canadian Standards Association

9. Future Directions on NFPA 1600 • To Download a Free copy of NFPA 1600 (PDF Acrobat Reader file) • Please go to www.nfpa.org and NFPA’s Homeland Security Page • To check on the status of NFPA 1600, as it goes through the latest revision cycle, please go to www.nasttpo.org and follow the link entitled NFPA 1600 • http://www.nasttpo.org/NFPA1600.htm