Open Source Homeland

This is a huge step forward in making common, accepted communications tactics a central part of emergency communications.

Cell Phone Alerts Coming Soon — chicagotribune.com
There would be three different types of messages, according to the rules.

The first would be a national alert from the president, likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would involve “imminent threats,” which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or tornadoes or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts.

Nothing you can do when you’re shot from behind like this.

Fireman, gunman dead in Wendys shooting - Yahoo News
Vazquez had been promoted in January and was attending a course called “Strategy and Tactics” before taking his lunch break. Delai said the course teaches officers how to “manage large-scale incidents like we had today.”

 In These Times gets their back up over this, but I have zero issue with it. Sharing relevant information in common sense ways keeps us safer. Just because there is potential for abuse doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it.

FDNY Spies — In These Times
In New York City, the Department of Homeland Security is training New York City firefighters to assist in gathering intelligence information during routine inspections and emergencies.

In November, the Associated Press reported that in New York, Homeland Security was testing a program called the Fire Service Intelligence Enterprise FSIE to help identify “material or behavior that may indicate terrorist activities.”

Fact Sheet: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Announces 6.8 Percent Increase in Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Request

Snip:

Total funding of $2.2 billion will support FEMA’s state and local assistance programs, which prepares state and local governments to prevent or respond to threats or incidents of terrorism and other catastrophic events.

Would love to be at this:

DIY Survival: Projects for the Apocalypse: ETech 2008 — OReilly Conferences, 03/03/2008 - 03/06/2008, San Diego, CA

Whether it’s a red button, volcano, avian bird flu, meteor, cosmic superhighway or economic collapse, this lecture will give you the information you need to make things that will help you survive. Bre Pettis will present a broad array of projects both handmade and over-the-top that will be practical and humorous.