Team Awareness Kit: Tactical Situational Awareness Solution

The Reference Guide was originally developed in response to the requirement of H.R. 5441 (PL 109-295), Section 689: Individuals with Disabilities, to develop disability related guidelines for use by those who serve individuals with disabilities in emergency preparedness and disaster relief. This Guide is not intended to satisfy all of the guidance requirements contained in Section 689. Additional guidelines to accommodate individuals with disabilities will be issued in the future.

The United States Departments of Justice (DOJ), Homeland Security (DHS), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Transportation (DOT) are issuing this guidance to assist recipients of federal financial assistance engaged in emergency management (e.g., state and local emergency management agencies, law enforcement, healthcare service providers, housing and transit authorities) to ensure that individuals and communities affected by disasters do not face unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency) in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI).

The Department of Homeland Security is finalizing guidance to recipients of Federal financial assistance regarding Title VI’s prohibition against national origin discrimination affecting persons with limited English proficient persons. This guidance is issued pursuant to Executive Order 13166 and is consistent with government-wide guidance previously issued by the Department of Justice.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the following statement on safety and enforcement during Tropical Depression Imelda:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are concerned about the flooding caused by Tropical Depression Imelda to southeast Texas. Our highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety. In consideration of these circumstances, there will be no immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering related to the storm, except in the event of a serious public safety threat.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are concerned about the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian to portions of the East Coast.  Our highest priority remains the preservation of life and safety. In consideration of these circumstances, there will be no immigration enforcement initiatives associated with evacuations or sheltering related to the storm, except in the event of a serious public safety threat.

S&T—in collaboration with FEMA, USFA, and other key stakeholder experts—determined WUI incidents and life-saving functions as the optimal areas for S&T to explore technology innovation.

When disasters and flu outbreaks strike communities, hospitals; emergency responders; and other city, state, and federal response agencies need to know what resources are available to accommodate a potentially large influx of injured or ill patients. Until now, emergency planners have lacked reliable tools to help them manage their resources for specific disasters or disease outbreaks.

Marcello is a customizable, Web-based tool that integrates oceanic and atmospheric forecasting, plume modeling, and real-time information updates that can help decision-makers and emergency responders prepare for, respond to, and recover from events. The tool overlays multiple datasets, model outputs, and information sources in a single, user-friendly interface.

Researchers from the Center for Visual and Data Analytics (CVADA), a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Center of Excellence, have worked with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to develop the Coastal Operations Analysis Suite of Tools (COAST) that meets a broad set of USCG mission requirements. This suite of tools includes visualization, simulation, math modeling, and optimization techniques.