Through the engagement of and partnership with first responders and the emergency preparedness and response community, S&T's First Responders Group (FRG) pursues a better understanding of the response community's needs and requirements, provides technical assistance, and develops innovations to the most pressing challenges faced during day-to-day and large-scale emergencies. These efforts, which help secure the nation through science and technology, are occurring at every stage of technology and solution development, and are involving first responders at the local, state, tribal and federal levels.

DHS S&T’s Prepaid Card Reader’s Upgrades Make it Faster and Cheaper
May 17, 2018 -- Since the original Electronic Recovery and Access to Data (ERAD) Prepaid Card Reader’s release in 2015, more than 900 agencies in 42 states, as well as in tribal and international communities, have successfully used the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) ERAD Prepaid Card Reader.

DHS, DOT Partner on Government Vehicle Telematics Cybersecurity Primer
May 15, 2018 -- When the managers of federal vehicle fleets were charged with implementing telematics systems for all their vehicles, S&T and the Department of Transportation’s Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) teamed up to create a cybersecurity implementation and operational primer for them.

Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems in Urban Environments
May 8, 2018 -- S&T has focused on developing and delivering counter-UAS (C-UAS) capability technical upgrades for DHS operating components with high priority needs.

For a complete listing of First Responder news articles, visit our S&T Responder News page.

Our Mission

Partnering with first responders at all levels, FRG identifies, validates, and facilitates the fulfillment of needs through the use of existing and emerging technologies, knowledge products, and standards. Prioritized areas of FRG focus and initiatives include:

• Making first responders safer
• Helping first responders share data and critical information
• Helping first responders communicate through interoperability
• Engaging, communicating and partnering with first responders

First Responder Publications

• Download the First Responders Group (FRG) Fact Sheet
• Download the First Responders Group - Prioritizing the Security and Well-Being of Americans Infographic
• Read First Responders Publications and First Responder Fact Sheets.
• Read the latest edition of The Siren, FRG's bi-monthly newsletter.

First Responder Communities of Practice (FRCoP)

First Responder Communities of Practice is a professional networking, collaboration and communication platform created by the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate to support improved collaboration and information sharing amongst the nation's First Responders and other Federal, State, Tribal, Territorial, and local governments and private sector stakeholders supporting homeland security efforts. This vetted community of members focuses on emergency preparedness, response, recovery and other homeland security issues.

With a FRCoP account, you can:

• Collaborate on wikis, blogs and discussion boards
• Find, share and store documents and best practices
• Create and search profiles
• Connect, chat, and email with other professionals

To request an account, complete the online form on communities.firstresponder.gov

Connect with FRG

Keep up with what FRG is doing in the community.