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.

First Responder News and Announcements

News Release: DHS S&T Invites First Responder Industry to Stakeholder Summit
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2018 -- Technology innovators are invited to an industry Stakeholder Summit, August 9 in Washington, DC, to learn about the highest priority needs of more than 7.5 million first responders in the global market.

DHS S&T to Highlight Global First Responder Tech Needs at Stakeholder Summit
July 31, 2018 -- First responders around the globe share a common mission to ensure the safety and security of the people they serve and protect. With ever evolving and emerging threats comes the need for responders to share best practices and find equipment and technologies to respond safely and efficiently.

Snapshot: Intergovernmental Cooperation Helps Enhance Communication, Maritime Domain Awareness
July 31, 2018 -- Sometimes, being out of touch with the rest of the world can be a relaxing change – like when you are on a much anticipated vacation. But for law enforcement officers coordinating and participating in a dangerous operations across air, land, and sea to stop drug trafficking, patchy cellphone services can prevent agents from completing their missions and put them in harm’s way even more!

Snapshot: Bomb Disarming with High- and Low-Tech Solutions
July 24, 2018 -- To ensure bomb techs are on the cutting edge of technology as they address evolving threats, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) created the Response and Defeat Operations Support (REDOPS) program. REDOPS connects the 466 bomb squads of varying sizes and budgets across the country with the tools and information they need to perform their duties better, faster and more safely.

S&T Supports Radiation Preparedness
July 17, 2018 -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified the need for a systematic platform where technically accurate and decision-making information could be easily shared across state, municipal and tribal jurisdictions. They contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) – DHS’s research and development arm – for assistance.

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.