National Domestic Preparedness Office ???????greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread |
Yesterday, there was a story about the National Domestic Preparedness Office, started by Jack Anderson that was summarized by Sanger's Review, and also picked up by Drudge. It was a conspiracy theorist's dream. I included a link to ndpo.com in my summary.I got an e-mail this morning from a guy at a .mil domain. He questions whether or not this website is a hoax. Aside from the obvious fact that it's a .com rather than a .gov, there are a number of inconsistencies.
The quality of the site is extremely poor. The graphics are fuzzy and the orgchart has obviously been scanned with a low resolution page scanner (hence the fuzzy text, blurred images and "copier fuzz" behind the text boxes) and the code is written haphazardly. He says that "although there are programmers out there in Government service that don't even know how to spell HTML, the QA for web sites that hit external users (outside of Gov. run Intranets) is extremely tight." He asks that if this is an organization that is sponsored by the FBI, why doesn't this site have the "look and feel" of other FBI run sites? "Part of the QA process is ensuring that all content is presented in as uniform a manner as possible for any particular organization."
He points out that Meta information on the various pages of the NDPO site is lacking and haphazard in its use. The majority of the web pages do not have meta tags and the ones that do only identify the HTML editor used to create the pages (MS Front Page 3.0). Apparently most, if not all, Government created sites have extensive Meta information identifying content type, HTML editor use, keywords, HTML type, etc. It also seems that the site was created from a standard MS Front Page template called "Expedition." In most cases for the Dept. of Justice and the FBI, the editor of choice is Adobe PageMill for Windows 3.0 and not MS Front Page.
Take a look at the official press release that this web site is using and compare it to the copy of the same press release that is on the NDPO.com web site. The official press release, on the Dept. of Justice web site can be found at: http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/1998/October/484_ag.htm. Not consistent.
He asks if he could be mistaken and this is a real DoJ/FBI/U.S. Gov. web site. And answers his own question with an emphatic "Certainly!" and points out that the FBI itself has put out some lame looking web sites (http://www.fbi.gov/fo/norfolk/wmd.htm as an example). However, in the case of the NDPO web site he believes that we are looking as someone's poor attempt at spreading a little misinformation. Does the DoJ know about this website? --------------
Then, I did a Whois on ndpo.com
Normally, I wouldn't post people's names and contact info, but this can be found by anyone who goes to nsi.com and does a Whois search. This is what I came up with:
Registrant: MI State Police-HazMat (NDPO-DOM) 7426 Osborn Road Lansing, MI 48913 US
Domain Name: NDPO.COM
Administrative Contact: Wheeler, Gerald (GW4415) wheeleg@STATE.MI.US 517-322-1942 (FAX) 517-322-6442 Technical Contact, Zone Contact: Network Operations Center (NO324-ORG) noc@CIHOST.COM 888-868-9931 Fax- - 888-252-7554 Billing Contact: Wheeler, Gerald (GW4415) wheeleg@STATE.MI.US 517-322-1942 (FAX) 517-322-6442
Record last updated on 23-Apr-99. Record created on 01-Dec-98. Database last updated on 5-May-99 17:00:52 EDT.
Domain servers in listed order:
NS.CIHOST.COM 216.71.93.147 NS2.CIHOST.COM 216.71.94.5
---------------
Huh? Why is the this site registered to the Michigan State Police?
This is some pretty weird stuff. While I don't think any conclusions can be drawn from all this, I thought y'all might find this interesting...
-- pshannon (pshannon@sangersreview.com), May 06, 1999
Good question........ I'm reading right between your lines. Maybe MI cops are more sensitive to "domestic enemies" and volunteered to host until the NDPO can scrape an official one up. Could be that MI is HQ for domestic terrorism research.Did you note the contents of the discussion area?
-- fe (fi@fo.fum), May 06, 1999.
pshannon,Interesting domain owner.
The centers also real.
Whether on not they say ... Y2K. Its for critical infrastructure protection. Which, we already KNOW, from previous research in the archives, means Y2K too.
Diane
See threads, were pulled up some hits on info.gov ...
New FBI agency: National Domestic Preparedness Office, courtesy Janet Reno.
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 000nIRAnd ...
JANET RENO CREATES SECRET Y2K AGENCY
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 000nNW
-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), May 06, 1999.
Maybe you got the wrong one, baby. Most government sites are .gov. Shouldn't this be ndpo.gov? Maybe you found a simple police organization (po)?
-- Brett (savvydad@aol.com), May 06, 1999.
Oh, no, Brett. It's obviously "meant" to be the NDPO, not a police organization. Go look and see..."Our Mission:
To coordinate all Federal efforts, including those of the Department of Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency, to assist State and local first responders with planning, training, equipment, and exercise necessary to respond to a conventional or non-conventional weapon of mass destruction (WMD) incident..."
Doesn't sound like a simple Police Organization to me...
-- pshannon (pshannon@sangersreview.com), May 06, 1999.
You missed my point, I think. I agree. The organization is real and I've read the report by the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection. NDPO is real - no doubt about it.My point was that ndpo.com is not a government site. I would think that NDPO would use .gov, just as CIAO uses ciao.gov. See what I mean?
-- Brett (savvydad@aol.com), May 06, 1999.
I never looked at the site, but I have now. My deepest apologies. But I find that curious - why .com and not .gov?
-- Brett (savvydad@aol.com), May 06, 1999.
I checked out the site earlier today after finding the Anderson column. I thought the site was pretty poorly setup.Notice the language on the under construction pages "really soon" is used in the canned message. "Really soon" is an interesting phrase that you don't normally see on 'offical' sites.
Me thinks something is definitely amiss here...
j
-- j (fire_water5@yahoo.com), May 06, 1999.
Well, that's a good question, Brett, and one of the reasons the why the guy from the .mil domain wondered if it was a hoax..com, poor quality, tagging and design inconsistent with most .gov sites, Michigan State Police registrant, it just seems kinda strange...
-- pshannon (pshannon@sangersreview.com), May 06, 1999.
This isn't the first time Michigan has been in the news.http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_bresnahan/19990305_xex_whistleblo we.shtml
-- (n@n.n), May 06, 1999.
pshannon,I would say their site IS real enough and looks like a lot of the .mil and .gov sites (many have lousy web designs), even though this IS a .com site.
Perhaps because they arent an official government group yet?
Curious though.
Diane
National Domestic Preparedness Office
Your gateway to FederalWMD assets and expertise.
http:// www.ndpo.comThe NDPO Structure ... NDPO Stakeholders Forum ...
... The State and Local Domestic Preparedness Stakeholders Forum consisted of more than 200 state and local emergency response planners and practitioners from across the nation, meeting at the invitation of the Attorney General to discuss current Federal efforts to help them prepare for and respond to acts of terrorism. Over the two days of the Forum, these fire/hazmat, law enforcement, medical, and emergency management professionals identified needs and recommended solutions in an effort to assist in structuring a cooperative approach to this grave challenge. Ultimately, the attendees presented the Attorney General with strategic recommendations in five critical areas, reflecting a broad consensus among all the participating responder disciplines and jurisdictions, large and small. ...
http://www.ndpo.com/ stakehol.htmThe NDPO Structure ... NDPO Advisory Group ...
... Please visit us again soon for updated information on the NDPO Advisory Group. ...
http://www.ndpo.com/ advisory.htmOur Services
... The NDPO functional program areas provide a seamless network of domestic preparedness support. Underpinning the services provided to the Federal, State and local responder community is an improved intelligence and information sharing apparatus to distribute lessons learned, asset/capabilities information, and general readiness knowledge. ...
Training
Equipment
Exercises
Planning
Outreach
See ... "The Beacon" Volume 1 No. 2, December 31, 1998 ... for better details ...
http://www.ndpo.com/ vol_1no1.htmPlanning:
... The NDPO Planning Program will build on existing programs, structures, and relationships for coordinating Federal, State and local WMD planning efforts. The FBI will continue to coordinate and support crisis management planning. FEMA will continue to coordinate and support consequence management planning using the Federal Response Plan. The NDPO Planning Program will assist in the integration, development, and improvement of state and local WMD crisis and consequence management plans to better interface with federal WMD response plans. ...
[As I recall, thats the Critical Infrastructure Protection line-up, mentioned in Presidential EXECUTIVE ORDER 13010 -- CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION July 15, 1996] ...
http://www.pub.whitehouse.gov/uri- res/I2R?urn:pdi://oma.eop.gov.us/1996/7/15/1.text.2Training:
... The NDPO is establishing a training program involving representatives from the Department Of Justice (DOJ), the Department Of Defense (DOD), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Guard (NG), and experts from other disciplines, as appropriate. ...
Newsletters
http://www.ndpo.com/ newslett.htm"The Beacon" Volume 1 No. 4, March 5, 1999
http://www.ndpo.com/ vol_1no_4.htmWESTWIND 99" WMD EXERCISE WAS SUCCESSFUL
... Westwind 99 was a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) field exercise which was held in the Los Angeles area between February 18- 26, 1999.
This was an exercise that addressed the complexities involved in the integration of federal, state, and local elements in response to a WMD incident.
The exercise was designed to identify strengths and weaknesses in both crisis and consequence management. Many communities will benefit from the lessons learned by those who participated.
A detailed After Action Report (AAR) is being drafted and will be shared with the first responder community as well as utilized in the design of future exercises. ...
[Why does the concept of a west wind, bother me? Living near the west coast.]
"The Beacon" Volume 1 No. 1, November 30, 1998
http://www.ndpo.com/ vol_1no.htmNATIONAL DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS
OFFICE BEGINS OPERATIONS
NATIONAL DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS OFFICE (NDPO)
... In 1996, with the increase in terrorist activity against American targets both here and abroad, Congress passed the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act. This legislation, better known as the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici (NLD) legislation after its sponsoring Senators, is designed to enhance the capabilities of our nation to effectively respond and manage the consequences of potential terrorist acts involving the use of WMD.
Congress designated the Department of Defense to lead the Domestic Preparedness Program (DPP) outlined in the legislation that would provide basic training, exercises and other assistance to first responders and senior officials in 120 cities across the nation.
At the same time, another training program, made available by coincidental legislation, began to emerge. The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, which also passed in 1996, called for the development and delivery of training for fire and emergency medical personnel for the response to weapons of mass destruction. Other independent programs have also been produced.
On August 27-28, 1998, stakeholders representing the nations first responder community recommended to Attorney General Janet Reno that these and other terrorism training and assistance programs be coordinated by a single lead federal agency. On October 16, 1998, Attorney General Reno announced that the Department of Justice, through the FBI, will coordinate all domestic preparedness matters through the National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO) in partnership with other federal, state and local agencies that have relevant authority, jurisdiction or expertise in this area. ...
NDPO MISSION
... The NDPO will serve as a clearinghouse for information on training programs and a hub for the development of other national assistance initiatives. The NDPO will be staffed by state and local representatives through memorandum agreements, as well as participating federal agencies, including, but not limited to, FEMA, EPA, DOE, NRC, HHS, and DoD. In addition, an advisory group of state and local representatives from various response disciplines will be assembled to periodically review and counsel the NDPO. ...
LOCAL WMD COORDINATORS
... Attorney General Janet Reno directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to serve as the coordinating agency of the NDPO, based on the FBIs unique analogue into local communities throughout the country via the fifty-six (56) FBI field offices nationwide.
The FBI representative in each field division designated as the WMD Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating WMD related requests from local fire, hazmat, emergency medical, and consequence management agencies in their respective communities. ...
ON THE HORIZON
... In the days and weeks to come, the NDPO will begin reaching out to WMD Coordinators across the country in an effort to better assess the overall level of domestic preparedness in the United States. WMD Coordinators will be encouraged to contact their local counterparts in the fire, hazmat, law enforcement, and emergency medical fields, if they have not already done so. ...
... The ultimate success of the NDPO will be measured by its ability to integrate the knowledge and expertise of first responders around the country into a coordinated response effort which will adequately address the threat of a WMD incident in any given city in the United States. Surely, the subsequent fruits of this success will be witnessed by the many lives saved when well trained and prepared first responders arrive on the scene of what we hope will be only the rarest of WMD incidents. ...
NDPO Links (impressive list) ...
http://www.ndpo.com/toc.htmCritical Infrastructure links ...
National Infrastructure Protection Center
http://www.fbi.gov/nipc/ index.htmCritical Infrastructure Assurance Office
http://www.ciao.gov/President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection
http://www.pccip.gov/Legal Authorities
[Now THIS gets interesting!!! ... some links to documents on the FAS Federation of American Scientists http://www.fas.org/ web-site] ...
Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 39,
U. S. Policy on Counterterrorism
(Unclassified version)
http:// www.fas.org:80/irp/offdocs/pdd39.htmPresidential Decision Directive 62,
Combating Terrorism
http:// www.fas.org:80/irp/offdocs/pdd-62.htmTitle 18, United States Code, section 2332a,
Weapons of Mass Destruction
http:// www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/2332a.htmlTitle 18, United States Code, section 175,
Biological Weapons
http:// www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/175.htmlFreedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act
http:// www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/248.html
-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), May 06, 1999.
Diane sez -->Perhaps because they arent an official government group yet?
My thoughts exactly!
-- pshannon (pshannon@sangersreview.com), May 06, 1999.
Also, tried searching the NDPO site for Y2K related information.At first I was excited, but then, upon reading, there isnt the link ... here.
Other tidbits though.
Diane
Search the NDPO site ...
http://www.ndpo.com/ search.htmY2K ... No documents found. Please try again.
Year 2000 problem ... Number of documents found: 7.
Year 2000 computer problem ... Number of documents found: 8.
Search Results ... Document Title ... Date ... Size
1) Reports for the year 1999 01/24/99 01:01:59 0KB
(Web Server Statistics Reports for the year 1999)
http://www.ndpo.com/ wusage/10227h.html[Huh???
Note: A forum IT type needs to look at this & explain !!!! Why the heck would this be a hit for search strategy Year 2000 computer problem?]
Example: Week of 04/25/99 to 05/01/99
http://www.ndpo.com/ wusage/10341.html2) Reports for the year 1998 01/24/99 01:01:59 1KB
(Web Server Statistics Reports for the year 1998)
http://www.ndpo.com/ wusage/9862h.html3) Free For All Link Page 12/01/98 10:51:38 2KB
... Below is a free for all list of links meaning you can add anything you please. When you add you will be automatically returned to this page and your URL should appear. Remember to Reload your browser. ...
http://www.ndpo.com/ links/links.htm4) History from 11/29/98 -- 01/23/99 01/24/99 01:01:59 2KB
http://www.ndpo.com/ wusage/index.html5) "Anthrax Procedures For Staff" WMD Discussions 01/19/99 18:24:33 8KB
http:// www.ndpo.com/dcforum/OpenForum/1.html6) Vol.1 No.3 01/24/99 14:34:28 27KB
(NATIONAL DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS NEWSLETTER January 22, 1999)
... The First Responder Equipment Acquisition Program will provide $69.5 million in grants to the 157 largest cities and localities, as well as the States, to procure personal protective gear, as well as chemical/biological detection, decontamination, and communications equipment. This equipment will enable fire departments, law enforcement agencies, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response units, and other emergency response agencies to enhance their response capabilities to incidents of domestic terrorism. The design and implementation of this program will be coordinated with the NDPO. ...
... The Municipal Fire and Emergency Services Program will provide $25 million to expand equipment and training programs targeted specifically to municipal fire and emergency services departments. ... $ 4 million will be earmarked for interoperable radio equipment for local emergency response agencies, ...
INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT PROGRAM
... Through a joint initiative with the National Institute of Justices Office of Science and Technology, OJP will conduct an assessment of new communications equipment designed to help address the interoperable communications problem facing state and local agencies. Tests of equipment will be conducted in 10-12 cities, and, if proven successful, the technology will be made available to approximately 140 jurisdictions around the world, at a cost of $25,000 to $30,000 per site.
The locations selected to conduct these demonstrations are: Washington DC, Virginia Beach, New York City, New Hampshire/Vermont, Baton Rouge, Denver, Salt Lake City, Orlando, Las Vegas, Eastern Kentucky, and College State, Texas. The results of these tests, and the final assessment by the National Institute of Justice are expected to be completed by May, 1999. The applications for these grants should be available by June, 1999. ...
[Just recalling the National Guard COMEX/MOBEX communications tests ... in May.]
FIELD WMD COORDINATORS
... To provide more assistance to the state and local emergency response and public health community, the NDPO is publishing the following list of FBI WMD Coordinators and regional federal agency representatives. The WMD Coordinators will serve as the single point of contact for preparedness initiatives (refer to Beacon Vol. 1 No. 1 for more information). ...
[See actual contact for each state ... long list ...
Predominantly all FBI, FEMA, DOE and PHS-?? contacts. Who/What is PHS ?]
http://www.ndpo.com/ newpage1.htm7) NDPO Table of Contents Page 01/24/99 14:34:22 10KB
http://www.ndpo.com/toc.htm8) NDPO Press Release 1 01/24/99 14:34:18 8KB
(Statement of the Attorney General of the United States, Weapons of Mass Destruction, October 16, 1998)
http://www.ndpo.com/pr01.htm[Hummn. ...
Maybe the search engine is limited and picks up hits for ANY of the words ... Year 2000 computer problem rather than ALL of the words??
Certainly dont find anything that would be logical for these hits pulled up.]
See also ...
Press Release
Statement of the Attorney General of the United States
Weapons of Mass Destruction
October 16, 1998
Washington, D.C.
http://www.ndpo.com/pr01.htmThe ONLY reference to Y2K, that I could find, on the whole site was added in the ...
NDPO Discussion Forum
http:// www.ndpo.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgiWelcome to NDPO's WMD Discussions
Read new messages posted during last 5 Days ... Now
Subject and Caption:
Y2K Reports claim NDPO was created to deal with Y2K, not WMD. Any info.?...
Author:
schiff
Last Modified On:
11:24:09 5/06/99
Replies:
0
-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), May 06, 1999.
To Duh-iane,Note: A forum IT type needs to look at this & explain !!!! Why the heck would this be a hit for search strategy Year 2000 computer problem?]
Maybe because the title of that page has the word 'Year' in it. Obviously, it searches using OR, not AND. That should have been pretty obvious when "year 2000 computer problem" had more hits than "year 2000 problem".
Maybe the NDPO really is about responding to weapons of mass destruction like it says and not some secret organization for Y2K. Your paranoia is getting the better of you.
-- Do You See (howstupid@you.look), May 06, 1999.
Diane,PHS = Public Health Service,
as in "U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service" (first of "about 15,050,193" matches Alta Vista found).
-- No Spam Please (No_Spam_Please@anon_ymous.com), May 06, 1999.
Diane,PHS (Public Health Service) in one of the Uniformed services. Remember C. Everett Koop, when he was in charge of the Centers for Disease Control? Always wore what appeared to be a white Navy Admiral's uniform, was actually PHS. Koop was never in the Navy.
Spindoc'
-- Spindoctor (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), May 06, 1999.
Whatever this site is or isn't, anything supposedly registered to the Michigan State Police is certain to garner the interest of the MSP.Here's the URL for the Michigan State Police Y2K page:
http://www.msp.state.mi.us/division/emd/Y2Kweb1.htm
The site lists contact names.
As an aside, Michigan recently announced the formation of an anti-terrorism initiative. The story can be found in the archives of the Detroit Free Press. Interest warranted and time permitting, I'll post excerpts of the article.
(Thank you as usual for being a "digger" Diane)
:)
-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 06, 1999.
To make additional connections ...Search the FEMA site ... for National Domestic Preparedness Office ...
http://www.fema.gov/ search/srchjs.htmQuite an impressive list ...
Appendix I: Index of Agencies and Cross-Cutting Programs
http://www.fema.gov/ library/pp2appi.htm... The following lists some of the many programs, activities, and coordinating mechanisms that FEMA participates in, shares and collaborates on with other Federal departments and agencies. Because Federal coordination is the nature of FEMAs business, it only begins to identify all the areas of mutual or complementary effort. There is much work that is ongoing and in progress with other departments and agencies that has yet to be captured as an official entity or program. Therefore, what is presented is only the most established and widely- recognized entities and programs that exist today.
Departments and agencies that share a similar role or function with FEMA in our most significant efforts include USDA, DOC, DOD, DOJ, DOT, DOI, GSA, and SBA. ...
[snip -- further down chart]
President's Long-Term Recovery Task Force.
Upon Presidential activation of this Task Force following a major, complex disaster, FEMA acts as chair and assists State and local governments (S/L) identify their needs related to the long-term impact of the disaster. FEMA then coordinates the delivery of Federal assistance during the recovery process.
(USDA, DOC, DOD, DOEd, DOE, HHS, HUD, DOI, DOL, DOT, EPA, FERC, IRS, OMB, SBA)
[snip]
Federal Response Plan (FRP).
Under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (Stafford Act), FEMA coordinates the activities and resources of the Federal agencies to provide effective delivery of assistance to individuals and communities in disasters that are beyond State and local capability to manage. The FRP provides the system for cooperation among 28 government organizations in response and recovery phases of these disasters and references functions and programs under both Individual and Public Assistance Programs and in response operations. Standing groups that coordinate aspects of Federal disaster response include:
(1) Catastrophic Disaster Response Group: 28 signatories to the FRP.
(2) ESF Leaders Group: FEMA and the other ESF primaries (USDA, DOT, NCS, DOD, HHS, EPA, DOE, ARC, and GSA) and SBA.
(3) Regional Interagency Steering Committee (RISC): ESF primaries and others as appropriate.
(4) Concept Plan (CONPLAN) Working Group (operations planning for Federal terrorism response): FEMA, FBI, DOJ, EPA, HHS, and DOE.
(USDA, DOC, DOD, DOEd, DOE, HHS, HUD, DOI, DOJ, DOL, DOS, DOT, TREAS, VA, AID, EPA, FCC, GSA, NASA, NCS, NRC, OPM, SBA, TVA, US Postal, ARC, OSTP, FEMA)
[snip]
Terrorism.
FEMA is the lead agency for consequence management preparedness and response to terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). At the Federal level, preparedness activities includes Federal planning, training and exercises, in coordination with other departments and agencies, using the structures of Federal Response Plan (FRP). At the State level, preparedness activities include the provision of grants to the States and eligible local jurisdictions and the delivery of first responder and emergency management training programs, to support their terrorism-related planning, training, and exercise requirements. In support of this effort, FEMA participates in various interagency working groups and structures. Key organizations include the Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness (WMDP) Group and associated subgroups sponsored by the National Security Council; and the National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO) and various groups under the auspices of the FBI.
(USDA, DOC, DOD, DOEd, DOE, HHS, HUD, DOI, DOJ, DOL, DOS, DOT, TREAS, VA, EPA, FCC, GSA, NASA, NCS, NRC, OPM, SBA, TVA, WH)
[See that one? ... National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO)]
[snip]
Counter-Terrorism Exercises.
FEMA is the leader for consequence management of terrorism, while the FBI is the lead for crisis management. FEMA shares the lead for the planning, conduct, and evaluation for exercises, which are designed to improve terrorism readiness. FEMA is a member of the Interagency Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, Exercises Subgroup, which approves and schedules major interagency terrorism exercises, and the Multi-Agency Task Force on Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Exercises, which develops policy for domestic preparedness exercises.
See also ...
FEMAs Strategic Goal 1
http:// www.fema.gov/library/pp2goal1.htm[snip]
Annual Performance Goal P.1.1: State and Local Capability ...
Means and Strategies:
Enhance the professionalism of emergency managers; improve support for emergency managers, first responders, and others dealing with issues such as terrorism; and implement the streamlined new Public Assistance program by ...
[snip]
(10) conducting the planning, training, exercising, and certification activities (fully funded by utility-company user fees deposited to the REP Fund) required to ensure preparedness in the communities and States surrounding commercial nuclear power plants;
[snip]
(14) assessing readiness for various hazards through conducting tabletop exercises and simulations with Federal, State, and local EM partners, providing advice and assistance to States on terrorism and critical infrastructure exercises, and participating in exercises conducted by other Federal agencies; and
(15) advising and assisting EM partners with implementation of anti- terrorism consequence management readiness exercise initiatives and activities within the Domestic Preparedness Program, led by FBIs National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO)(State and local governments);
Now ...
Go back and search FEMAs site on ... terrorism and Y2K ...
... and while reading, pay attention to the terms ... tabletop ... and RISC efforts ...
FEMA: Regional Interagency Steering Committee
Region V
December 1-2, 1998
http:// www.fema.gov/reg-v/1998/98r5n013.htm... FEMA V Regional Director, discussed Region V's intent to increase regional coordination and cooperation. FEMA V wants to form partnerships. An important objective is the development of objectives for 1999. Terrorism and Y2K issues are very important. RISC efforts should consider how agency efforts help citizens. ...
http:// www.fema.gov/reg-x/1999/r10_010.htmNote ...
FEMA Region X
Monthly HAZMAT "Update"
http:// www.fema.gov/reg-x/1999/r10_010.htmTRAINING CLASSES.
3-17-99 Camp Murray, WA. Y2K tabletop, WA State & FEMA
EXERCISES
3-17-99 Camp Murray, WA. FEMA lead, Y2K tabletop
3-23-99 to 3-24-99. Y2K table top, FEMA at Seattle
3-30-99 Biological Terrorism tabletop, Portland, Army
5-10-99 to 5-14-99. CSEPP Umatilla required exercise
See also ...
FEMA: Extension Disaster Education Network Meeting
Radisson Hotel & Convention Center
Remarks by Kay C. Goss, CEM(r)
FEMA's Associate Director for Preparedness, Training and Exercises < br> November 5, 1998
http://www.fema.gov/ pte/gosspch50.htm[snip]
... This summer FEMA participated in a GDIN Conference sponsored by the State Department to provide a forum in which representatives of several nations could discuss information and technology needs in disaster management related to the design and development of GDIN. I wish it were in place now. Much of the information the Administration needs now relative to contingency plans being made across the world for Y2K could be gathered easily and almost instantly. ...
[snip]
Year 2000 (Y2K) Conversion
... We are also heavily involved in emergency preparedness activities to address the Year 2000 (Y2K) computer problem 'the Millennium Bug." Our priority is to reach out to our State and local partners to heighten their awareness and sensitivity to potential Y2K failures and the consequences of these failures: for example, 911 systems, power failures, infrastructure problems.
We want to provide emergency preparedness guidance and technical assistance, where needed, to help prepare State and local jurisdictions for a smooth transition to the year 2000, as well as to solicit feedback on their preparedness activities in this area.
As you know, the Y2K problem is receiving a great deal of attention throughout the country and the President has appointed John Koskinen to chair the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion and to oversee the government's response to the Y2K problem. Mr. Koskinen has expressed concerns about the progress some State and local jurisdictions have made in preparing for the transition and their awareness of the problem. He has indicated very clearly that he wants FEMA to reach out to and serve as a catalyst in helping to prepare them for the transition in 2000.
FEMA will provide a status report to the White House in early December on our progress in reaching out to State and local governments. At that time we will also submit an assessment of the progress of State and local emergency management organizations in achieving compliance and a summary of emergency preparedness guidance and assistance we have provided. Clay Hollister, our Chief Information Officer, represents FEMA on the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion and chairs the Y2K Emergency Services Sector Working Group. I am closely coordinating with NEMA and IAEM on the Y2K issue. Both organizations have agreed to partner with us to develop preparedness guidance and Y2K tool kits for State and local jurisdictions. We are also working closely with the U.S. Fire Administration and the fire service.
We are moving forward rapidly to plan "Year 2000 Computer (Y2K) Failure" consequence management exercises which we will conduct in concert with all of our emergency management partners.
These exercises will examine emergency management decision-making capabilities and identify policy and preparedness issues related to coping with technological emergencies of potentially unprecedented magnitude.
I should stress that the exercises we are planning will not deal with the technical aspects of the Y2K problem itself. They will focus on consequences of failures in computer systems, which could have crippling effects on key lifeline, infrastructure, and economic sector services.
At the request of the White House we are co-sponsoring with the Department of Defense a national level exercise for Federal departments and agencies and over the next several months we plan to conduct exercises as part of our Regional Interagency Steering Committee (RISC) meetings in each of our ten Regions.
The RISC exercise packages will be designed so that they can be provided to State and local jurisdictions at the conclusion of the exercise for their own Y2K exercise use. FEMA now has a Y2K website with preparedness, response, and information technology components where information on FEMA's Y2K activities is being posted. I expect our level of Y2K activity to greatly increase in the coming months and anticipate even getting involved in outreach and information exchange on the international level. We have already been invited to participate in a meeting on Y2K at the United Nations in December.
Terrorism Preparedness
We are continuing to play a role in terrorism preparedness and consequence management activities that reflects our normal day to day role in emergency preparedness.
This includes assisting State emergency management organizations in planning; providing training for emergency managers and fire service personnel; and sponsoring and participating in exercises using weapons of mass destruction scenarios.
We serve as advocate for State offices of emergency management and for the fire service community in Federal interagency terrorism discussions and actively support the Department of Defense's interagency city training initiative under the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici legislation. The Department of Justice has been assigned the lead in the domestic preparedness terrorism program. ...
[snip -- to end]
Or ...
FEMA: FEMA and the Year 2000 Initiative
http://www.fema.gov/ y2k/y2kintro.htmGovernment agencies, public utilities, businesses, and individuals should consider disruption of computer-based systems a serious risk to continuity of operations (COOP). It should be noted that FEMA has no authority or capability at the national level to prevent computer disruption, beyond its own agency, or to respond to the causes of computer disruption, such as Y2K conversion or cyber terrorism. More information on what FEMA can do and its Y2K efforts may be found in recent testimony given before Congress. ...
Then ...
Remember Mike Walker?
Robert M. "Mike" Walker: Deputy Director, FEMA
http:// www.fema.gov/about/walker1028.htm... Mike Walker was appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate as Deputy Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in September 1998. Previously, Mr. Walker was the 23rd Under Secretary of the Army, ...
... Mr. Walker served as a member of the Secretary of Defense's Management Council and was responsible for managing the Department of Defense's support to domestic disasters. ...
... Mr. Walker attended the University of Tennessee and served as an enlisted soldier in the Tennessee and Washington, D.C., Army National Guard.
Well ...
Only in a non-searchable, scanned image of a FEMA Dec. 1998 employee newsletter ... will you see that hes in charge of Y2K and terrorism activities at FEMA.
FEMA Profile: Mike Walker
http:// www.fema.gov/About/HQNLTR/hq1298g.jpg... Since March 1994, hed been responsible for the Department of Defenses support to domestic disasters and special events. ...
... Previously, Walker had been Assistant Secretary for the Army for Logistics and Environment, where he was responsible for overseeing more than 100 installations worldwide and more than $200 billion in facilities, equipment and supplies. ...
[Aside note (for Hoff) ... bet hes familiar with the Army Materiel Commands legacy computers Commodity Command Standard System CCSS and the Standard Depot System SDS logistics, and details on the Armys Wholesale Logistics Modernization Program WLMP. Wonder if thats why he has a computer related understanding of Y2K implications?]
... in addition to serving as Director Witts Chief Operating Officer, Walkers responsibilities include overseeing FEMAs terrorism activities and the agencys FY2000 appropriations process. He will also coordinate FEMAs Y2K activities ...
... Im extremely pleased to have Mike onboard, said Witt. He brings extensive management experience and experience in managing disasters and supporting anti-terrorism activities. ...
Finally ...
Testimony of Federal Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director Mike Walker before the Government Management, Information and Technology Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee on March 22,1999
http://www.fema.gov/y2k/ wlkrtst.htmHe testifies before the House about the Federal Response Plan and Y2K, among other things.
Its all interconnected ... rather like national and international Y2K issues.
Diane
-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), May 06, 1999.
My goodness, Diane, but you've been busy today!
-- pshannon (pshannon@sangersreview.com), May 06, 1999.
pshannon,Kind'a get "interested" in groups (NDPO, FEMA, etc.) or people (Koskinen, et. al.) who have such a far-reaching impact on our collective lives.
Also don't like the "hidden" quality to their actions. Too much at stake. So many people whose lives could be adversely impacted by the overly happy facers.
Clearly, there are several potential problems, worth preparing for.
Starting with natural disasters ...
Diane
-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), May 07, 1999.