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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and
Risk Management
Crisis and Emergency Management
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NOTICE: The ICDRM's monthly emergency managment forum, held at the GWU |
| February
2003
Volume 4 - Number 1 |
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Links:
Current events
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Update on Information Technology and Homeland Security
by Lori Fagan
Of the $54.2 billion allocated for information technology (IT) in fiscal year 2003, the federal government flagged $2.1 billion for IT in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to kick off its annual budget. $3.5 billion more is to be allocated to state and local governments for firefighters, local law enforcement and medical personnel. Portions of the dollars for first responders will be used to upgrade emergency communication systems and to improve their capability to respond to bioterrorist attacks. Slowing the development process, however, is the obstacle of operating under federal budget continuing resolutions: the majority of the money has not yet been disseminated. While industry waits for DHS to become a fully functioning entity and begin awarding contracts, high-tech firms in the government-contracting arena have united through various associations. The Northern Virginia Technology Council, which includes representatives from EDS and Lockheed Martin, assists smaller companies in partnering with larger contracting firms to build business. The Information Technology Association of America acts as an advisement entity to various agencies, assisting in filtering through products and services to choose those that best meet each agency's requirements. Other companies, in an effort to secure government contracts, are hiring lobbyists to raise their profiles in Washington. Of contracts already awarded, last August, a conglomerate of public safety and transportation agencies in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia selected IBM to build a public safety data communications network for the Washington, D.C. region. This will be the first multi-jurisdictional network to enable officials from more than forty local, state and federal agencies to communicate with each other in real-time. This system will help to resolve communication problems made obvious in the wake of September 11. Another post 9/11 contract enabled Siebel Systems of San Mateo, California to solidify its presence in the government contracting community with the creation of an information-sharing product designed to enhance the abilities of the FBI and CIA to analyze information. The system aids in processing the organizations' daily barrage of incoming data. Siebel expanded on an existing product to develop this system, saving the customer time and money; key factors in securing future government contracts. At the state and local levels, budget deficits are driving IT efforts toward products that generate revenue, manage costs and strengthen infrastructures. Once federal funding for homeland security initiatives begins rolling in, efforts to improve first responders' communication tools and equipment will take priority. Wireless devices such as IBM's Research in Motion Blackberry hand-held computers, devices with instant messaging capabilities, and satellite phones all served to assist on September 11 and are predicted to play a major role in the future of emergency management. As Americans united in the aftermath of tragedy in 2001, information technology leaders are uniting to best meet America's IT needs in the era of Homeland Security. Information Technology and Homeland Security By Lori Fagan References: WashingtonTechnology.com 1/13/03 "Outlook 2003: Record opportunities, uncertainties," Nick Wakeman "Limited options," William Welsh "Across the Digital Nation: State, local governments sail into stormy 2003," Rishi Sood 1/20/03 "White House request $4.0 billion IT budget increase," Gail Repsher Emery GovExec.com 5/13/02 "High-tech firms adjusting to the post-Sept. 11 world," Bara Vaida 8/22/02 "IBM to Build Emergency Response System for Washington, D.C. Area," IBM press release ists.dartmouth.edu "The First Line of Defense: Tools and Technology Needs of America's First Responders in the aftermath of September 11, 2001," (draft) Institute for Security Technology Studies, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH |