04 Aug 06. TVI Corporation a global supplier of rapidly deployable first receiver and first responder systems for homeland security, hospitals, the military, police and fire departments, and public health agencies, today announced that it has received an initial order for more than $450,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for C420 powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) systems and accessories designed by TVI’s Safety Tech International(TM) subsidiary. The Department of Homeland Security’s newly formed Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) will employ this respiratory protection equipment to provide respiratory protection for medical personnel responding to a disaster. DMAT consists of a group of professional and para-professional medical personnel brought together to provide medical care during a disaster. TVI anticipates follow-on orders as the team expands and more DMAT personnel are trained. (Source: DomesticPreparedness.com)
09 Aug 06. The U.S. Coast Guard has announced it will officially accept the new Rescue 21 command, control and communications system along the Alabama, Mississippi and Florida coastlines. General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, is the prime contractor for development and deployment of the Rescue 21 system. The U.S. Coast Guard dedicated Rescue 21 in a ceremony at Sector Mobile, BLDG. 101, South Broad St., Mobile, Ala., on Thurs., Aug. 10, 2006 at 10 a.m.
08 Aug 06. General Dynamics C4 Systems announced that the National Security Agency (NSA) has certified a software upgrade for the Sectéra® Black Digital Interface (BDI) terminal. The software upgrade includes enhanced secure data rates for the BDI terminal enabling connectivity to a number of satellite networks including Iridium®, Inmarsat® and Globalstar. The Sectéra BDI terminal is designed to protect Type 1 classified voice and data communications up to the Top Secret level. The Sectéra BDI terminal is a lightweight, compact, portable device that can be used to encrypt voice and data transmissions over satellite and mobile phones as well as other compatible wired and wireless communications terminals. The terminal provides secure data rates of up to 128 Kb/s via landline digital networks when connected to an integrated services digital network (ISDN) adapter. It complies with the U.S. government-sponsored Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol (SCIP) standard.
(Source: DomesticPreparedness.com)
09 Aug 06. The requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 – which was specifically designed to strengthen security in U.S. ports – became effective on 1 July 2004. The primary responsibility for implementation of the MTSA regulations was assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard. Two years later, experts in maritime security both in and outside of government are taking a long second look to see how implementation has progressed and what work remains to be done. By the time the MTSA-mandated regulations went into effect just over two years ago, the Coast Guard already had approved 44 area maritime security plans (which govern the overall security of U.S. ports), approximately 3,100 facility security plans, and 9,500 vessel security plans. Approving the plans was only the first step, though; the plans also had to be implemented by the various stakeholders in each of those plans. An exercise program to test the area plans also had to be developed, and facility and vessel security verification programs also had to be established, and implemented, to ensure compliance with the plans. Finally, a means to ensure continual improvements as and when needed had to be created and implemented. To test the area plans, the Coast Guard – working in close cooperation with the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) – initiated the Port Security Training Exercise Program, or PortSTEP. The two agencies agreed on a schedule to conduct 40 PortSTEP exercises between August 2005 and Oct