LINKS

IAEM is compiling a list of useful links to emergency management related information and resources on the Internet. Your help in identifying new links would be appreciated. At the right of this page, you can submit an "Add a Link" form to suggest your favorite EM-related Internet links.

All-Hands.net
All-Hands.net is a user-supported community where emergency management, homeland security, and business continuity professionals come together to post articles, share files, and communicate with others in our profession.

American Red Cross

American National Standards Institute's Homeland Security Standards Panel (ANSI-HSSP)

The American National Standards Institute’s Homeland Security Standards Panel (ANSI-HSSP) has as its mission to identify needs and facilitate the development and enhancement of homeland security standards, serve as the private/public sector partnership for standards issues, support the work of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s Office of Standards, provide a forum for information sharing on homeland security standards and conformity assessment issues, and facilitate dialogue and networking on key issues for homeland security stakeholders.

• Final Workshop Report: "Achieving Preparedness Through Standards Implementation: Challenges and Opportunities for Small Business" (August 2011)

Association of State and Territorial Heath Officials
Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Radiation Crisis: A National Review of the U.S. Domestic Public Health and Medical Response, May 2012

BC Management Annual Compensation Reports

BC Management, Inc., an executive search firm specializing in identifying, recruiting, and placing professionals in business continuity, disaster recovery, data security and emergency management, conducts an annual compensation survey. Their sixth annual survey collected 2006 compensation data from more than 1,400 respondents, with a complete report available for download at the BC Management Web site.

Building a Disaster Resilient Community (06/15/07)

The United Nation International Strategy for Disaster Reducation (UNISDR) has published Building Disaster Resistent Communities: Good Practices & Lessons Learned. This publication is the result of joint efforts of the emerging Global Network of NGOs for disaster risk reduction. The publication showcases the essential roles played by NGOs in addressing disaster risks at the local community level and is aimed to stimulate more interest in the subject from donors, policy makers and other stakeholders.

U.S. Census Bureau Handbook for Consultation with Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes (04/16/12)
The Handbook for Consultation with Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes was posted online this week and is now accessible via the American Indian and Alaska Native Resources page. The Census Bureau collects data for the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) population and publishes AIAN specific counts, estimates, and statistics at many geographic levels. The Tribal Resource (AIAN) website highlights the Census Bureau's relationship with tribal governments and provides important AIAN and tribal resources.

Certification Chart (10/04/07)

The IAEM Certification Chart is a list of certifications with sponsoring organizations and URL links, compiled by Dr. Dean Larson, CEM, CSP, IAEM Editorial Committee Vice-Chair. These certifications are related in some way to emergency management and/or are typical of the types of certifications that IAEM members achieve. Dr. Larson would welcome your suggestions for any additions to the list; e-mail him at drlarson@jorsm.com.

Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED)

CRED, the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, has been active for over 30 years in the fields of international disaster and conflict health studies, with research and training activities linking relief, rehabilitation and development. CRED promotes research, training and technical expertise on humanitarian emergencies, with a special focus on public health and epidemiology. The Centre undertakes research and provides an evidence base on the burden of disease and health issues arising from disasters and conflicts to improve needs-based preparedness and responses to humanitarian emergencies.

Centers for Disease Control
Official Web site of the Dept. of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control.

Children in Disasters

Presentations from Congressional Briefing and Roundtable Discussion on Preparedness, Response and Recovery for Children, at invitation of Congresswoman Corrine Brown (06/20/07)

IAEM Involvement: Children in Disasters:

Citizen Corps
Citizen Corps, a vital component of USA Freedom Corps, was created to help coordinate volunteer activities that will make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds.

Citizen Corps programs build on the successful efforts that are in place in many communities around the country to prevent crime and respond to emergencies. Programs that started through local innovation are the foundation for Citizen Corps and this national approach to citizen participation in community safety. Citizen Corps is coordinated nationally by the Department of Homeland Security. In this capacity, DHS works closely with other federal entities, state and local governments, first responders and emergency managers, the volunteer community, and the White House Office of the USA Freedom Corps.

Congressional Research Service Reports on Homeland Security

The Congressional Research Services published a report on "FEMA's Disaster Declaration Process: A Primer," on Jan. 23, 2009. download report | index of other CRS reports on homeland security

Dept. of Defense 1401 Technology Transfer Program

The 1401 Technology Transfer Program of the U.S. Dept. of Defense (DoD) identifies DoD technology, items and equipment that can be used by federal, state and local first responder communities in support of their role to protect and secure the homeland. The program facilitates the transfer of DoD technology by fostering relationships among DoD technology developers, state and local first responders and federal law enforcement agencies.

Dept. of Homeland Security
Official Web site of the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.

DHS Private Sector Resources Catalog

The Private Sector Resources Catalog, published by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, facilitates your organization's access to the resources you need to participate in the homeland security enterprise and help keep our country secure. The first to be targeted specifically towards private sector partners and encompassing the entire Department, this document collects the training, publications, guidance, alerts, newsletters, programs, and services available to the private sector across the Department. Recognizing the breadth and diversity of the available resources as well as the Department's continually evolving work, this catalog will be updated regularly to publicize new resources and increase private sector awareness.

Disaster Help Portal
The DisasterHelp.gov portal is part of the Disaster Management e-gov initiative. It is intended to reach five overlapping audiences: (1) Local / State / Tribal Governments, (2) individual Citizens, (3) private sector businesses, (4) non-Government organizations, and (5) Federal agencies.  The intergovernmental audience is the primary focus at present, and that audience is seen as composed of: political and civil service leadership, emergency managers, homeland security advisors, and first responders (including fire and law enforcement, emergency medical services, etc.)

Disaster Resource Guide
The Disaster Resource Guide has announced the release of its 10th annual print edition and the 100th weekly Continuity e-Guide. Both guides are available without charge to businesses and government agencies worldwide. The Disaster Resource Guide is a source for information, articles, products and services for business continuity, disaster mitigation, recovery and emergency management. Both guides can be requested at www.disaster-resource.com/cgi-bin/freeguide.cgi.

Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP)
EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for state and local programs responsible for coordinating preparedness for and response to disasters, whether natural or human-caused.

Emergency Management Forum
The EM Forum promotes dynamic exchange of emergency management information. It seeks to provide innovative solutions to EM challenges by encouraging the use of currently available technologies by disaster professionals and volunteers. Log in for online forum sessions or read transcripts of past forum events.

Emergency Management Professional Organization for Women's Enrichment™ (EMPOWER)

The emergency management organization for women, Emergency Management Professional Organization for Women's Enrichment™ (EMPOWER), is a 501(c)(3) that was created to build a platform where professionals can come together to share experiences, build skills, and expand and deepen industry knowledge. This vision will facilitate the advancement and enrichment of women in emergency management. EMPOWER is about strengthening and uniting women to encourage and enthusiastically support their growth and success.  

Emergency Service Sector Coodinating Council

Established in July of 2004, the Emergency Services Sector Coordinating Council (ESSCC) is an independent, unfunded coalition of organizations that represent the emergency services sector. It represents emergency response and security elements primarily across State, local, tribal and territorial emergency responder communities. The mission of the ESSCC is to protect and promote the capability of the ESS to provide services to the public, the other sectors and the nation.

• Charting a Path Forward on Crisis Reentry for the Emergency Services Sector: Report of the Emerency Services Sector Coordinating Council (posted 11 Sept 2011)
  

Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB)

The FCC's Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) officially began operations on Monday, September 25, 2006. PSHSB is responsible for developing, recommending, and administering the agency's policies pertaining to public safety communications issues. These policies include 9-1-1 and E9-1-1; operability and interoperability of public safety communications; communications infrastructure protection and disaster response; and network security and reliability. PSHSB also serves as a clearinghouse for public safety communications information and takes the lead on emergency response issues. A primary goal of PSHSB is to support and advance initiatives that further strengthen and enhance the security and reliability of the nation's communications infrastructure and public safety and emergency response capabilities that will better enable the FCC to assist the public, first responders, law enforcement, hospitals, the communications industry and all levels of government in the event of a natural disaster, pandemic or terrorist attack.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters.

Federation of American Scientists

The Federation of American Scientists offers a special page of links to Congressional Research Service Reports on Terrorism. Some recent examples of reports are "Agro-Terrorism: Threats and Preparedness," "Trends in Terrorism," "Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure," and much more.

FEMA Higher Education Project

One goal of FEMA is to encourage and support the dissemination of hazard, disaster, and emergency management-related information in colleges and universities across the United States. In support of this effort, the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland, has undertaken several projects with the aim of promoting college-based emergency management education for future emergency managers and other interested personnel. For a listing of colleges and universities offering emergency management courses, certificates or degree programs, go to The College List.

FirstResponder.gov

FirstResponder.gov's mission is to provide a portal that enables federal, state, local and tribal First Responders to easily access and leverage federal web services, information on resources, products, standards, testing and evaluation, and best practices, in a collaborative environment. It is published by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.

Flood Map Modernization

Map Modernization (Map Mod) is a five-year initiative by FEMA to remap our nation’s floodplains and provide digital maps accessible to the public via the internet. A significant component to Map Mod is public awareness and education. It is important for emergency managers to know how Map Modernization is going to effect their communities and how to get the public involved with this initiative. Download a brochure that gives an overview of Map Mod. Here are some links for additional information about flood hazard mapping and map modernization:

Foundation for Higher Education Accreditation

The Foundation for Higher Education Accreditation (FFHEA) facilitates and supports the efforts of students, researchers, academicians, administrators and practitioners to develop standards that will strengthen the disaster/emergency management profession. The organization is dedicated to excellence in teaching; research and public outreach in disciplines contributing to the disaster phases and the security of the homeland; and the promotion of collaborative opportunities between the public, private and academic communities. Its mission is to serve the emergency management educational communities by developing post-secondary coursework and programs, including those for use in associate, baccalaureate and graduate degree programs.

GAO Reports and Testimonies Related to Disaster Preparedness, Response and Reconstruction
A bibliography of GAO products related to disaster preparedness, response and reconstruction.

GetPandemicReady.org
GetPandemicReady.org was created by members of a grassroots, volunteer organization called the Get Pandemic Ready Team (GPR Team). The GPR Team is a group of concerned citizens committed to personal preparation and community resiliency as the foundation for getting though a pandemic. Members of the team used their own experiences and extensive research to gather practical and time-efficient advice to help families prepare for a pandemic. GetPandemicReady.org is intended as a complement to the CDC's PandemicFlu.gov, to provide  everyday people with straightforward information and easy-to-follow advice about how to prepare and protect you and your family in the event of a wide-spread influenza outbreak.

Heritage Preservation: The National Institute for Conservation

Heritage Preservation co-sponsors with FEMA the Heritage Emergency National Task Force (nearly 30 member organizations) to help institutions and individuals learn how to protect their valuables from disasters of all types and how best to respond if the worst happens. Heritage Preservation publishes the "Field Guide to Emergency Response," a vital tool for cultural institutions. In Dec. 2006, Heritage Preservation announced a new resource for members of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force and others serving on panels for the Lessons Applied initiative. A Lessons Applied Information Room (LAIR) has been created on Heritage Preservations Web site at www.heritagepreservation.org/programs/tflessons. Panel profiles, panel conference call and meeting notes, and other informational resources are posted for your reference. The LAIR is accessible only through the link, not the Task Force home page.

Higher Education Programs in Emergency Management  

Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov)
A secure and restricted-access national network of Lessons Learned and Best Practices for emergency response providers and homeland security officials.

Multihazard Mitigation Council

The Multihazard Mitigation Council of the National Institute of Building Sciences released a study Dec. 19, 2005, entitled Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities. This study was directed by Congress and commissioned by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It concludes that each dollar spent on disaster mitigation saves an average of four dollars. A summary of the report is attached. Further information is also available on the National Institute of Building Sciences Web site at http://nibs.org/MMC/mmchome.html. Please feel free to contact the DHS/FEMA Office of Intergovernmental Affairs at (202) 646-3936 with any questions.

National Association of Counties

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties. NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.

National Commission on Children in Disasters (NCCD)

The NCCD has published its Recommended Guidelines for Conducting Background Check on Volunteers. The safety of children in the mass care shelter environment is of paramount concern to the National Commission on Children and Disasters. Volunteer organizations active in disasters, faith-based groups and local governments should have the strongest possible screening policies and procedures to weed out individuals who may harm children or other vulnerable populations. No single background screening method is 100% fool proof. Therefore, information on potential volunteers should be collected from a combination of trusted sources. Download guidelines here. (posted 09 May 2011)

Useful resources recommended by NCCD:

National Emergency Management Assocation (NEMA)
NEMA is the professional association of and for state emergency management directors. 

National Incident Management System (NIMS) Homepage
Developed by DHS, NIMS integrates effective practices in emergency response into a comprehensive national framework for incident management.

• NIMS Guideline for the Credentialing of Personnel (30 Sept 2011) This document provides guidance on credentialing for Federal, State, tribal, and local personnel, as well as for voluntary and not-for-profit response organizations and persons affiliated with critical infrastructure (also referred to as “affiliation access”). The guideline is of particular interest to our critical infrastructure partners, we believe, because it contains recommended processes for State and local officials to use to prioritize access to restricted areas following disasters or emergencies. This can help expedite repair and restoration of critical infrastructure facilities and services. The document was developed with the participation of stakeholders from key critical infrastructure sectors, and builds on the doctrine established in NIMS Guide 0002 National Credentialing Definition and Criteria, dated March 27, 2007. It addresses the need to establish legitimacy through proof of identity, qualification/affiliation, and authorization to deploy for the full spectrum of responders.
  

National Security Resources for the Justice Community

This site is designed for the justice community, so it can share critical counterterrorism, intelligence, and related policy and training resources with federal, state, and local justice practitioners. It is intended to be a "one-stop shop" for law enforcement, courts, corrections, and other justice professionals, providing them with access to training, funding, and policies and promising practices for their counterterrorism efforts at the state and local level.  

National Weather Service
Official Web site of the U.S. NOAA's National Weather Service.

NOAA StormReady Program
StormReady communities are better prepared to save lives from the onslaught of severe weather through better planning, education, and awareness. No community is storm proof, but StormReady can help communities save lives.

Pandemic Flu.gov

As the official Web site of the U.S. Health & Human Services on pandemic flu and avian influenza, this site includes the Pandemic Influenza Plan, as well as guidance documents for state and local partners.

Pandemic Influenza Resources and Guidelines

A collection of resources, guidelines, information, and tools offered by the National Association of State EMS Officials.

PETS (Pets Evacuation & Transportation Standards) Act

Provisum Strategies Resource Links

Provisum Strategies LLC is a homeland security consulting firm. The company site's resources section provides useful links to online resources related to homeland security and emergency management.

Public Entity Risk Institute
PERI's clearinghouse links to hundreds of resources in risk management, disaster management, and environmental liability management.

Radiation Awareness

Ready America
Ready.gov is part of the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security mandate to educate the public on a continuing basis about how to be prepared in case of emergency, including a possible terrorist attack. The site includes information for families on how to put together an emergency kit, how to create a family emergency preparedness plan, and how to stay informed.

ReliefWeb
ReliefWeb, administered by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), provides information (documents and maps) on humanitarian emergencies and disasters.

Responder Knowledge Base

IAEM is a supporting partner of the Responder Knowledge Base, which was built specifically to serve the needs of emergency responders. It contains information on currently available products, along with a wealth of related information such as standards, training, and grants. All vendor information is screened before posting.

Safe America Foundation

Satellite Communications: Why Satellite Communications Are an Essential Tool for Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery

This white paper was developed by Futron Corporation and GVF, the non-profit association of the global satellite communications sector. It is intended to provide an introduction for public and private sector organizations by setting forth the basic facts about satellite communications that are available to support any emergency requirement. Further, the white paper aims to facilitate those organizations' efforts to effectively procure, contract for, and deploy satellite-based emergency management and disaster recovery solutions.

Save the Children: U.S. Emergency Programs for Children

Simplified Guide to the Incident Command System for Transportation Professionals

The purpose of the guide is to introduce ICS to stakeholders who may be called upon to provide specific expertise, assistance or material during highway incidents, but who may be largely unfamiliar with ICS organization and operations. These stakeholders include professionals at transportation agencies, companies involved in towing and recovery, as well as elected officials and government agency managers at all levels. For information on obtaining printed copies, contact Laurie Radow, Transporatation Specialist, FHWA, at Laurel.Radow@fhwa.dot.gov. She's interested in learning if you have found this document to be of use and how you've incorporated it into what you're doing.

Special Needs Briefing

This briefing was prepared by the IAEM Special Needs Committee at the request of Daniel Gade, Associate Director for Domestic Policy at the White House.

Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency: Event Safety Guide

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) has developed an Event Safety Guide, which is a comprehensive planning document that can be used by all levels of government to prepare for high visibility type events.

UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)

The ISDR aims at building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development, with the goal of reducing human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters. This Web site is a great source of global news on disaster reduction efforts, and it is worth subscribing to the UNISDR Highlights e-newsletter.

Volunteering in the United States

This report was prepared by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, released on Feb. 8, 2008. These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to the September 2007 Current Population
Survey (CPS). The supplement was sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information on employment and
unemployment among the nation’s civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. Volunteers are defined as persons who did unpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization.

World Health Organization