GEMA elected official forum August 1 2011 - ACCGaccg.org/library/2011_08_01_GEMA Elected Official Forum.pdf Training efforts • Georgia Interoperability Network (GIN) – System connects

www.gema.ga.gov www.ready.ga.gov

Georgia Emergency Management Agency

GEMA

Nick BrownStatewide Interoperable Communications Coordinator

Division of Homeland Security


• Introductions– Name– Position– Agency

• Breaks/Lunch• Smoking• Restrooms• Emergency exits

Elected Officials Communication Forum


Statewide Communication Efforts• Training

– GIN– Communication Unit Leaders/Technicians

• Exercises– Mobile Communication Vehicles– Georgia Interoperability Network (GIN)

• Federal grant funds• VHF/UHF narrowbanding



What is Operability?• As defined by DHS guidance:

“the ability of emergency responders to establish and sustain communications in support of mission operations.”

In simple terms – ensuring your responders can communicate for basic day to day missions



What is Interoperability?• As defined by DHS guidance:

“the ability for public safety, emergency response agencies and government officials to be able to communicate across levels of government, across disciplines/organizations, across jurisdictions as needed, on demand and as authorized.”

In simple terms – ensuring your responders can communicate during large scale incidents with mutual aid agencies.



Definitely not an ideal situationElected Officials Communication Forum


Training efforts• Georgia Interoperability Network (GIN)

– System connects radio systems all county 911 centers and state agencies – 191 sites statewide

– Online training system available 24/7– GIN overview video for incident commanders available online

• Communication Unit Leader (COML) and Communication Technician (COMT)– 5 COML classes in 18 months, over 100 personnel trained– 1 COMT class (June 2011) several more planned for later in

2011/2012– COML and COMT personnel coordinate communication efforts

for day to day or large scale incidents



Exercise efforts• Mobile Communication Vehicles (MCV)

– 4 field training MCV exercises in 6 months– Tests unit to unit and multi agency communication capabilities– Large statewide exercise schedule for October of this year

• Georgia Interoperability Network (GIN)– Planning regional GIN exercises in late 2011/2012

• Regional 800 MHz shared radio systems– Planning regional system exercises in late 2011/2012



• The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005 authorized up to $1 billion in the aggregate through fiscal year 2010 to carry out the PSIC program.

• The grant program was put in place to assist public safety agencies in the acquisition of, deployment of, or training for the use of interoperable communications systems.

• Georgia received $25 million, the majority of which went toward regional 800 MHz radio systems. This was a one time grant program in FY2007.

Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant (PSIC) Program



Interoperable Emergency Communications Grant Program (IECGP) • IECGP funding can only be used for

planning, training and exercise• Developed GIN web-based training• Conducted 19 regional

interoperability workshops• Conducted 4 mobile communication

vehicle exercises• Future uses

• Develop regional TICP’s• Additional COML and COMT

training• Additional MCV exercises

• IECGP FY2010 versus FY2011• FY2010 $1 million• FY2011 $0



Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)

U . S . D E P A R T M E N T O F H O M E L A N D S E C U R I T Y

FY 2011 Preparedness Grant Programs Overview

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP)Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)

Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP)UASI Nonprofit Security Grant Program (UASI NSGP)Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG)

Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP)Emergency Operations Center Grant Program (EOC)

Driver’s License Security Grant Program (DLSGP)Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP)

Intercity Passenger Rail (Amtrak)Port Security Grant Program (PSGP)

Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP)

• HSGP funding can be used for multi purposes

• Covers all 37 target capabilities• Funds infrastructure, equipment,

training, exercise, planning

• Future uses• Continue to improve GIN

capabilities• Continue promoting regional radio

system expansions

• HSGP FY2010 versus FY2011• FY2010 $19 million• FY2011 $9 million (more than a

56% cut due to loss of IECGP)



Georgia Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP)

A collaborative effort to synchronize the strategic planning of local, tribal, state and federal government emergency response agencies.

Provides all stakeholders with improved communications systems, improved first responder safety and support to their communities.

First created in 2007 in response to the PSIC grant program.

Revised in 2010, next revision early 2012



If your radio system is in any of the spectrum listed below you should be preparing to narrowband:

• VHF- 150–174 MHz: (all government and private industry users)

• UHF- 421–430 MHz: (all government and private industry users) 450–470 MHz: (all government and private industry users) 470–512 MHz: (all government and private industry users)

• Frequencies below 150 MHz or above 512 MHz are not subject to narrowband requirements.


VHF/UHF narrowbanding as mandated by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)



Combination of narrow and wide band transmitters as of June 2011



Narrowband transmitters as of June 2011



Wideband transmitters as of June 2011


End


GEMA elected official forum August 1 2011 - ACCGaccg.org/library/2011_08_01_GEMA Elected Official Forum.pdf Training efforts • Georgia Interoperability Network (GIN) – System connects

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