Comments Due on Private Sector Preparedness Standards

The Department of Homeland Security is solic­it­ing comments — by January 15 — on their proposed standards for the new Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep). Recommended by the 9/11 commis­sion, PS-Prep was devel­oped for private entities to receive certi­fi­ca­tion for emergency prepared­ness from DHS.

“Preparedness is a shared respon­si­bil­ity and everyone—including businesses, univer­si­ties and non-profit organizations—has a role to play,” said Napolitano when announc­ing the proposed standards in October. “Ensuring our private sector partners have the infor­ma­tion and train­ing they need to respond to disas­ters will strengthen our efforts to build a culture of prepared­ness nationwide.”

DHS proposed PS-Prep standards from three organi­za­tions: the National Fire Protection Association, the British Standards Institution and ASIS International. So why not peruse these documents and submit comments and/or recom­mend additional standards for DHS to consider?

Here’s just one snippet to ponder. In Section 4.3.3 of the ASIS document (“Organizational Resilience: Security Preparedness, and Continuity Management Systems — Requirements and Guidance for Use”), you’ll find a discus­sion on commu­ni­ca­tion standards that includes:

“With regard to its hazards, threats and risks, and OR manage­ment system, the organi­za­tion shall estab­lish, imple­ment, and maintain (a) proce­dure (s) for … g) Assuring avail­abil­ity of the means of commu­ni­ca­tion during a crisis situa­tion and disrup­tion.”

What do you think of this? Is there enough meat to it? Should it stipu­late that  satel­lite technolo­gies be an element of a private entity’s emergency prepared­ness strate­gies?  When man-made and natural disrup­tions occur, terres­trial commu­ni­ca­tions infra­struc­ture is indis­putably vulner­a­ble. Satellites, float­ing 30,000 feet above the chaos, can provide peace of mind — with their reliable voice and data connec­tiv­ity. Governments and militaries around the world have relied on satel­lite services for years. Why not the private sector? And why not make it a standard?

And should the standards go a step further and define what “commu­ni­ca­tion” actually means in the 21^st century? Should it require that voice and data capabil­i­ties be assured, given our ubiqui­tous reliance on email, texting, and various Web 2.0 applications?

As we embark on a new year, let’s stretch ourselves a bit. Let’s think beyond the same-old, same-old. And let’s make sure there are no gray areas when it comes to commu­ni­ca­tions avail­abil­ity. After all, if we can’t connect with others in a time of crisis, how can we  possi­bly recover?

Please submit your comments to DHS by January 15.

Wishing you peace and prepared­ness in 2010!

More Information on PS-Prep

DHS PS-Prep Fact Sheet

DHS posted the Federal Register notice at www​.regula​tions​.gov.

Submit comments to www​.regula​tions​.gov or FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. (Identify Docket ID FEMA-2008–0017).

For more  infor­ma­tion, e-mail PrivateSectorPreparedness@hsi.dhs.gov.