Department of Homeland Security IDs Critical Gaps for First Responders

Yep – An OODAkit Could Fill that Gap

In May 2009, Randel Zeller, Director of Interagency and First Responder Programs at DHS Science & Technology and his colleagues published the “First Responder Capstone IPT.”  In it, they site a critical capability gap that still lingers for first responders: communicating when regular infrastructure is unavailable.

On page 74, you’ll find the following real-world example of an operational requirement describing a solution to fill this critical gap:

“The second primary requirement that must be in place to meet the mission of this ORD is human portable resilient communication systems that can provide connectivity to the interoperability framework. These systems will be in a kit form that has everything a FERP needs, to be hand-carried to the incident site, transported by car, helicopter or small watercraft. The kit must be able to provide voice, video and data communication peer-to-peer among FERPs at the incident site as well as capability across any available network. If normal network infrastructure is unavailable, the kit will contain a broadband satellite system to insure connectivity beyond the incident site. The Resilient Portable Communications Kit (RPCK) will be easy to setup and in operation in 10 to 20 minutes by any FERP. The kit will require zero technical support to setup. The RPCK must seamlessly participate in an expanding system of systems. The kit will be available in multiple form factors providing EROs the flexibility to have kits carried by hand in cases, mounted in vehicles, installed in mobile EOCs or any other type of response apparatus. If an ERO needs to support large-scale recovery operations, the RPCK will be modifiable to meet the requirement of the ERO.”

Yep – that’s an OODAkit. Except it only takes 5 to 10 minutes to get it up and running.

OODAkits have been successfully deployed by the U.S. Forest Service for wildfire response and were field proven as instrumental in disaster response earlier this year in Port-au-Prince.

Abbreviations Used in the Quote
ERO: Emergency Response Organization
FERP: First Emergency Response Provider
IPT: Integrated Product Team
ORD: Operational Requirements Document

What is the DHS First Responder IPT?

The First Responder IPT was established in early 2009. This Capstone IPT coordinates the identification and prioritization of the capability gaps, and the creation of detailed operational requirements of the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial first responders.

Salvation through Harmony in Montreal

“Salvation through Harmony” is Montreal’s motto and appears on the city’s coat of arms intended to illustrate that different communities have co-existed in harmony for nearly 400 years: a fleur de lis for the French, a rose for the English, a thistle for the Scots, a shamrock for the Irish, and a beaver for the Canadians.

First, the Amerindians and the French coexisted – then the British, the Scottish, the Irish, the East Europeans, Italians, Greeks and now people from every continent … and today the Montreal School Board welcomes children born in 188 different countries. Talk about interoperability!

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Operable or Interoperable Communications? The Chicken or the Egg?

Operable or interoperable – which came first? A few definitions to get you thinkin’:

• Communications = a process of transferring information from one entity to another
• Operable = able to operate/perform your duties
• Interoperable = able to exchange and use information
• Interoperability = ability to work with each other

With all the talk of communications interoperability and all the money we’ve spent since 9/11, you’d think this problem has been solved. Perhaps it has in some specific cases, but for the majority of U.S. communities – despite the best of intentions – interoperability as well as basic communications operability is still lacking as a fundamental cornerstone of our local, regional, and national preparedness.

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