Federal official outlines choices for emergency responders

The nation's "first responders" to emergencies worry that the process for accessing federal money to bolster homeland security is too cumbersome, but one Homeland Security Department official said separate efforts to improve preparedness on the frontlines are under way.

One program through the department's Homeland Security Advanced Research Project Agency (HSARPA) provides funding for private-sector companies to develop new technologies just for first responders, said Christopher Doyle, the deputy director of emergency preparedness and response in the department's science and technology division.

Doyle envisions the program producing new equipment like firefighter gear that not only resists heat but also has biohazard protection. Companies interested in applying for funding can find the announcements at HSARPA's funding and procurement Web site.

The HSARPA program could provide funds to develop a three-dimensional system for tracking firefighters. "One of the biggest things is the inability for an on-scene commander to know in 3-D where the firefighters are," Doyle said.

Department officials also have launched another program that aims to better prepare cities for potential emergencies. The Regional Technology Integration (RTI) initiative will evaluate local preparedness and then assist with outfitting first responders.

"One of the things we've identified is [that] a lot of technology is being worked on and a lot of it is available commercially, over the counter," Doyle said. "But there's a shortage of places taking that technology and integrating it at the local level."

Working closely with local officials, Homeland Security experts will help determine what gaps exist and how to fill them. The program does not have funding to purchase new equipment for metro areas, but department officials will point local officials toward available grants and other funding opportunities.

"This will be a collaborative effort with no preconceived notions of what these localities need," Doyle said.

The first two metro areas participating in the program are Anaheim, Calif., and Cincinnati. Another city will be announced Friday, and the final pilot city will be announced in several weeks. The cities will work with sister cities to further spread the findings of the program.

Homeland Security officials expect RTI to grow by four new metro areas each year. "This is the maiden voyage for this," Doyle said. "We don't know what we're going to find out. We plan to take what we find and get that information out to any locality that can use it."