GDEM State Coordinator for Communications Agenda

1
GDEM State Coordinator for Communications Agenda

• Communication Projects Update
• Timeline for PSIC
• PSIC Status
• PSIC Audit Week of 11 May, 2009
• Communications Coordination Group
• Training
• ICTAP RICP Workshops March 30-31 _at_ Houston
  April 28-29 _at_ Fort Worth
• COML Training
• Exercises Upcoming DOD Interoperability
  Exercise, Camp Mabry Austin, Texas 1-5 June 2009

2
PUBLIC SAFETY INTEROPERABILITY COMMUNICATIONS
(PSIC) Grant Timeline
PSIC FUNDS EXPENDED
11 Months to Execute
APR 2010
PSIC AUDIT
JUN 08 - Progress Report Due (SF 296)
MAY 09 OIG Audit
Compliance Visits for MRG Apr 10 09 HOTCOG Apr
15 09 and NORTEX, TBD
APR 09 - Prep for OIG Audit
MAR 09 SPARS Transistion Travel to
LA Progress Report Submitted
FEB 09 Travel to PBRPC DETCOG
JAN 09 BSIR Input College Station
PSIC AWARDED TO THE STATE
DEC 08 Interoperability Coordinator Hired for
GDEM Progress Report Submitted
NOV 08 -
OCT 08 -
SEP 08 Progress Report Submitted (SF 296)
AUG 08 GDEM Preparedness Conference Progress
Reports Requested
JUL 08
JUN 08 - Progress Report Submitted (SF 296)
MAY 08 SAA Cindy Hood Assigned PSIC Grant
Hurricane Conference
APR 08 -
MAR 08 - Progress Report Submitted (SF 296)
FEB 08 -
JAN 08 -
DEC 07 PSIC Award Sub-Recipients Notified
3
State of Texas PSIC Projects
Hamilton
Wilson
Funded
Committed
Reimbursed
Future Projects
Partial
No Projects
4
(No Transcript)
5
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Since our state has more than
5,300 public safety agencies, we need to talk
specifics
100 interoperable radio systems have been built
or upgraded in Brazos Valley, Central Texas, East
Texas, Permian Basin and South Texas Development
Councils. 147 jurisdictions in the South East
Texas region have been provided interoperable
radio repeaters and subscriber units. Five
mobile communications vehicles have been provided
to the Central Texas, East Texas and Permian
Basin regions.
The Middle Rio Grande region built a nine county
interoperable system which is now being used by
state, local and federal emergency
responders. Microwave networks are replacing
expensive wire line systems in the
Houston-Galveston and Middle Rio Grande regions.
6

• The Austin-Travis County Regional Radio System
  is being expanded and
• will soon provide communications across five
  central counties.
• DPS acquired Texas' first P25 public safety 700
  MHz site in the state.
• Interoperable communications capability has been
  provided to 15 emergency operations centers /
  radio dispatch centers in the Central Texas and
  East Texas regions.
• Procurement of interoperable communications
  infrastructure equipment for the Panhandle Region
  is approximately 80 complete.
• 89 PSAPS (Public Safety Answering Points) have
  been upgraded with interoperable communications
  equipment in the North Central Texas region.

7

• The 2008 hurricane season came on the heels of
  six months of an already challenging period for
  homeland security in TexasThe State has
  continued to secure and protect our border with
  Mexico and at the same time endured the longest
  and prolonged wildfire season in our States
  history.
• In less than 60 days during the summer, Texas was
  assaulted by Hurricanes Dolly, Gustav, Ike and
  Tropical Storm Eduardo.
• (Jack Colley, Chief, GDEM, Office of the
  Governor, 12/808.)

8
Hurricane Ike swamps Galveston Island
9
Flooding over access road 523 to Surfside Beach,
caused by Hurricane Ike
10
Communications Coordination Group (CCG)Senate
Bill 936

• Mission The communications coordination group
  shall facilitate interagency coordination and
  collaboration to provide efficient and effective 
  pre-planning, planning and execution of
  communications support to joint,  interagency,
  and intergovernmental task forces prior to and
  during a disaster.
• The CCG will be designed to accomplish the
  following (as a minimum)
• Produce significant benefits for interagency
  synchronization of communication assets prior to,
  during and immediately following disasters.
• Maintain situational awareness of available
  commercial, military and other government assets
• Maintain the current status of commercial
  communications infrastructure
• Vet all requests for communications assistance
  sent to the State Operations Center, (SOC) and
  then assist the SOC with assigning the mission to
  the appropriate assets in the areas with the
  greatest need.
• Coordinate with commercial providers to establish
  priorities on re-establishment of commercial
  communications infrastructure.
• Utilize a network control center (systems
  tracking capability) to track and manage all
  deployed assets in real time

11
OIG Sample Audit Findings

• XXXXs Homeland Security Organization Faces
  Challenges
• XXXX Has Not Assured That Its Homeland Security
  Strategy Has Been Followed
• Grant Management Efforts Need Improvement
• Expenditures Were Not Always In Compliance With
  Grant Requirements
• Funding Was Not Always Allocated To High Risk
  Projects
• Opportunities Exist For Improving Program
  Readiness
• Recommendations
• Management Comments and OIG Analysis

12

• Contact information
• Janice Bruno, GDEM State Coordinator for
  Communications
• [phone] (Office)
• [phone] (Cell/BB)
• janice.bruno_at_txdps.state.tx.us
• Cindy Hood, SAA, PSIC Grants Coordinator
• [phone] (Office)
• cindy.hood_at_txdps.state.tx.us