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Homeland Security S&T Summit (SE Region)

Topic: Southeast Region Research Initiative (SERRI)

A Congressionally Established Regional Research Initiative in Collaboration with National Laboratories

Title: Developing Community-Based, Regionally-Deployed Solutions to Homeland Security Challenges

Speaker: Benjamin Thomas, Jr.

SERRI Operations Manager

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Date: 7 April 2009

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Topic: SERRI - Regional Solutions with National Implications

Application to First Responders: State, local and tribal organizations, including the private sector.

• Engage in research activities for product validation

• End-users of products

Application to Preparedness: Man-made and natural disasters

• Training, planning, situational awareness, information sharing

• Casualty prediction, vulnerability assessments, at-risk segments

Application to the Southeast: Regional HLS Issues for 9 SE States

• 8 States of FEMA Region IV (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN)

• Virginia (FEMA Region II)

Homeland Security S&T Summit (SE Region)

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Southeast Region Research Initiative (SERRI) Southeast Region Research Initiative (SERRI)

ORNLY-12

SRNL

AlcornJSUMSUOle MissUSM

APSUMTSUTSUU MemphisUT Knoxville

College of CharlestonClemson UniversityUSC

UKMorehead State

NC StateWCU

GTRI

58 Projects -- 7 States

KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTSPartnership of:• FFRDCs • Universities• Private Sector

DHS Customers:• S&T Infra. & Geophysical Division• DHS Operational Units (FEMA concentration)

End- Users:• State, local and tribal public safety agencies + first responders

DHS directed projects:• Solutions to complex regional issues with national implications• Competitive awards

Functional areas:• Mississippi Research Initiative• Regional Research & Operations • Community and Regional Research Initiative/Institute

Jacksonville StateTuskegee Univ

ERDC

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SERRI Projects Address Capability Gaps Defined by DHS S&T and Capstone Integrated Product Teams

• 2 Borders and Maritime Security

• 3 Cyber Security

• 7 Chemical/Biological Defense

• 4 Infrastructure Protection & Geophysical

• 12 Flood Management

• 13 Incident Management & Interoperability

• 10 Information Sharing & Management

• 5 Resilience

• 2 Workforce Development

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Preparedness through Modeling/SimulationUniversity of Mississippi - Flood Simulation

Model• UM has developed a model that can be used to predict risks and vulnerabilities associated with floods caused by breeches in dams and levees

• The 2-D model represents a technology advancement over 1-D flood simulation models

• Interest in the model has been expressed by:• DHS OIP – Chief of Dams Sector Branch• National Geospatial Intelligence Agency• Engineering Research and Development

Center • US Army Corps of Engineers (Vicksburg, MS)• USDA National Resources Conservation

Services (Little Rock, AK)• New York City Office of Emergency Mgmt.• NOAA – National Weather Service (NWS)

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Preparedness through Training – Seed Funding for

Critical Infrastructure Protection Center at MSU• Establishes MOAs with diverse university-based research centers to provide critical infrastructure training within MS and the southeast region

• Trained:

• More than 300 veterinarians in detection of biological pathogens in animals

• Approximately 50 first responders in basic/advanced disaster life support

• Nearly 90 teachers in emotional resilience in young children (ages 4, 5, and 6)

• Approximately 120 attorneys plus IT staff in the use of digital evidence and data forensic

• More than 100 individuals on how to detect tax evasion and money laundering

• Uncovered a national level security vulnerability in a vendor’s process control software in its SCADA Lab

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Preparedness through Situational Awareness – Preparedness through Situational Awareness – MSU Tracking Barges Carrying Dangerous CargoMSU Tracking Barges Carrying Dangerous Cargo• Barge tracking is important to national security.

• MSU is developing a prototype to provide better

information on hazardous movements by barges.

• Prototype will enhance detection of potential threats

related to hazardous movements on inland waterways.

• Collaborators:

Trucks Rail Waterway

445,218 Daily Shipments

3,723 Daily Shipments

82 Daily Shipments

808,662 Daily Tons 335,070 Daily Tons 181,279 Daily Tons

1.8 Tons per Shipment

90 Tons per Shipment

2211 Tons per Shipment

Source: U. S. Dept. of Transportation, October 1998, Hazardous Materials ShipmentTexas City Explosion

3130 Tons of Ammonium Nitrate(Equals 2 Barges of Ammonium Nitrate)

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Preparedness through Information SharingPreparedness through Information SharingMulti-State Information Sharing Multi-State Information Sharing

Federal and Private Sector Partnerships AcceleratingFederal and Private Sector Partnerships AcceleratingPrevention, Interdiction, and Emergency/Disaster Response and RecoveryPrevention, Interdiction, and Emergency/Disaster Response and Recovery

DNDO

Y12 National Security Complex

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3 SERRI Projects - Emergency Preparedness 3 SERRI Projects - Emergency Preparedness and Support for First Responders:and Support for First Responders:

Provides Situational Awareness for EOCs in 4 MS Counties

Survey of 90 Law Enforcement Agencies in GA, MS, and TN

Public-Private Partnerships for Regional Disaster Planning

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Topic: Southeast Region Research Initiative (SERRI)

Summary: SERRI is a HLS program which focuses on regional issues

that have national implications.

Take-Aways:

• It leverages public-private partnerships to meet HLS capability gaps.

• It combines S&T with operational support to develop HLS solutions.

• It is evolving to be more focused on FEMA requirements for preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.

Homeland Security S&T Summit (SE Region)

See our poster session: SERRI

See our website: www.serri.org