Department of Homeland Security (DHS) News

The DHS has revamped its website and launched a YouTube channel New tools will provide a forum for open dialogue with the public The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today launched the DHS YouTube Channel and announced the redesign of DHS.gov - steps to enhance the Department's web presence, increase transparency and provide accurate, up-to-date information to the public. "Social media plays an increasingly large role in our engagement with the public, especially in...

The DHS needs inputs to inform the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review DHS calls for inputs to inform new policy as part of review Now is your opportunity to help shape our nation's homeland security policies and priorities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting the first ever Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) that will establish the strategic foundation for homeland security activities over the next four years. Secretary Napolitano views t...

USFA is recruiting for its new 'Hot Topics in Fire Protection' course Courses will explore new ideas in fire protection The United States Fire Administration (USFA), Department of Homeland Security, is recruiting students and instructor candidates to attend pilot classes for its new six-day on-campus course Hot Topics in Fire Protection. The pilot will be offered October 18 to 23, 2009 at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Students will arrive...

The latest edition of NFPA 1600 is now available as an iPhone application iPhone users can access interactive version of standard for emergency preparedness The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced today the availability of an iPhone application for the latest edition of NFPA 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs, which has been adopted by the Department of Homeland Security. The NFPA 1600 application is availab...

Arriving on-scene: US firefighters can expect a reduction in AFG funding Reductions in firefighter funding grant program passed The House and Senate versions of the FY 2010 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act both contain sizable reductions in funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. Both the House - passed bill (H.R. 2892) and Senate - passed bill (S. 1298) would provide $390 million in funding for AFG - a $175 million decrease f...

Secretary Napolitano supports Richard Serino's likely nomination as Deputy Administrator of FEMA DHS Secretary is encouraged by Serino's experience U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today applauded President Obama's intent to nominate Richard Serino - who brings 35 years of emergency management and emergency medical services experience - as Deputy Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). "Richard's decad...

Secretary Napolitano has announced her approval of Kelvin Cochran for US Fire Administrator DHS Secretary approves President's experienced intended choice U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano applauds President Obama's intent to nominate Kelvin Cochran - who brings decades of experience in preventing and responding to fires and emergencies - as U.S. Fire Administrator. "Kelvin will play a vital role in strengthening our fire prevention...

FEMA has announced aid for Illinois to supplement recovery efforts following severe weather damage Disaster aid made available for Illinois following severe weather The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for Illinois to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes during the period of Ma...

President Obama has approved new rules on the use of SAFER grants In an economic crisis, changes will allow fire departments to use SAFER grants to retain fire fighters President Obama today approved new rules that govern how fire departments can use funding from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, an important change during an economic crisis that is responsible for widespread layoffs of fire fighters throughout the country. The ne...

FEMA is hosting a roundtable to highlight President Obama's United We Serve campaign Roundtable highlights need for volunteer service in US communities Today, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency kicked off the President's summer of service by holding a roundtable with volunteer and career first responders, including firefighters, members of FEMA's Fire Corps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Today's event highlight...

Janet Napolitano and Craig Fugate announce the new FEMA grants New grants will improve US readiness for disasters US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano have announced nearly $1.8 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preparedness grants designed to help states, urban areas, tribal governments and non-profit agencies improve their readiness by enhancing protection, prevention, response and recovery capabilities for all disas...

The DHS has announced the release of grant guidance for fire station funding Key grant guidance released This morning, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the release of grant guidance for $210 million in fire station construction funding that was appropriated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law earlier this year. The fire station construction grant funding will be administered by the Federal Emerg...

Craig Fugate, the new FEMA Administrator, being sworn in by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano Following a ceremony today in which U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano swore in Craig Fugate as Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, the two participated in a video teleconference briefing with governors and emergency management officials representing more than a dozen hurricane-prone states to discuss hurricane preparedness effor...