National Capital Region credential program tested for field use | 03.09.2007 | 05:42:02 | Views: 6698 | ID: March 9 '07: First responders, members of the private sector and government officials have been testing new credentialling technology designed to increase field and situational awareness during a response to a disaster in the National Capital Region, a press release announced. During the "Winter Storm" exercise in February, officials worked to implement the "test to verify the integration and interoperability of credential system attributes such as qualifications, authorizations, certifications and privileges." More than 50 organizations from 20 locations around the country participated in the exercise. "Participants and observers viewed details on a commercially available mapping program that gave local, regional, and nationwide emergency operation centers real-time situational awareness of first responders," the press release read. Working with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense Pentagon Force Protection Agency, the DHS Office of National Capital Region Coordination's "Winter Storm" exercise was a follow up to the "Winter Fox" demonstration held in February 2006 which "tested the interoperability and usability of the credential system through simulated emergency incidents at federal, state and local facilities." Officials have said that real-time awareness of the location of supplies, resources, manpower and victims is essential in establishing an effective and thorough response mechanism. Using the credential system, responders can be mapped on the field according to their responsibilities and tasks given so that emergency management officials can view a total response field view.
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