Homeland Security S&T Summit (SE Region)

1. 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

2. Homeland Security S&T Summit (SE Region) • 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)

3. Southeast Region Research Initiative (SERRI) • KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS • Partnership 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 58 Projects -- 7 States UK Morehead State Jacksonville State Tuskegee Univ ORNL APSU MTSU TSU U Memphis UT Knoxville Y-12 SRNL GTRI NC State WCU Alcorn JSU MSU Ole Miss USM College of Charleston Clemson University USC ERDC

4. 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

5. Preparedness through Modeling/Simulation University 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)

6. 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

7. Preparedness through Situational Awareness – MSU 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: Texas City Explosion 3130 Tons of Ammonium Nitrate (Equals 2 Barges of Ammonium Nitrate) Source: U. S. Dept. of Transportation, October 1998, Hazardous Materials Shipment

8. Preparedness through Information SharingMulti-State Information Sharing Federal and Private Sector Partnerships AcceleratingPrevention, Interdiction, and Emergency/Disaster Response and Recovery DNDO Y12 National Security Complex

9. 3 SERRI Projects - Emergency Preparedness and Support for First Responders: Public-Private Partnerships for Regional Disaster Planning Provides Situational Awareness for EOCs in 4 MS Counties Survey of 90 Law Enforcement Agencies in GA, MS, and TN

10. Homeland Security S&T Summit (SE Region) • 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. See our poster session: SERRI See our website: www.serri.org