InfraGard Members Alliance Houston

Houston InfraGard Chapter collaborating with DHS to gather assessment data after tropical storms

The Houston InfraGard Chapter is collaborating with the local Department of Homeland Security (DHS) office to provide critical infrastructure damage assessment after any regional disaster.  The DHS will monitor the Houston InfraGard Twitter account IMAHoustonSR for in the field updates.  The Twitter account is only available for Houston InfraGard Chapter members and vetted agencies.  All members and critical infrastructure partners are encouraged to "request to follow" the Twitter account well in advance of any incident.

Additional users will not be added 48 hours before any landfalling storm.

Please refer to our web page at: http://www.infragardhouston.org/infragardhouston/member-resources.html

Tropical Storm Alex forms near Yucatan, may be threat to Gulf of Mexico

The first tropical strom of the 2010 hurricane season has formed off the Yucatan Penninsula.  Additional information on tropical storm Alex may be found at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/srh/tropicalwx/tropgraph.php?value=AT01&storm=TROPICAL+STORM+ALEX&regraph=images/resize/AL0110W.JPG 

InfraGard Houston President testifies at TX House of Representatives Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness about the ER-ITN system

Public hearings were held at the George R. Brown Convention Center today for lawmakers to gain insight into the preparedness of the Greater Houston area.  A number of local emergency management officials provided the committee with specific details on readiness.

Bob Janusaitis from the Houston Chapter provided testimony in support of the ER-ITN system which is a collaborative effort of InfraGard, the National Sheriff's Association, and the Pegasus Program.  Bob was accompanied by Subject Matter Expert - Daniel Renaud of the Pegasus Program.  The Committee was encouraged to support state wide adoption of the system which facilitates the re-entry of critical infrastructure personnel after a crisis.

 
Seated  right table:

Bob Janusaitis - InfraGard Houston, Daniel Renaud - Pegasus Program

ER-ITN has been successfully tested in Houston/Galveston area and is in active use in the Gulf Coast States involved in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

See article at KPRC

Texas House Select Committee on Emergency Preparedness Blog

Additional ER-ITN information

Emergency Responder ID Trust Network (ER-ITN)

The Emergency Responder ID Trust Network® (ER-ITN) enables critical infrastructure and support organizations to establish a network of trust with checkpoint operators (e.g. local law enforcement) before or during a crisis based on validated identity information.

Instead of managing cumbersome essential personnel lists (such as spreadsheets), organizations use the ERITN to:

• Find and satisfy the access requirements of a particular jurisdiction
• Manage the minimum identity information required to fulfill the particular tier or role for each individual
• Notify checkpoints who is to be allowed to pass based on need, or the current authorized tier or role(s)

The ER-ITN is a web-based solution that operates securely over the Internet. Unlike competing solutions, the ER-ITN does not require users to install any new or special hardware or software.

ER-ITN Info sheet

ER-ITN Brochure