Consequence Management, News, Equipment
and Training (CoMNET) and Live Response
March 1, 2003
Background
The Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) is the program office within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for developing and implementing a national program to enhance the capacity of state and local agencies to respond to incidents of domestic terrorism, particularly those involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). ODP achieves this mission through coordinated training, equipment acquisition, technical assistance, and support for federal, state, and local exercises. Based on the specific requirements of state and local agencies, ODP works directly with emergency responders and conducts assessments of state and local needs and capabilities to guide the development and execution of its programs. ODP provides assistance to a broad spectrum of state and local emergency responders, including firefighters, emergency medical services, emergency management agencies, law enforcement, and public officials.
In 1999, the Department of Defense (DOD), Director of Military Support (DOMS), initiated the Advanced Technology Integration Demonstration (ATID) to deliver nationally accepted WMD equipment, response, and consequence management training. ATID culminated in the first Consequence Management, News, Equipment, and Training (CoMNET) Program, which included a Live Response segment. The call-in format of the Live Response segment proved to be so popular that it became a separate hour-long program. Following the conclusion of ATID, ODP began to co-sponsor the CoMNET and Live Response programs with DOD through the Combating Terrorism Technology Support Office/ Technical Support Working Group (CTTSO/TSWG). Beginning August 2002, ODP became the sole sponsor of these programs. CoMNET and Live Response are produced by the National Terrorism Preparedness Institute (NTPI), part of the Southeastern Public Safety Institute (SEPSI) of St. Petersburg College.
Program Descriptions
CoMNET and Live Response broadcasts are designed to provide tailored awareness level training to civilian and military responders at all levels and across all disciplines. Programs are one hour in length and are broadcast on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 2pm ET, with CoMNET and Live Response airing on alternate months. Each program addresses best practices and lessons learned, providing responders with current information they can use to improve capabilities within their own communities.
CoMNET: Consequence Management, News, Equipment, and Training is a news-magazine style program consisting of multiple news and feature story segments, similar to the National Alert programs aired on the FEMA’s Emergency Education Network (EENET). The format of CoMNET includes:
CoMNET addresses operational considerations that may impact responders in their communities and also covers issues of interest to federal, state, and local administrators responsible for WMD response resources. For more details and registration information, visit http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/comnet.html.
Live Response: During Live Response, a panel of experts explores topics related to WMD consequence management and engages in question and answer sessions with the program audience. Topics addressed include Unified Command in a WMD Event, Choosing Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, and Protocols for Removing Hazardous Wastes. For details and registration information, please visit the program website at http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/liveresponse.html
Program Availability
CoMNET and Live Response are broadcast over a system of private, public, government, commercial, satellite and computer networks. The primary means of satellite delivery is the FEMA EENET. All registered viewers receive EENET downlink coordinates. Other networks that have carried the broadcasts are:
The following groups and locations often have satellite downlink capability and may be able to assist organizations unable to receive CoMNET and Live Response broadcasts on their own:
Programs are also streamed live over the Internet in RealPlayer and Windows Media Player formats at http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/webcast.html.
Viewing CoMNET & Live Response
Individuals may coordinate program reception by contacting their local training administrator to receive the programs through one of the networks listed or by arranging to view the Internet webcast. Network coordinators and site administrators may register to receive programs at http://www.dlnets.com/telereg.htm.
Providing Input
NTPI welcomes topic suggestions and feedback by email at terrorism@spcollege.edu or by mail at:
National Terrorism Preparedness Institute
P.O. Box 13489
St. Petersburg FL 33733-3489
Registered viewers receive a feedback survey that is also available at http://terrorism.spcollege.edu under the CoMNET and Live Response sections.
Live Response viewers may submit questions to the expert panel using the following methods:
Requesting Program Copies
Copies of program broadcasts are available on videotape from NTPI. Please email requests to
terrorism@spcollege.edu, noting the month and the program
requested. Archived programs are also available on the NTPI website at http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/prevbroadcasts.html. Additionally, viewers can borrow program videotapes from most State Emergency Management Offices or FEMA Regional Offices. CoMNET and Live Response programs are considered to be in the A public domain and can be duplicated or aired over cable systems.