November 10, 2004 — The tragic events of Sept. 11 and the international war against terrorism continue to alter the nation's perception of national security and prompt the federal government to re-evaluate its priorities with respect to homeland security — on land, as well as in the ocean and air above.

“Although NOAA is best known as a premier science and service agency whose mission is to describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, NOAA expertise and services can be applied to many other areas, including national security. NOAA is uniquely positioned to provide essential products and services to ensure that U.S. ports/coasts remain open and are protected, and that the air we breath remains safe,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

NOAA's Homeland Security Program Office
NOAA established a Homeland Security Program Office within its Office of the Chief Information Officer shortly after Sept. 11, 2001. The HSPO Director, NOAA Corps Capt. Philip M. Kenul, has been designated to serve as the principle point of contact for NOAA Executive Management regarding homeland security programs across the entire agency. Other responsibilities include coordinating all plans, programs and policies regarding homeland security; ensuring continuity of operations; continued delivery of services and working with other offices to guarantee the safety and security of NOAA's staff and facilities. The NOAA HSPO was also charged with establishing an Incident Coordination Center within NOAA to provide secure and reliable communications and serve as a command center in the event that there is another homeland security incident.

The NOAA Homeland Security Senior Management Team acts as an executive steering committee to the NOAA HSPO, coordinating NOAA's HS-related policies and programs. It is comprised of representatives appointed by the assistant administrators of NOAA's line and staff Offices. The NOAA HS SMT also has operational responsibilities and responds to incidents where support from multiple line offices is needed and the ICC has been activated (either physically or virtually). Given their familiarity with HS-related activities and mission critical functions, many individuals on the NOAA HS SMT are also part of NOAA's Contingency of Operation Plan and have pre-defined roles in COOP activations at emergency/alternative operating sites.

NOAA HOMELAND SECURITY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
After reviewing the full range of its capabilities, NOAA has identified more than 50that could immediately advance the nation's HS efforts. NOAA leverages these already existing programs, technologies and expertise in new and innovative ways to assist the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and has actively partnered with many other state, local and federal agencies addressing homeland security issues.

Alerts and Public Warnings

• NOAA Weather/All Hazards Network: The NOAA National Weather Service broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day via a nationwide network of radio stations. Working with the Federal Communication Commission's Emergency Alert System, the NOAA weather radio was leveraged to serve as an "all hazards" radio network for both natural (severe storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanic activity) and environmental (chemical spills and bio-hazardous releases) events. In June 2004, NOAA further leveraged its NWR capabilities by signing an agreement that allows the USDHS to send critical all-hazards alerts and warnings directly through the NOAA All-Hazards Network. To compliment NWR’s new homeland security messaging capabilities, NOAA, the USDHS and the U.S. Department of Education plan to initiate a pilot program that provides NOAA Weather/All Hazard Radios to public schools in 10 to 15 cities and two to three rural states.

Maritime Domain Awareness: NOAA has assisted the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy in implementing the Maritime Domain Awareness Program, which is developing a national MDA strategy that will ensure interagency coordination of homeland security policy and requirements in marine areas.

• MDA Automated Identification System: The NOAA Weather Service and USCG have entered into an agreement to develop, install, operate and maintain marine two-way communications systems on NOAA data buoys to relay Automated Identification Signals through satellite links to the USCG for vessel tracking. AIS is a shipboard system that broadcasts vessel data such as name, course, speed and call signal to other AIS vessels and stations for collision avoidance at sea. However, since AIS was previously only carried by VHF signal, it had a limited range. The installation of satellite relays on NOAA data buoys will expand the USCG capability to monitor and track vessels approaching U.S. territorial waters well beyond the line of site.
• Navigational Response Team - Shallow Water Survey Craft Project: NOAA outfitted several NRT hulls with a selected suite of hull-mounted sonar systems and associated navigation, data collection, data processing and data storage systems. These new monitoring systems will enable NOAA to more quickly respond to coastal emergencies. NOAA is also partnering with the USCG in a pilot program to use hydrographic survey technology for mine detection in restricted port areas.
• NOAA's Vessel Monitoring System: The NOAA VMS uses GPS, satellite communications and a secure network to monitor fishing vessel compliance. However, this evolving capability may soon also be used for marine enforcement and homeland security needs because it can be used to track suspicious vessels at sea and supports two-way message communications between vessels. Pending legislative approval, the expanded VMS could encompass the entire nation and would be able to relay near real-time data to the USCG for enforcement and homeland security purposes.

Forecasts and Dispersion Modeling

• Reverse 911 National Capitol Region Alert Pilot: NOAA is working to integrate real-time weather models and hazardous plume predictions to provide the USDHS with the capacity to use reverse 911 technologies. Forecasters at the Sterling, Va., NOAA Weather Forecast Office will be able to provide the USDHS with toxic plume dispersion information and geo-target specific areas that can assist USDHS staff and others in issuing more targeted homeland security alerts and warnings.
• DCNet: Monitoring stations have been installed in Washington, D.C., to support one of the first dispersion forecasting systems specifically designed for urban areas. Collectively, these stations — known as DCNet — collect and analyze standard meteorological data (as well as wind speed, direction and turbulence data) at frequent intervals to help define downwind areas of potential high risk. In doing so, DCNet allows users to gain a better understanding of how hazardous trace gases and particles are dispersed in urban areas. (Click on the NOAA image to the right for a larger view of DCnet monitoring station. Please credit "NOAA.")
• Air Dispersion Models: NOAA has also linked its three operational air dispersion models — the Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres (ALOHA – local scale), Hazardous Atmospheric Release Modeling (HARM – urban scale), and Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT – regional scale) — to support emergency planners and first responders in detecting and tracking chemical and biological weapons in the atmosphere. The image above right shows an example "footprint" from the NOAA ALOHA Model depicting an accidental release of ammonia. The red shaded footprint represents the area where ammonia concentrations could be hazardous to humans.
• Chemical and Biological Spills Models: NOAA continues to help emergency managers and first responders plan for possible (or mitigate existing) chemical or biological spills near the coast using both its Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations and General NOAA Oil Modeling Environment models to predict the movement and environmental impact of such spills.

Remote Sensing

• LIDAR and Aerial Photography: NOAA continues to use Lidar elevation data and high quality aerial photography to collect data in support of homeland security surveys. Specifically, these technologies can be used to protect critical infrastructure, aid in disaster response and recovery efforts, verify dispersion modeling and provide support for special security events.

INTERAGENCY COOPERATION
Another important component of NOAA’s homeland security effort involves forming collaborative partnerships with other state, local and federal entities addressing homeland security issues.

• Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center: NOAA is now helping to organize and coordinate federal emergency response through the IMAAC, which will provide decision makers with custom products and a single point of contact for all-hazards dispersion modeling predictions and assessments.
• NOAA Fisheries Office for Law Enforcement: NOAA OLE agents continue to support investigative, security, and search and recovery efforts in collaboration with other federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Department of Justice Anti-Terrorism Task Force.
• Homeland Security Operation Center Support: Since June 2004, NOAA staff have supported the HSOC, which provides operational communications, information and resource coordination for domestic incident management. Specifically, NOAA provides environmental/weather forecasts and air dispersion vulnerability assessments based on meteorological conditions at venues across the county, including national holiday events (such as July 4th), the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and even 24/7 support for natural disasters (e.g., Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan).

NOAA contributions to homeland security cannot be overstated. NOAA has and will continue to support the nation with its hazardous material spill response capabilities; atmospheric and waterborne dispersion forecasting; vessel monitoring systems; and support for communities and emergency responders (including rapid on-site weather forecasting to support emergency operations, and civil emergency alert relay through NOAA Weather Radio). NOAA is also ready to provide NOAA ships, aircraft, global observing systems, and professional law enforcement officers to serve the nation when the need arises.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's ROLE IN THE NATION's RECOVERY EFFORTS AND THE WAR ON TERRORISM

NOAA CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOMELAND SECURITY SINCE SEPT. 11, 2001

PRESIDENT’S BUDGET FOR NOAA MAXIMIZES RESOURCES TO BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE ECONOMY

NOAA Air Resources Laboratory's Contribution to Homeland Security

NODC: Helping with National Security

NOAA REMOTE SENSING EXPERTISE AIDS WORLD TRADE CENTER RECOVERY EFFORTS

NOAA CONDUCTS MORE FLIGHTS OVER WORLD TRADE CENTER SITE

Media Contact:
Dave Miller, NOAA, (202) 482-0013