Cyber security tops list in Nevada Homeland Security funding priorities

Cyber security, intel sharing, public information, operation coordination and communication are the five top priorities for 2014 determined by the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security, chaired by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Sandoval and 16 voting members made the list of five spending priorities, with cyber security being No. 1, using a $4.7 million grant by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that was secured by Nevada last week.

Based on DHS funding criteria, the Commission unanimously agreed to focus strictly on the top five priorities for the state.

Here is the remainder of the news release from the March meeting of the Nevada Commission on Homeland Security:

1. Cyber Security (Mission area: Protection)
2. Intelligence and Information Sharing (Mission area: Prevention)
3. Public Information and Warning (Mission area: All)
4. Operational Coordination (Mission area: All)
5. Operational Communications (Mission area: Response)

The National Preparedness Goal organizes the 31 distinct critical elements (priorities) into the five mission areas:

Prevention - Prevent, avoid or stop an imminent, threatened or actual act of terrorism.

Protection - Protect our citizens, residents, visitors, and assets against the greatest threats and hazards in a manner that allows our interests, aspirations, and way of life to thrive.

Mitigation - Reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of future disasters.

Response - Respond quickly to save lives, protect property and the environment, and meet basic human needs in the aftermath of a catastrophic incident.

Recovery - Recover through a focus on the timely restoration, strengthening and revitalization of infrastructure, housing and a sustainable economy, as well as the health, social, cultural, historic and environmental fabric of communities affected by a catastrophic incident.

Gov. Sandoval opened the meeting by acknowledging the Nevada Division of Emergency Management/Homeland Security staff for achieving full accreditation for the state of Nevada by the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP).

EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for state, territorial and local governments’ emergency management programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for all disaster types based on national standards.

It recognizes the ability of emergency management programs to bring together personnel, resources and communications from a variety of agencies and organizations in preparation for and in response to an emergency, in addition to obtaining the ability to measure those capabilities.

Commissioner Sheriff Mike Haley, Chairman of the State of Nevada Network (SONNet) Committee provided an
update on the accomplishments the committee achieved since its inception in 2012.

The committee developed a strong rapport with the federal government’s First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).

Nevada was one of a few states to file comments based on information gathered through workshops. Haley made a recommendation to dissolve the SONNet committee as a result of a new Executive Order 2014-01 for Gov. Sandoval.

The Executive Order creates a new body – the Nevada Public Safety Communication Committee. The commission unanimously approved the dissolution.

Commissioner Chief Bertral Washington, Chairman of the Critical Infrastructure Committee (CIC) provided an update on the outcome of the committee’s recent activities pertaining to the March 13, 2014 meeting.

Washington announced that the committee is updating Nevada’s Critical Infrastructure plan, which will be in compliance with Presidential Policy Directive 8 and Presidential Policy Directive 21 along with the Department of Homeland Security strategy.

The commission approved the request for a closed session for the June 2, 2014 meeting for members to receive a cyber-security briefing from the Department of Homeland Security.

Dr. Aaron Kenneston, Washoe County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, provided an update on the accomplishments of the Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Public Warning and Public Information (PW/PI) projects completed statewide.

The PW/PI task force has successfully pursued four projects: public education and the promotion and usage of the emergency alert system (EAS), addressing special needs populations and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) system.

Commissioner Chris Ipsen, Chief Information Security Officer, Nevada Department of Administration addressed the commission on the need and importance of establishing a new Cyber Security committee to address cyber security issues affecting the state of Nevada. Ipsen identified the development of a statewide cyber-security plan as the priority for the committee.

Chief Chris Smith from the Nevada Division of Emergency Management / Homeland Security led a discussion with the commission on proposed changes to the Homeland Security Working Group (HSWG).

The commission deliberated and decided to have further discussion after the grant process. Smith also announced that the State of Nevada has updated the State Comprehensive Emergency Plan (SCEMP), Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and State Preparedness Report (SPR) putting the state in a positive position for the upcoming grant process.