NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

The National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors (NAFED) has a new volunteer president: Rick Malady, President of Fire fighter Sales and Service of Pittsburgh.

NAFED's 1,000 members sell, service and maintain building fire alarm, detection and suppression products.

NEW STUDY SHOWS HOW 9-11-01 TERRORISTS ENTERED THE US: CHANGES IN US IMMIGRATION RULES RECOMMENDED
Originally Posted: May 29, 2002 10:04 AM
Last Updated: May 29, 2002 10:12 AM

"The Open Door: How Militant Islamic Terrorists Entered and Remained in the United States, 1993-2001," by Director of Research Steven A. Camarota, contains immigration histories for each of the 48 terrorists.

Although the September 11th hijackers entered on temporary visas, legal immigrants and naturalized U.S. citizens have also played key roles in terrorism on U.S. soil. For example, Siddig Ibrahim Siddig Ali, ringleader of the plot to bomb New York City landmarks in 1993, is an LPR, and Ali Mohammed, who wrote al Qaeda's terrorist handbook, is a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Several terrorists should probably have been denied temporary visas, because they had characteristics that made it likely they would overstay and live in the U.S.illegally. Under Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals who are young, unmarried, unemployed, or lack strong attachment to a residence overseas are to be denied temporary visas. Several of the September 11th hijackers, including Mohammed Atta, fit these criteria.

Past amnesties for illegal aliens have facilitated terrorism. Mahmud Abouhalima, a leader of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was legalized as a seasonal agricultural worker as part of the 1986 amnesty, which allowed him to travel abroad, including several trips to Afghanistan, where he received terrorist training.

The report has four recommendations aimed at the current debate in Congress and in the Bush Administration on immigration law reform.

First, improvements in how visas are processed overseas are needed, including more vigorous background checks and interviews for all visa applicants.

Second, the fact that terrorists often flout the law means that strict enforcement of immigration law within the United States could reduce the terrorist threat.

Third, there needs to be a significant increase in efforts to police the borders.

Improving visa processing while leaving the borders largely undefended is an invitation for terrorists to do as attempted Brooklyn subway bomber Gazi Ibrahim Abu Mezer did; having been denied a visa, he simply went to Canada and snuck across the border.

The fourth reform that is needed is a reduction in overall
immigration, both temporary and permanent. Given limited
governmental resources, issuing fewer visas would mean that greater resources could be devoted to background checks on each applicant.

It would also mean fewer people to keep track of within the
country. Most important, it would give the State Department and Immigration and Naturalization Service the breathing space they need to deal with enormous processing backlogs, now close to 5 million applications, and allow them to undertake necessary reforms.

It is simply not reasonable to expect any agency, and especially the INS, to deal with such huge backlogs and take on steadily proliferating responsibilities and at the same time fundamentally restructure itself.

The Center for Immigration Studies is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization which examines and critiques the impact of immigration on the United States. It is not affiliated with any other group.

E-911 PATENT AWARDED BY US TO HELP FIRST RESPONDERS LOCATE CALLERS IN LARGE BUILDINGS AND COMPLEXES WHICH SHARE THE SAME ADDRESS
Originally Posted: May 28, 2002 10:50 AM
Last Updated: May 28, 2002 10:55 AM

Enhanced 911 will help fire, police and rescue responders locate callers who use cell phones or who are colocated in a building or business complex with hundreds or thousands of others. This story is about a new US patent being awarded for a product that helps locate people calling from a particular floor and room number in any building. No longer does the 911 operator just get the "street address" on his or her screen. Now the operator will immediately know the exact location of the caller.

The patent gives RedSky the exclusive right to make, use or sell E-911 systems that interconnect to an organization's private branch exchange (PBX) telecommunications system.

Seven states have adopted laws requiring E-911 systems. The laws are intended to improve public safety by making it easier for rescue personnel to locate callers and then to respond to emergencies in offices or public facilities. Today, most businesses and government agencies do not have this potentially life-saving capability in place.

More info on E-911 is available by using the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA Newsletter screen.

NEW WILDFIRE PLAN TO INCREASE FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES
Originally Posted: May 24, 2002 11:14 PM
Last Updated: May 24, 2002 11:14 PM

Two top Bush Administration officials and western Governors endorsed an historic implementation plan to manage wildland fires and reduce hazardous fuels, protect communities and restore ecosystems over the next decade. The endorsement was made in a day-long conference on forest and rangeland health and reducing the risk of wildfires.

The entire plan, "A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy Implementation Plan" is available on the internet. See "MORE INFO?" at the end of this story.

For more stories about fighting wildfires, use the NEEDA NEWSLETTER search application in the upper right of your NEEDA screen.

DEALER LUNCH MEETING AT KANSAS CITY FIRE CHIEFS SHOW, AUGUST 24, 2002
Originally Posted: May 22, 2002 5:48 PM
Last Updated: May 22, 2002 5:48 PM

International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC)August 23-26, 2002 (Friday-Monday show):

DEALER MEETING.

The National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association (NEEDA) will hold a dealer luncheon Noon - 1 PM on Saturday, August 24, 2002 at the Kansas City Convention Center near exhibits.
Members: $30
Non-Members: $40
You do not need to be registered at the convention and trade show to attend the NEEDA luncheon meeting August 24 in the convention center.

Why attend? Get the latest information from Washington and discuss dealer problems with other dealers in the dealer forum. All dealers are welcome, whatever lines and companies you represent. In NEEDA, all dealers are equal: We have common problem, common challenges and we can be successful if we work together and speak with a united voice in Washington and on issues affecting your business and your future.

You are invited and you, your ideas and experiences in this business will be very welcome at this luncheon.

MORE INFO ON ICHIEFS show? www.ICHIEFS.ORG

SPARTAN WEBSITE LISTS DETAILS OF RECENT APPARATUS SALES
Originally Posted: May 22, 2002 2:43 PM
Last Updated: May 22, 2002 2:43 PM

Spartan Motors website offers a list of recent apparatus deliveries. When you click on each entry, you are taken to a photo of the vehicle and specs on the motor, pump, seating, etc. The only thing missing is the name of the dealer who sold the vehicle to the local fire department!

Spartan Motors is a supporter of NEEDA. For additional news about Spartan, use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER screen.

DO YOU PAY FOR EMPLOYEES DRIVING THEIR OWN CARS FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Originally Posted: May 22, 2002 2:05 PM
Last Updated: May 22, 2002 2:05 PM

98 percent of employers compensate workers for business-related use of personal vehicles.

A BNA survey finds that:
-- Just over half of the responding companies (52 percent) pay workers 36.5 cents for each mile of business travel in a personal vehicle -- the IRS standard deductible for 2002 -- making that rate the median reimbursement among responding organizations.

FEDERAL GOVERMENT AWARDS GRANTS TO HELP DELAWARE, KANSAS, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE BUY EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
Originally Posted: May 22, 2002 12:41 PM
Last Updated: June 13, 2002 5:08 PM

While many in the fire and EMS business are watching the Fire Act matching grant program closely, there are other Federal grants being released to states and cities which help them buy emergency equipment and protective wear.

The funds will be used to purchase specialized equipment for emergency response agencies, including law enforcement, fire and emergency services and hazardous materials response units . . . those the US government believes would be the first responders to terrorist acts. This NEEDA Newsletter story discusses three grants from one program and one from another, all to be used for emergency equipment. These are examples of Federal grants going to every state and territory, stimulating the purchase of new equipment, but having nothing to do with the matching Fire Grant Act program which NEEDA mentions in other Newsletter stories.

For more information on Federal grants to fire and EMS departments, use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER screen.

3-D COLOR SCALE MODEL SOLD TO SAN JOSE AND NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE TO TRAIN FIREFIGHTERS
Originally Posted: May 22, 2002 11:46 AM
Last Updated: May 22, 2002 12:06 PM

Solid Terrain Modelling (STM) models are used to help train firefighters. San Jose (CA) and the National Forest Service both use them. San Jose bought the four-foot by four-foot model which is an exact replica of the entire area, and includes access roads, hazards and jurisdiction boundaries. Using the model firefighters can plan and discuss firefighting tactics in an area where wildfires are most likely to occur.To produce a model, STM uses satellite digital elevation and photometric data for the selected geographic area. The digital elevation data is used to control STM's highly-calibrated cutting machine as it carves the model into high-density plastic foam.

For other NEEDA Newsletter stories about the application of GPS to help first responders, use the "Search" box on the upper right of your NEEDA screen.

POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACKS ON US NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS JULY 4 WILL BE DISCUSSED JUNE 25-26, 2002 IN SAN FRANCISCO; PRESIDENT SIGNS NEW BORDER AND ENTRY RULES
Originally Posted: May 20, 2002 1:23 PM
Last Updated: May 20, 2002 4:52 PM

U.S. intelligence officials have issued new warnings of potential terrorist attacks against US nuclear power plants around the 4th of July holiday 2002.

The governor of Pennsylvania has extended state protection for the nuclear power plants in the state.

Experts will discuss this situation at a Homeland Energy Security Symposium, June 25-26 at the San Francisco Marriott Fisherman's Wharf.

Leaders include Former Adjutant for New Jersey, Major General Paul Glazer who will chair the meeting. Jeff Spivey, president of Security Risk Management, Clinton Crackel, a nuclear power industry specialist, who has an extensive background on nuclear issues with the government, and Ralph Hitchens, the chief of information technology for the Office of Intelligence, US Department of Energy are among the presenters.

Meanwhile, President Bush signed the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act in a White House ceremony May 14, 2002. This bill corrects many of the flaws uncovered following the 9-11 attack on the US.

MORE INFO? www.srinstitute.com/cr224 or 1-888-666-8514. Marshall Keener mkeener@srinstitute.com or (212) 967-095 ext 226

GPS SYSTEM TRACKS EMERGENCY INCIDENT WORKERS JUST LIKE EARLIER PRODUCTS THAT TRACK VEHICLES: RELM WIRELESS AND CY TERRA STIKE DEAL TO SELL TO PUBLIC SAFETY MARKET
Originally Posted: May 20, 2002 11:56 AM
Last Updated: May 20, 2002 11:56 AM

NEEDA NEWSLETTER has been following the application of GPS and location devices that will help incident commanders know where first responders are in critical fire and rescue situations. Here is another story on the development of this market.

RadioTrac's palm-sized tracking device, which plugs directly into any hand-held radio, uses global positioning (GPS) technology to provide dispatchers with pinpoint locations of their personnel and allows the radio user to signal for help during an emergency situation. All RadioTrac systems integrate the latest GPS technology and come complete with a base station, a miniature GPS module with patented encoding/decoding techniques and mapping software.

RELM Wireless Corporation (Melbourne, FL) a manufacturer, developer and distributor of wireless mobile and handheld two- way radios, in a deal worth more than a $1 million is now marketing the RadioTrac system on an OEM basis under the EarthLoc brand name in its BK Radio line.

RadioTrac, Inc., a newly formed and wholly-owned subsidiary of CyTerra Corporation with offices in Waltham, MA and Orlando, FL, made the OEM deal with RELM.

For other news stories on GPS applications in the emergency response market, use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER screen.

PEER REVIEW COMPLETED IN WASHINGTON FOR 2002 MATCHING FIRE ACT GRANTS: FIRST GRANTS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN JUNE 2002 . . . 19,500 DEPARTMENTS ASK FOR $2.2 BILLION, BUT ONLY $360 MILLION AVAILABLE
Originally Posted: May 18, 2002 9:04 PM
Last Updated: May 18, 2002 9:08 PM

Fire Act matching grants will be made to fire departments with consideration given to paid, volunteer, and combination departments; departments located in communities of varying sizes; and departments located in urban, suburban, and rural communities. Grant awards will begin in June and will continue to be announced through the summer and fall, until all of the appropriated funds are awarded.

The US Fire Administration is giving fire departments $360 million this year. The applications for assistance totaled nearly $2.2 billion with more than 19,500 requests for funds in four general categories:

Fire Operations and Firefighter safety: $882,539,097 and represented 58% of the applications

Fire Fighting vehicles – and represented 37% of the applications

Emergency Medical Services – $35,174,783 and represented 2 % of the applications

Fire Prevention Programs – and represented 3% of the applications.

All applicants who did not make the peer review level will be notified of the final status of their submissions. All those departments that have applications that were peer reviewed but will not receive funding will be notified later this year.

For more information on Fire Act Grants use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA Newsletter screen.

SAFETY OFFICIALS AT WORLD TRADE CENTER TELL THEIR STORY: THE HEAT MELTED THE WORKER'S SHOE SOLES . . . BUT AP STORY SAYS THERE WERE SAFETY PROBLEMS
Originally Posted: May 17, 2002 10:49 AM
Last Updated: May 18, 2002 8:48 PM

An article by safety experts at the World Trade Center site has many interesting facts such as: More than 1.2 million rounds of ammunition were stored near a World Trade Center third floor firing range, as was a vault used to store other explosives and weapons. A seizure vault that contained evidence (such as drugs, cash and evidence files) seized during Customs operations was also on the third floor. At great personal risk, Vincoli said, Customs and FBI officials and contractor representatives located and removed the criminal evidence from the WTC during the fourth week. The ammunition was found melted together into large "bullet balls" that were extremely dangerous to handle. . .
However, in a copyrighted story by Michael Weissenstein, Associated Press, other experts say there were safety problems that may show up in such things a cancer among the WTC rescue and recovery workers many years later. You can expect that Congress, on behalf of the many volunteers and workers who served at Ground Zero following September 11, 2001, will hold public hearings on the health, safety, and environmental conditions. Such hearings could result in new regulations concerning the safety of fire, rescue and search responders. Because you know a lot about this subject, share your observations and ideas and how we can improve in the future by writing NEEDA: just e-mail KentonP1@aol.com.

In a story titled "SPECIAL EQUIPMENT MONITORS HEALTH OF SEARCH AND RESCUE DOGS WORKING WHOLE DAY SHIFTS:DISASTER SITES" (September 27, 2001 12:00 AM)

NEEDA NEWSLETTER reported: Search and rescue dogs on the scene of the September 11 terrorist attack in New York City are being monitored by state-of-the-art medical equipment donated by the Heska Corporation (Fort Collins CO).

The Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT) needed the portable blood chemistry analyzers in order to triage dogs on site, many of whom are working six to eight hour shifts, and provide immediate care to those that are dehydrated, overworked or otherwise incapacitated.

The VMAT initially contacted Heska about borrowing one of its handheld, battery-powered i-STAT(R) Portable Clinical Analyzer systems, stating "the dogs are becoming fatigued and dehydrated. Without your help, we have no way to rapidly evaluate them for preventative treatment." Heska chose to donate two of the machines plus a quantity of the necessary supplies for analysis.

The analyzers were provided through individual employee contributions for the first system, and Heska Corporation matching the donation for the second.

For more stories, enter "World Trade Center" or 9-11 in the Search box in the upper right of your NEEDA Newsletter screen.

RURAL/METRO HAS $4.4MILLION NET, WINS 911 CONTRACTS IN FL AND GA
Originally Posted: May 16, 2002 10:43 AM
Last Updated: May 16, 2002 10:46 AM

Rural/Metro Corporation (Scottsdale AZ), an ambulance and fire protection company, had third quarter revenue of $124.7 million, net income of $4.4 million. As mentioned in earlier NEEDA Newsletter stories, Rural/Metro is reducing debt and improving income from operations after a period of financial pressure from creditors.

Rural/Metro has won 911 contracts in Orange County
(Orlando), FL; Forsyth County GA; Youngstown OH; and Corning, NY.

For more info on the company, use the Search feature in the upper right of your NEEDA Newsletter screen.