Emergency Services Sector Resources

Below is a wide array of free resources for government and private sector partners to enable the Emergency Services Sector mission.

Emergency Services Sector Risk Management Agency

Emergency Services Sector Cybersecurity Initiative

The Emergency Services Sector Cybersecurity Initiative is an ongoing effort to enable the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) to better understand and manage cyber risks and to coordinate the sharing of cyber information and tools between subject matter experts (both inside and outside the federal government) and the ESS disciplines.

Emergency Services Sector Continuity Planning Suite

The Emergency Services Sector Continuity Planning Suite (ESS CPS) provides a centralized collection of existing guidance, processes, products, tools, and best practices to support the development and maturation of continuity planning for the first responder community. ESS CPS was created through a partnership of the Emergency Services Sector Risk Management Agency (SRMA) and Sector Coordinating Council (SCC). First responders can use the ESS CPS as it suits their organization to evaluate and improve their continuity capability and enhance their preparedness for emergencies.

Emergency Services Sector Information Sharing Initiative

The Emergency Services Sector Information Sharing Initiative is an ongoing effort to improve current and develop new information sharing mechanisms within the ESS and between the federal government and ESS partners. Due to an ever-changing information sharing environment, there is an ongoing need to utilize the most effective and efficient information sharing pathways.

Emergency Services Sector Resilience Development Project

The Emergency Services Sector Resilience Development Project is a suite of existing resources and best practices that are specifically tailored to meet the unique resilience needs of the first responder community.

Emergency Services Sector-Specific Tabletop Exercise Program

The Emergency Services Sector-Specific Tabletop Exercise Program (ES SSTEP) is a tool that allows critical infrastructure partners to develop interactive, discussion-based exercises for their communities of interest at the sector or facility level. The ES SSTEP enables public and private critical infrastructure stakeholders and their public safety partners to exercise information-sharing processes and incident management plans, programs, policies, and procedures to address potential gaps, vulnerabilities, and other pertinent issues.

Emergency Services Sector Active Shooter Guide and Workshop

The purpose of the Emergency Services Sector Active Shooter Guide is to provide emergency services personnel with the basic building blocks for developing an Active Shooter Program with communities. This guide highlights resources and planning considerations, which will enhance emergency services organizations’ ability to develop or improve community planning and preparedness for active shooter incidents.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security hosts a one-day Active Shooter Workshop to enhance awareness of and response to an active shooter event by educating participants on the history of active shooter events; describing common behavior, conditions, and situations associated with active shooters; and fostering communication between infrastructure owners and operators and local emergency response teams-this includes discussions on interoperability, communications protocols, and best practices for planning, preparedness, and response.

Emergency Services Sector Charters and Membership

View the Emergency Services Government Coordinating Council (GCC) and Sector Coordinating Council (SCC) charters and membership.

Emergency Services Sector Risk Management Agency Fact Sheet

CISA offers many resources to help owners and operators manage risks, improve security, and aid the implementation and execution of protective and response measures across the Emergency Services Sector. The Emergency Services Sector Risk Management Agency (SRMA) Fact Sheet lists a sampling of sector collaboration mechanisms, resources, and training materials.

Homeland Security Information Network-Emergency Services (HSIN-ES)

The Homeland Security Information Network-Emergency Services (HSIN-ES) is the trusted network for homeland security mission operations to share Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU) and Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) information. Federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, international, and private sector homeland security partners use HSIN to:

  • Manage operations.
  • Analyze data.
  • Send alerts and notices.
  • Share information they need to do their jobs.

To request access to the HSIN-ES portal, please send an email from your official work email to EmergencyServicesSector@cisa.dhs.gov with your full name, agency name, and position within the agency.

Homeland Security Digital Library

The Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL) is the nation’s premier collection of documents related to homeland security policy, strategy, and organizational management. The HSDL is sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Preparedness Directorate, and the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security.

A little over half of the items in the HSDL Collection are openly searchable and available to the public, with no account or authorization necessary. The remainder of the collection is open to government officials at the federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels, as well as the U.S. military. It is also open to homeland security research or educational institutions, their faculty, and their students.

Office for Bombing Prevention

The Office for Bombing Prevention leads the Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to implement the National Policy for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices and enhance the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate the terrorist use of explosives against critical infrastructure, the private sector, and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities.

  • What to Do: Bomb Threat Video
    • Bomb threats or suspicious items should always be taken seriously. This page provides guidance and resources that outline in-depth procedures for either bomb threats or suspicious items and will help you prepare and react appropriately during these events.
  • CISA’s Critical Resources for Handling Bomb Threats
    • This OBP video provides the public with tools and tips about how to respond to bomb threats and make informed risk management decisions to protect personnel and property.

Technical Resource for Incident Prevention (TRIPwire)

Developed and maintained by the Office for Bombing Prevention, the Technical Resource for Incident Prevention (TRIPwire) is the Department’s 24/7 online, secure, collaborative, information-sharing network for bomb squad, law enforcement, and other emergency services personnel to learn about current terrorist improvised explosive device tactics, techniques, and procedures, including design and emplacement considerations.

Office for State and Local Law Enforcement

The Office for State and Local Law Enforcement (OSLLE) provides the Department of Homeland Security with primary coordination, liaison, and advocacy for state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies. OSLLE's Law Enforcement Resources provides a comprehensive list of law enforcement training resources to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement in their efforts to keep our communities safe, secure, and resilient.

Security Advisors

Within each CISA Region are your local and regional Protective Security Advisors (PSAs), Cyber Security Advisors (CSAs), Emergency Communications Coordinators (ECCs), and Chemical Security Inspectors (CSIs). In order to build stakeholder resiliency and form partnerships, these field personnel assess, advise, and assist and provide a variety of risk management and response services.

Science and Technology - First Responder Capability

The Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T) First Responder Capability program provides technical assistance and develops innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges faced by first responders, emergency managers, and incident commanders as they respond to hazardous situations. The program strengthens the abilities of our communities to protect the homeland and respond to disasters.

Fusion Centers

Fusion Centers serve as focal points within the state and local environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between the federal government and state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners.

Contact

For more information, contact the Emergency Services Sector Management Team at EmergencyServicesSector@cisa.dhs.gov.