Many sources report upwards of four million attendees, enhanced security and long lines at Metro or access to the secured parade route.
While
Department of Defense personnel, FBI, Secret Service and TSA| agency officers all will play a defining role. Just days ago, there was a dry run of the event to confirm security plans, communications systems and logistics. More than 5,000 men and women in uniform are providing military ceremonial support to the presidential inauguration, a tradition dating back to George Washington's 1789 inauguration.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today plans to support U.S. Secret Service efforts to secure transportation systems and events surrounding the 56th Presidential Inauguration. This support is a great example of the collaborative effort of Department of Homeland Security agencies that occurs on a daily basis.
“We are ready to assist the U.S. Secret Service with the important task of keeping our transportation systems and inauguration events safe,” said TSA Administrator Kip Hawley. “This is a valuable partnership that provides an added layer of protection to enhance the security of the American public during this historic event.”
TSA will deploy Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams in all modes of transportation leading up to the inauguration. VIPR teams work with local law enforcement officials to supplement existing security resources by providing deterrent presence and detection capabilities, and an unpredictable layer of security. Comprised of federal air marshals, surface transportation security inspectors, transportation security officers, behavior detection officers, explosives detection canine teams, and local law enforcement, VIPR teams can be deployed anywhere at any time.
TSA is also providing more than 300 transportation security officers from across the country to assist the Secret Service with screening participants along the parade route and at the inaugural events hosted at the Capitol. Much like their involvement in the Democratic and Republican national conventions and on the campaign trail, TSA officers will be part of the effort to ensure potentially dangerous items are not allowed in secure areas.
Airports in the national capital region have coordinated staffing and are prepared to accommodate large crowds. Local airports have increased the number of behavior detection officers as an added element of unpredictability. Additionally, more than a dozen TSA-certified explosive detection canine teams will supplement existing capital region teams, enhancing mobile detection capabilities in airports and mass transit systems.
Private security companies also have a role.
"Security will be extremely important considering the large crowds and high profile nature of this event," observed Clayton Young, the DC-based general manager for AlliedBarton Security Services. "We are working in conjunction with the Secret Service, local law enforcement and local groups to help ensure that this is a safe event," said Young.
Young has been interviewed about this year's historic inaugural security by many media outlets. Check out the CNN interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQNRayUpPDI
With 2 million people expected to attend the historic swearing in of President-elect Barack Obama, 58 law enforcement agencies in the District of Columbia (DC) and surrounding jurisdictions will rely on Alert DC, an interoperable emergency text messaging system provided by Cooper Notification, to coordinate the largest security and safety operation for a presidential inauguration in the nation’s history. Cooper Notification is a platform of Cooper Industries, Ltd., (NYSE:CBE).
Powered by Cooper Notification’s Roam Secure Alert Network™ (RSAN™), the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) and their counterparts in surrounding counties and cities will be able to efficiently respond to threats by sending text messages to coordinate security and emergency efforts among the different law enforcement agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), US Secret Service, US Capitol Police, and the US Military or targeted groups such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Law enforcement personnel can reply to alerts through RSAN’s two-way communications system.
Alert DC was launched in 2002 to quickly mobilize first responders and key personnel. “What better way to communicate to all of the different agencies during the largest security operation than with an interoperable system that has been reliable and effective for DC HSEMA and the MPD for more than five years,” said Ratna Reddi, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Cooper Notification.
To create a safer and more secure environment for the 56th Presidential Inauguration, Alert DC will also allow officials to communicate emergency information to the public via text messages during the four-day ceremony at the nation’s capitol, where more than 70 inaugural events will take place from Jan. 18 – 21.
“If you plan on joining the hundreds of thousands of people attending the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama or will just be visiting DC during this time frame, we encourage you to sign up for Alert DC or Arlington Alert,” said Reddi. “Alert DC and Arlington Alert will help you prepare and respond to emergencies. Alerts aren’t limited to violence and terrorism. You can also receive information on inclement weather, road closures and transportation issues.”
Residents and visitors in the
Cooper Notification has deployed more than 230 RSAN systems across the
