DHS Seeks Comment on New Private Sector Preparedness Program
The Department of Homeland Security is establishing a voluntary private-sector preparedness accreditation and certification program known as "PS-Prep." The program is designed to raise the level of employer preparedness by:
- Establishing a system for DHS to adopt private sector preparedness standards,
- Encouraging creation of those standards,
- Developing a method for a private sector entity to obtain a certification with DHS-adopted private sector standards; and
- Making preparedness standards adopted by DHS more widely available.
PS-Prep will assess whether a private sector entity complies with one or more voluntary preparedness standards adopted by DHS, through a system of accreditation and certification set up by DHS in close coordination with the private sector.
The agency is seeking additional recommendations in a number of areas, including the private sector preparedness standards that DHS should adopt, both initially and over time. Comments must be submitted by Jan. 23. DHS intends to hold two public meetings in Washington, D.C., to provide a forum for public comment on the subject of private sector preparedness standards, one on Jan. 13 and another in February. Meeting details and registration information will be published in the Federal Register and posted at www.fema.gov/privatesectorpreparedness.