Maryland streamlines system for authenticating first responders

The Maryland Department of Transportation is implementing a new system for identifying first responders in an effort to get emergency workers to disaster sites quickly and efficiently.

Maryland received a $1 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security to implement its First Responder Authentication Credential (FRAC) system, which includes handheld devices that will be used to scan and validate emergency workers’ identification cards. News of the grant is reported in a Washington Times story today.

The handheld devices will use Wi-Fi to connect to remote systems that will authenticate workers and keep track of how many first responders are present and from what agencies. This will allow disaster relief organizations to determine if they have as many relief workers as needed or if they need help from different agencies.

The cards will include information such as an emergency worker’s name, title and agency affiliation. According to the Washington Times, the cards are issued after several interviews and expire every three years.

Maryland is working with General Dynamics Information Technology on its FRAC program.

In December the Commonwealth of Virginia announced it would implement its own FRAC system. Johnson Controls is deploying the system for Virginia and is working with Northrop Grumman, Electronic Data Systems and Rileen Innovative Technologies on the project. Virginia expects to issue first-responder credentials to 4,000 individuals.