WSDA along with other state and local
agencies, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security,
have deployed a unique pilot project, information
sharing system called Northwest Warning, Alert, Response
Network or NW-WARN. NW-WARN is a part of the greater
Homeland Security Information Network-Critical Infrastructure
(HSIN-CI).
The NW-WARN system is a secure web portal that allows
DHS, the FBI, or sector specific "Gatekeepers" to
provide emergency flash messages to enrolled members.
Once enrolled in NW-WARN, a member will receive electronic,
emergency notifications regarding Terrorism threats,
natural and technological disasters and emergencies.
As an example, if the FBI and DHS had
specific information about an Agroterrorism threat
to our region, unclassified information associated
with the threat is sent to enrolled NW-WARN members.
The information is "flashed" to enrolled
members over their pagers, cell phones, Blackberry's,
regular phone, and email.
Additional, non-emergency information
related to on-going Agriculture infrastructure issues
is provided to the public on the Public section of
the NW-WARN site. Approved, enrolled NW-WARN Members
will have access to additional Agriculture Infrastructure
related information on dedicated, Agriculture Critical
Infrastructure specific pages in the secure portion
of the site.
All sectors of the Agriculture infrastructure are
being encouraged to enroll in NW-WARN, to include
Ag professionals at all levels of government and the
private sector.