Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency starts new school security and safety program

February 5, 2021

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) started a new program to help schools identify vulnerabilities at their facilities and improve their level of safety.

The Site Threat Access and Response (STAR) Audit is designed to give requesting entities a fair and unbiased evaluation of physical security measures and threat response protocols. Conducted by the Homeland Security Division of GEMA/HS, STAR Audits may be requested by an authorized party of any entity.

A pilot program of the STAR Audit was conducted for Brooks County Public Schools in Georgia . Observers representing GEMA/HS, Brooks County Public Schools and the Brooks County Emergency Management Agency were able to watch the Audit as it progressed via livestream from the Brooks County Emergency Operations Center.

Ransomware and the propulsion of the extortion economy has rapidly eclipsed into a national priority. Recently, we observed the catastrophic impact of a widescale ransomware attack impacting gas pipelines and raising national gas prices overnight.