WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) today began an experiment to test emergency response capabilities at the second busiest crossing between the U.S. and Canada, the Blue Water Bridge. The fourth in a series of cross-border Canada-U.S. Enhanced Resiliency Experiments (CAUSE) will run from April 26 to 28 along the border of Michigan and Ontario

CAUSE IV will test both the current capabilities and limitations of emergency response technology and protocols across the U.S.-Canada border. The public in the areas of Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario can expect to see the presence of emergency response personnel, equipment and vehicles as they test cross-border broadband and wireless networks, electrocardiogram tracing, live video, information sharing and overall situational awareness over the course of the emergency test scenario. CAUSE IV is a collaborative effort in emergency response between DHS S&T, Defence Research and Development Canada’s Centre for Security Science (DRDC CSS) and Public Safety Canada, in partnership with various provincial, municipal and non-governmental organizations. The CAUSE series supports the U.S.-Canadian Beyond the Border Action Plan to connect, test and demonstrate emerging operational technologies available between the two countries.