InfoGram

October 18, 2001

NOTE: This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the emergency services sector with news and information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. For further information please contact the U.S. Fire Administration's Critical Infrastructure Protection Information Center at (301) 447-1325 or email at usfacipc@dhs.gov.

Critical Infrastructure Process Review

The first articles in the previous five InfoGrams attempted to explain briefly the process of critical infrastructure protection (CIP). This was done to provide a quick CIP guide for leaders of the fire and EMS community as a result of the recent urgency given to protecting critical assets. CIP involves the application of a systematic analytical process fully integrated into all fire and EMS department plans and operations. As a review, the CIP process consists of the following five steps:

• Identifying critical infrastructures essential for mission accomplishment.
• Determining the threat against those infrastructures.
• Analyzing the vulnerabilities of threatened infrastructures.
• Assessing risk of the loss of a threatened and vulnerable infrastructure.
• Applying countermeasures where risk is unacceptable.

The USFA Critical Infrastructure Protection Information Center (CIPIC) is currently preparing a "Job Aid" to provide more detailed assistance to the community leaders responsible for securing critical infrastructures. Within 45 days, the eight page (approximately) Job Aid document should be available for electronic access. However, at any time, questions regarding the CIP process should be directed to the CIPIC at 301-447-1325 or email at usfacipc@dhs.gov.

Priority Wireless Access

Cyberspace Security Advisor, Richard Clarke, is advancing White House plans to have the cellular phone industry provide emergency personnel as soon as possible with priority access to wireless network channels ahead of the general public. According to the Associated Press, the priority access system would ensure state and local emergency personnel have cell phone capability during a crisis when the wireless service is typically overwhelmed. Mr. Clarke said the new system would let those with special priority access codes jump ahead. "While the cell industry responded quickly to this Bush administration initiative, service carriers and analysts pointed out that implementation will be a complex and costly undertaking." Federal Communications Commission records indicate that several of the major carriers claim they would have to spend large amounts of money on the technical challenges to upgrade their systems.

From a CIP perspective, this is an outstanding proposal by the Executive Branch. When priority wireless access is implemented, it will primarily bolster the communications infrastructure necessary for rescue mission success. Additionally, it will tremendously support the personnel infrastructure by enhancing the safety of individual firefighters and EMTs-a real "win-win" possibility!

Bioterrorism Preparedness

Major Julie A. Pavlin (Walter Reed Army Institute of Research) authored an article entitled: "Epidemiology of Bioterrorism." The full text can be seen at InfoWar.com. Salient points from her document are summarized here because of their significance to the EMS personnel infrastructure. To effectively counter the potentially devastating effects of an attack, we need to understand the basic epidemiologic principles of biological agents used as weapons. A biological agent is commonly portrayed as a genetically engineered organism usually resistant to all known vaccines and drugs, highly contagious or transferable, and able to harm thousands of people. Our level of suspicion and diligence in identifying and reacting to a biological attack must remain high, since the attack may not follow any expected pattern. Furthermore, a small outbreak of illness could be an early warning of a more serious attack, and recognition and prompt institution of preventive measures (such as vaccines and antibiotics) could save thousands of lives. To facilitate the rapid identification of a bioterrorist attack, all EMS and public health personnel should have basic epidemiologic skills and the knowledge of what to expect in a contaminated setting.

Improved awareness and readiness must include the training of all medical personnel, especially EMTs, hospital emergency department personnel, and primary care providers-the first to see patients affected by a biological attack. Training should include basic epidemiologic principles as well as clinical information on diagnosing and treating agents that pose the highest threat. Through strong epidemiologic training, close attention to disease patterns, and a healthy respect for the threat of biological terrorism, potential problems can be discovered rapidly, and actions can be taken to decrease the impact of a disease, regardless of its origin.

Information Infrastructure

The Associated Press reported that President Bush formed a new panel on 16 October to fight cyberterrorism, noting that the nation's information infrastructure is vital to national defense, government operations, business, and public safety. The President's Critical Infrastructure Board will be charged with preventing disruptions of critical cyber systems. A key task of the board will be coordinating with private industry, which runs many of the nation's information networks. Cabinet members will constitute most of this new board, along with several other top presidential aides.

Threat Advisory Extended

A terrorist threat advisory regarding the nation's water supplies has been extended through 11 December, according to the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC). Despite the present lack of credible threats, water utilities have been encouraged to maintain security at "essential nodes" such as reservoirs, pumping stations, distribution systems, etc. NIPC reports that potential bacterial, viral, and chemical sabotage substances have never been encountered in American waters. Therefore, tests for them have not been incorporated into drinking water treatment unit product designs or performance standards. This means that no drinking water treatment products have been tested and certified for their effectiveness in reducing these exotic chemical or biological health threats.

HazMat Incident Reporting

California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials recently approached the federal government regarding the lack of a unified electronic system to track hazardous material incidents. Currently, hazardous materials (HazMat) incident reporting is primarily a paper process. A GCN.com report said the CHP requested that the U.S. Transportation Department develop an electronic HazMat transportation incident reporting system to simplify reporting, increase accuracy of reporting, and to speed data entry. The CHP recommended a system accessible via the Internet. They also asked that floppy disks, email, and facsimile submissions be accepted as well. Additionally, California officials proposed that whatever form the electronic reporting system would take, it should use standard data formats to facilitate easy exchanges between state and federal data bases.

USFACIPC Weekly Lexicon: Network Security

The protection of networks and their services from unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure. It includes provisions to assure that the network performs its functions correctly and with no harmful side-effects.