InfoGram

October 25, 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.

Personnel Protection and Preparedness

On the top of its list of the "Eight Terrible Realities of Terrorism," the International Association of Fire Chiefs (ICHIEFS) warns that "fire/EMS personnel may not be better trained or equipped than terrorists." At third place on this list is their viewpoint that "the American public now expects an extraordinary rescue effort will occur after any terrorist incident."

To promote the protection and preparedness of the personnel infrastructure, the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) requested that the Justice Department provide sufficient resources to get firefighter WMD survivability training. Also in support of this precious asset, the ICHIEFS published the "Needs of the Fire Service for the New Threat of Terrorism." The first three of those needs are:Personnel are first and foremost among the critical infrastructures of the fire and emergency medical services. Chief leaders agree that little can be accomplished without well trained and equipped firefighters and EMTs. However, in a recent Firehouse.com survey, more than 80 percent of first responders answered that they are unprepared for incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). According to Firehouse.com, over 75 percent of those surveyed cited training as their first or second greatest need to adequately prepare for WMD incidents.

To promote the protection and preparedness of the personnel infrastructure, the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) requested that the Justice Department provide sufficient resources to get firefighter WMD survivability training. Also in support of this precious asset, the ICHIEFS published the "Needs of the Fire Service for the New Threat of Terrorism." The first three of those needs are:

• Continued awareness training for all first responders.
• Incident command training for command officers.
• Increased technical training for HazMat teams.

Fire Service Immediate Preparedness Needs

Eight national fire service groups presented a joint document to the United States Congress on 17 October. The introduction to this document maintained that the American fire and emergency services remain constant and will continue to be the first to respond. Additionally, the document discussed necessary preparations for the first response to the next major terrorist attack. To be prepared for future disasters, according to Firehouse.com, the eight groups identified the following immediate needs of America's fire service personnel:

• Funding to provide staffing, purchase equipment, and acquire relevant training.
• Staffing to overcome the existing personnel shortfall across the nation.
• Coordinator for federal terrorism preparedness programs.
• Thermal imaging cameras for firefighting and rescue work.
• Certified protective masks for chemical and/or biological weapons.
• The "Operation Respond" software tool providing vital life saving information.
• Training programs for HazMat transportation.
• Automated External Defibrillators for every fire and EMS vehicle.
• Additional spectrum allocation for interoperability in the 138-144 MHz range.

New Building Protection System

Recent tragic events emphasize the urgency for the development of innovative building systems to provide protection against impact from missiles and flying debris. The new building protection system (BPS) would enhance the structural integrity and fire resistance of evacuation routes in tall buildings, bridges, tunnels, and other components of urban infrastructure, said one of the Colorado State University (CSU) professors currently designing the new unique system.

Tests of a new BPS has shown it capable of withstanding debris flying at 100 mph, and could be helpful in minimizing the destruction seen at the World Trade Centers. The system, developed by Barrier Construction Systems of Colorado, was recently tested at the Missile Impact Facility at CSU. "The tested construction system was developed as a modular grid system that can be adapted for use in conjunction with new or existing steel or concrete framed structures," said Ed Phillips of Barrier Systems. "The BPS lends significant additional strength to the frame, utilizing the overall structure or a specific area within the structure to withstand extreme forces." Testing also indicates that the system provides effective fire protection.

If proven dependable and successful, this new building system will certainly contribute to the safety of all occupants as well as those emergency personnel responding to incidents within system structures.

NOTE: The U.S. Fire Administration is providing this information as a service to readers and does not endorse nor substantiate the claims made by the manufacturer.

Water Infrastructure

For the past few years the water industry, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, has been working on projects to enhance the security of potable water. Through these efforts, water utilities have taken numerous actions to increase protection and reduce the vulnerabilities within the national water infrastructure. To guarantee the availability of water for citizens, commercial industry, and firefighters, the leading water industry professional organizations are aggressively promoting the following water infrastructure protection measures:

• Guarding against physical intrusions with locks, alarms, lights, fences, access controls, etc.
• Enhancing employee security with background checks, policies, training, checklists, enforcement, etc.
• Coordinating effective emergency response with plans, protocols, communications, rehearsals, etc.
• Investing in infrastructure improvements with periodic reviews to justify funding for new, more effective protection measures.

Information Infrastructure

Government Security News reported that President Bush released his long-awaited presidential order creating a high-level board to protect the nation's critical information infrastructure. Richard A. Clarke, the President's cybersecurity advisor, will chair the newly created "President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board" which, under the order, has responsibility to "coordinate and have cognizance of federal efforts and programs that relate to the protection of information systems." This board will assume leadership over existing groups such as the National Infrastructure Protection Center, the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office, and the Federal Computer Incident Response Center.

USFACIPC Weekly Lexicon: Open Security

Computer or network systems that do not provide sufficient assurances that applications and equipment are protected against the introduction of malicious logic prior to or during the operation of the system.