InfoGram

April 11, 2002

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.

Suicide Attacks on Critical Infrastructures?

American intelligence experts believe there are indications that suicide attacks may be used as a "strategic weapon" against critical infrastructures within the United States. Their reasoning is based on two developments in the past ninety days: the escalation of suicide bombings in Israel, and the endorsement of these attacks at a conference attended by the recognized leaders of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hizballah.

Senior law enforcement and intelligence officials are now concerned that an attack by a lone bomber has become a "serious domestic threat" against the people, physical entities, and cyber systems critical for continuity of operations and survivability. They are particularly worried about the freelance radical living in the United States who may receive explicit instructions to carry out a suicide bombing against a specific target here. Such an attack was thwarted in 1997, when a Palestinian immigrant was apprehended within hours of detonating a pipe bomb and himself inside a New York subway station.

Firefighters and paramedics must be aware of the ease of manufacturing an individually transported bomb with significant destructive power. This unfortunate fact by itself makes suicide attacks a bitter reality within our nation, and a matter of serious consideration for emergency first responders. Accepting the validity of this new threat, the CIPIC encourages chief officers to protect emergency infrastructures by implementing access controls to their personnel, facilities, and apparatus, if not already in existence. Where practicable and supportable by local police, non-emergency workers and observers should be strictly prohibited from getting close to the scene of any incident or training event.

Hurricanes Versus Critical Infrastructures

Weather experts report that no hurricanes have struck the United States in more than two years, prompting the nation's top emergency management director to issue a warning that the American people may suffer from a type of "hazard amnesia." FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh substantiated this by citing the probable loss of valuable knowledge about hurricane hazards during the last thirty months. Meanwhile, government hurricane specialists said they expect the approaching warm weather to be a very busy hurricane season, officially beginning on 1 June.

The understandable preoccupation with terrorism combined with inexperience or apathy about hurricanes potentially renders critical infrastructures vulnerable to the next severe hurricane that strikes the nation. Since Twentieth Century American hurricane history provides tremendous evidence of critical infrastructure destruction, it would be imprudent for the community leaders in susceptible areas to neglect planning and preparing for the upcoming hurricane season. Therefore, the CIPIC recommends that senior leaders of emergency first responders in communities at coastal and adjacent regions take effective actions to protect their vulnerable infrastructures from the torrential powers of a single hurricane.

Growing Shortage of Volunteer Firefighters Degrades CIP

The soaring respect and admiration for firefighters since 9/11, as well as President Bush's call to public service, have not translated into more people joining the dwindling ranks of volunteer departments. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, the ranks have continued falling after hitting a record high in 1983. As a result, there are fewer volunteer firefighters responding to more emergency calls. "That takes a toll," said the executive director of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association. He continued that shrinking numbers often leave volunteers feeling overburdened, which commonly produces burnout and eventual termination of status.

There are many reasons for the decreasing population of volunteer firefighters: too much time to train, required time for fund-raising, long hours at work, insufficient time at home with spouse and children, college attendance, church activities, desires for some free time, cannot respond to an alarm, etc. But whatever the reasons, it does not change the fact that personnel shortages within volunteer departments jeopardize the critical infrastructures of both the department and the community it serves. Firefighters understand perfectly that inadequate numbers to suppress a fire or mitigate an incident will be at great risk to their safety and the protection of department and community infrastructures.

To reverse this dangerous degradation of CIP, communities with volunteer fire departments will have to employ creative incentives that appeal to and attract volunteers for life-long service. The options to do this are limited only by the imagination of community leaders. Some states have experimented with inducements involving money (e.g., length of service monetary awards, retirement programs, and state and local tax reductions). The CIPIC recommends that those departments and communities with volunteer firefighter shortfalls conduct earnest research into the affordable and successful enticements to recruit dedicated volunteers. It is probably needless to write that the safety of the citizens and families of these communities depends upon an expeditious reversal of this disturbing trend.

Grant Money for the Emergency Medical Services

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week that it will make $140 million in emergency funds available to health care organizations that suffered losses from the 11 September attacks. The grants are intended to provide relief to health care providers in the District of Columbia and certain counties of New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania that participated in disaster response efforts and incurred serious financial problems because of their response activities. Losses caused by increased expenses and lost revenues related to the provision of patient care between 11 September and 31 December 2001, will be considered for funding.

Funds will be granted to applicants in eligible geographic areas that "by virtue of their proximity to an attack zone, the number of patients served, or the provision of specialized services such as trauma care, participated most directly in disaster response efforts," according to HHS. Eligible applicants include: ambulance companies, hospitals, clinics, faculty practices, mental health providers, home health agencies, and blood centers.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of HHS will administer the grants. Information on applying for grants and the criteria that will be used for review purposes was published in the 29 March Federal Register. Applications must be postmarked by 13 May 2002. The HRSA action person for this program is Mr. Eulas Dortch. He can be contacted at: phone: 301-443-8007; facsimile: 301-443-0619; email: edortch@hrsa.gov.

Emergency Wireless System

According to a Federal Computer Week article, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently gave VoiceStream approval to provide government officials and public safety workers with priority access to its mobile phone networks. This FCC action enables VoiceStream and the government to launch a wireless priority access service (PAS) for use during emergencies. The new system will be part of the White House's National Communications System (NCS), and will eventually be expanded nationwide to include more carriers. The NCS is the agency that coordinates emergency communications.

The purpose of PAS is to ensure that mobile telephone calls from national security and emergency personnel will be connected regardless of the amount of traffic on the system. The pilot program will begin in May 2002, at New York City and Washington, DC. This entire effort is about "avoiding a repeat of the situation that ensued on 11 September, when a surge in telephone traffic prevented many emergency personnel from placing wireless calls."

VoiceStream will continue to work with the NCS to determine what PAS capabilities could be implemented in an expedited phase, and which capabilities could be developed and put in place by the end of 2002 on a nationwide basis.