InfoGram

May 23, 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.

Discipline and Control: CIP Multipliers

Speaking at a recent conference of emergency management professionals, former New York City Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen said: "commanders lost control of the waves of firefighters responding to the chaotic scene at the World Trade Center on September 11." He further stated that "procedures and communications faltered as hundreds of on-duty and off-duty firefighters and emergency workers rushed to the scene, some without the proper equipment or leadership."

It is widely recognized that firefighters and emergency medical technicians are totally dedicated, thoroughly interested in helping, and absolutely desirous of being part of a major rescue. Such explains their behaviors on 9/11, when so many individuals willingly risked or gave their lives trying to save others. Therefore, given the remarkable character of the American first responder, it is predictable that on-duty and off-duty professional responders will again engage an emergency without the orders and lacking the controls of incident commanders.

Because personnel are foremost among the infrastructures of the fire and emergency medical services, the CIPIC agrees that former Commissioner Von Essen's words provide an extremely important lesson. The teaching point here is that leaders and subordinates of the emergency response sector must enforce rigid discipline and outstanding control at every incident in order to protect the personnel infrastructure. All responders must be under the direct supervision of an incident commander. Although this may be an obvious fact that requires no reminders, it warrants emphasis and reemphasis in all departments considering the possibilities of another major catastrophe at any time and anywhere in the United States. When fully practiced, discipline and control are critical infrastructure protection multipliers.

Accepting present and future realities on this matter, the CIPIC offers the words of Phoenix Fire Chief Alan V. Brunacini. The following is an excerpt from the April issue of FireRescue Magazine: "The number one objective in saving our own is making sure the entire team arrives okay, does the job, and leaves okay. A department's basic risk-management plan needs to be short, simple, complete, and easy for all members to understand and apply."

Chief Brunacini proposed these rules as an example:

• We will risk our lives a lot to protect a savable life.
• We will risk our lives a little to protect savable property.
• We won't risk our lives at all attempting to save lives or property already lost.

Belt Bombs: Another Threat to Critical Infrastructures

President Bush warned this week that "al Qaeda terrorists still exist, still hate America, and still want to hurt us." After analyzing the large number of suicide bombings in Israel, terrorism experts fear that "belt bombs" will become the weapon of choice to cause mass victimization in the United States. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, speaking about suicide bombings, was quoted by the Associated Press: "I think we will see that in the future. I think it's inevitable." Some security experts believe that homegrown terrorists, perhaps guided by al Qaeda, will find inspiration in the effectiveness of this tactic used by Middle Eastern terrorists.

The "belt bomb" is a difficult weapon to counter. "It's cheap, easy to conceal, and has the most accurate guidance system available to mankind," said an analyst from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He opined that potential bombers are not difficult to find, need little persuasion, and require no supervision. Suicide bombers have used cars, trucks, ships, and airplanes on missions against targets, "but the human missile is even simpler." A suicide bomber can make decisions that an unmanned weapon cannot. There is no other available weapons system that can pretend to be a pregnant woman who pauses at the target while waiting for more potential victims to congregate, or otherwise, selects a more lucrative target at the very last minute. "Because it can be guided so precisely, and detonated at a carefully chosen moment, the 'belt bomb' is a weapon with a strong and dangerous message."

Knowing that a walking suicide bomber can situate himself or herself to cause the most death and destruction, the "belt bomb" is another serious threat to national infrastructures as well as those of the emergency response community. Two-pronged attacks with second explosions will be especially devastating to the personnel, physical assets, or cyber systems (i.e., critical infrastructures) that citizens depend upon for their safety and survivability.

This week, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly dispatched a team to Israel to learn how that country protects itself from suicide attacks. "Sometimes over there, they have intelligence to prevent these kinds of attacks, and that's what we need to develop information," said NYPD Lieutenant John McArdle. In the meantime, the CIPIC again encourages a cohesive and cooperative working relationship between local police and fire departments. Under ideal circumstances, the fire chief should know everything the police chief knows about credible threats to critical infrastructures.

Tenets of Terrorism Response

Considering the contents of the above two articles in this InfoGram, the CIPIC feels obliged to promote personnel infrastructure protection by sharing the "Tenets of Terrorism Response" developed by Norman Smith of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). With Mr. Smith's permission, the ten tenets for responding to a terrorist incident follow:

• Evacuate the area as quickly and safely as possible.
• Isolate the site to restrict access by unauthorized personnel.
• Hesitate before entering the scene until you-
• Evaluate the situation and your potential response actions.
• Communicate your conclusions and call for assistance as necessary.
  (Use no radios or cell phones closer than 300 yards because of bomb danger.)
• Infiltrate the area carefully and only when it's time to do so.
• Procrastinate until it is as safe as possible to take action.
• Investigate while remembering you are at a crime scene.
  (Do not exceed your authority; support and assist as appropriate.)
• Cooperate as a team player with other responders and those in charge.
• Decontaminate and clean up carefully.
  (Avoid accidental removal of evidence and the endangerment of others.)

CIP Key Players

The protection of a department's critical infrastructures has two major objectives:

• To protect the people, physical entities, and cyber systems that are indispensably necessary for survivability, continuity of operations, and mission success; and
• To deter or mitigate attacks on critical infrastructures by people (e.g., terrorists, hackers, etc.), by nature (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.), and by HazMat accidents.

To comprehensively and effectively implement critical infrastructure protection (CIP) within the fire and emergency medical services will involve the interest and cooperation of several segments of society. Therefore, the two objectives seen above have greater chances for satisfactory accomplishment if CIP is a truly collaborative effort by the following:

• Citizens. Americans must learn about the risks in their community and support the preparations of their emergency first responders. They should also prepare themselves and their families for all eventualities by keeping informed, assembling survival kits, and conducting rehearsals.
• First Responder Organizations. These groups compose the community's emergency response team. Increasing the interaction and communication among the various players (e.g., fire, police, ambulance, public works, utilities, etc.) enhances their coordination before and during an emergency situation, and elevates their ability to address emergencies in a safe and successful manner.
• Municipal Governments. Local authorities should have developed and tested a generic, all-hazard emergency plan, and established necessary resources and procedures required for deployment during an emergency situation. Such plans and procedures must be thoroughly coordinated with first responder organizations.
• County and State Governments. These bodies are responsible for emergency preparedness and CIP within their borders. Legislative requirements and levels of preparedness vary, nevertheless, each government body should monitor existing emergency preparedness and CIP levels and launch corrective measures to address specific vulnerabilities.
• Federal Departments and Agencies. National level organizations are responsible to monitor for potential or imminent emergency situations. These bodies must support responses by lower level governments and respond to those emergencies that are under federal jurisdiction.
• Public Media. The media can play an important role in the expeditious dissemination of helpful information during an emergency. This role must extend to the communication of potential emergency situations, promotion of appropriate preparedness activities, and the creation of an excellent working relationship with local authorities.