InfoGram

June 26, 2003

NOTE: This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the emergency management and response sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. It has been prepared by NATEK Incorporated for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate. For further information, contact the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) at (301) 447-1325 or by email at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov.

CIP is also about Hazard Mitigation

Last week's InfoGram (http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fire-service/igjun1903.shtm) contained an entry proposing that critical infrastructure protection (CIP) is about "mission assurance." The brief article stated that there is a positive relationship between the protection of critical infrastructures and mission assurance. It concluded: "for emergency service organizations, the 'bottom line' is that CIP is all about mission assurance."

The CIPIC further suggests that CIP is also about hazard mitigation, the cornerstone of emergency management. Hazard mitigation is "the process of determining how to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property damage resulting from natural and manmade hazards." According to the FEMA website, the goal of mitigation is "to decrease the need for response as opposed to simply increasing the response capability." It appears that the FEMA definition and goal of hazard mitigation are entirely consistent with the objectives of CIP:

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

Upon reviewing these objectives, it should be apparent that CIP is about the mitigation of hazards to the critical infrastructures of communities and, particularly, their emergency first responders. Furthermore, is it not evident that the process of mitigating hazards before they become disasters has considerable benefits for citizens as well as their critical infrastructures? There should be no doubt that the identification and implementation of mitigation measures can deter or eliminate the short and long-term risks to critical infrastructures. This means that there is a strong positive correlation between hazard mitigation and CIP. Hence, for municipalities and emergency service organizations, the "top-of-the-line" is that CIP is also about hazard mitigation.

Preparing for the Loss of Water

Almost on a daily basis, somewhere in the United States, time and wear degrade or disrupt the many and varied working parts of a water system. Both public and private water systems continue to experience an increasing frequency of problems with aging facilities and equipment between the source of water supply and the distribution system. This should be a matter for the constant attention of key leaders, because the sources of supply and the means of movement are essential components among the critical infrastructures of all communities.

The rupture of aging pipes usually sets off a chain of events that reveal how fragile the water infrastructure systems are today. For example, a southern city with a populace exceeding 300,000 recently had a break in its major water supply line. As a result, a large part of the city was without water. Hospitals, schools, industrial plants, homes, etc., had no water for nearly two days. The real challenge here for water department officials and firefighters was how to arrange for a supplemental source of water until repairs could be completed.

In the seminal text "The Essentials of Firefighting," it states that water department officials "should be considered the experts in water supply problems." It continues that water department managers "should realize that firefighters are vitally concerned with water supply and should work with them on supply needs, location, and types of fire hydrants." Because water remains the primary extinguishing agent used by firefighters, chief officers fully recognize their dependency on this community critical infrastructure and aggressively coordinate with their respective water departments in planning for fire protection.

Considering the potential for future problems, the CIPIC submits that it is also important for chief officers and their subordinates to maintain an excellent working knowledge of the condition and reliability of the water supply system in their jurisdiction and adjacent communities. Awareness of the current status of the entire supply and distribution system will enable fire departments to develop effective plans to deal with possible shortfalls before they occur. Finally, although there is no verified specific threat against water sources, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advises that the water infrastructure remains a likely terrorist target.

Population Growth: A CIP Challenge

The National League of Cities (NLC) released a population growth study on 20 June showing that during the 1990s small cities grew at a rate of 18.5 percent, medium sized cities grew at a rate of 12.9 percent, and large cities grew at a rate of 9.1 percent. In a national meeting on the same day, the NLC staff expressed concern regarding the added strain on multiple critical infrastructures caused by this population increase, especially in small cities.

Municipal leaders in growth areas are cognizant of the escalating requirements for public safety, water, electricity, natural gas, waste treatment, transportation, etc. For many communities, these demands are problematic for emergency service and public works departments. Too often, new residential, commercial, and industrial zones are created without any increase in the personnel and equipment of emergency responders and public utilities. Therefore, department leaders and their staff must continually adjust to doing more with less.

There is one lesson in this matter that stands out as a salient one: The difficulties being experienced on local levels fully substantiate that service providers (e.g., fire firefighters, police, EMTs, etc.) are critical infrastructures, protecting other community critical infrastructures, while simultaneously attempting to protect their own internal critical infrastructures. This lesson has a sequel for all city leaders: A good dosage of commitment, ingenuity, and creativity is necessary to satisfy burgeoning demands without jeopardizing the protection of local critical infrastructures.

Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program

The President's National Strategy for Homeland Security has three main objectives: prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur. The new DHS Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) is an essential element of the President's national strategy, and a part of a larger program to enhance the capacity of state and local governments to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks.

HSEEP Volume I (Overview and Doctrine) describes the DHS exercise program, exercise doctrine, and program implementation. This document is the first in a series of HSEEP resources that will include an exercise manual and toolkit to help states and local jurisdictions to establish terrorism exercise programs, and to design, develop, conduct, and evaluate effective exercises that will enhance homeland security. Chapter 1 of this document provides an overview of the HSEEP. Chapter 2 defines the HSEEP, the HSEEP doctrine, and roles and responsibilities. Chapter 3 defines the various types of exercises. Chapter 4 provides an overview of the exercise planning process and initiatives.

HSEEP Volume I consisting of 44 pages can be downloaded from the following URL: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/docs/HSEEPv1.pdf. Volume II (Exercise Evaluation and Improvement), Volume III (Exercise Development Manual), and Volume IV (Sample Exercise Documents and Formats) will be available in the coming months.