InfoGram

November 20, 2003

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 information systems. It has been prepared by NATEK Incorporated for the US Fire Administration. 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.

A Time for Action

Terrorist threats against national and local critical infrastructures have not abated in the past two years. In fact, there are some indications that deliberate threats against American industrial complexes (e.g., petroleum, chemical, and nuclear plants) as well as air and seaports have actually increased. Considering the probabilities of an attack at any one or more of these locations with multiple casualties and the destruction of high-value infrastructures, the time is right for even greater coordination and more thorough emergency planning among the first response departments at or adjacent to any of these vulnerable sites.

Given the current threat environment, emergency response departments in these potentially targeted areas should initiate or review formal mutual (or automatic) aid agreements, compacts, or associations. The CIPIC recommends that written agreements meticulously discuss the ability of each responder organization to communicate and to exchange information, data, equipment, apparatus, and services in such a way as to allow partners to operate effectively together and enhance their individual capabilities.

The CIPIC further suggests that affected agencies also acquire "shared understandings" on matters pertaining to the incident command system (ICS) and its unified command system (UCS) component, in addition to the rescue, treatment, and evacuation of mass casualties.

Relationship Building for CIP

According to Deputy Chief Charles Werner of the Charlottesville (VA) Fire Department, human interaction is 70 percent of the problem when it comes to achieving the interoperability of voice communications, equipment, and operations. "All of the money and technology combined cannot overcome the human barriers that still exist between public safety agencies." Chief Werner also said, "More can be done to achieve interoperability through strong interagency relationships based on trust, respect, and concern for the well being of one another."

The constructive interrelationships and interdependence among those departments that serve a community (e.g., fire, police, public utilities, education, etc.) will make a considerable difference in the implementation of critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and the degree of commitment to the process with resulting protective measures. Favorable relationships among the leaders of community critical assets will foster better communication, coordination, and cooperation before, during, and after natural and man-made disasters. From these professionally cooperative relationships flow the agreements that can give purpose and direction to CIP.

Chief Werner stated that to achieve a seamless interoperable network, all public safety and support agencies must plan and exercise together to prepare for short and long-term disaster responses. "A culture of coordination and collaboration must be established to ensure that the perspectives of all responding organizations are fully considered and resolved." He summarizes by saying: "It's really all about relationships to achieve success." The CIPIC maintains that organizational and community CIP is immensely dependent upon these successful relationships.

Grants for CIP Related Activities

In a 13 November Press Release, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an additional $675 million for grants to urban areas within the United States to help enhance their overall security and preparedness to prevent, respond, and recover from acts of terrorism. The grants intend to build upon the Administration's vision to enhance security capabilities from the ground up and to form strong regional partnerships to create a foundation of shared leadership and shared responsibility, said DHS Secretary Tom Ridge. "The funds will go to the designated states, which will then work with counties and cities to form regions that will work together through mutual aid agreements, interoperable communications, statewide intelligence centers, and community and citizen participation.

The urban areas receiving grant money were selected using a formula that takes into account factors including the presence of critical infrastructures, population density, and a credible level of threat information. Funding allocations among the cities, contiguous counties, and mutual aid partners will be based on an urban area assessment and strategic plan. Eighty percent of the funds distributed to the states under this program must be awarded to the designated cities and contiguous counties within the urban area according to the strategic plan. The states may use the remaining twenty percent for further security enhancements within the urban area.

Urban areas can utilize the money for CIP countermeasure activities such as building physical barricades around sensitive areas, monitoring and surveillance systems, prevention planning, training exercises, and communication systems for first responders. Since strategic planning among mutual aid partners will influence these funding allocations, the CIPIC again advocates the preparation or up-date of well-developed mutual aid plans.

Influenza Versus Response-Ability

Federal health officials announced this week that the flu season has started much more quickly and may be more severe than usual. They are particularly concerned because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has detected a strain of the flu virus that was not specifically included in developing the vaccine now being administered throughout the country.

The detected flu strain, "H3N2 influenza A, has typically been associated with higher rates of hospitalization and higher mortality than some of the other strains," said Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, CDC Director, "that is part of the reason why we're worried about this being far worse than expected." Because of the ominous early indications she again urged Americans to get a flu shot as soon as possible.

Dr Gerberding additionally stated that the current vaccine should still protect most people because the H3N2 strain and the ones targeted by the available vaccine are very similar. Therefore, as this appears to be a serious situation, the CIPIC encourages flu vaccinations for eligible first responders to minimize mini-epidemics with staggering absenteeism that could degrade the response-ability of emergency departments.