InfoGram

August 11, 2005

NOTE: This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. 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.

Pyro-Terrorism

As a requirement for the Degree of Master of Operational Studies, Major Robert Baird (USMC) recently researched and wrote about the risk of a future pyro-terrorist attack in the United States. In his paper, Major Baird defined the phenomenon of pyro-terrorism as the use of arson attacks to terrorize the civilian population and coerce the government to advance political or social objectives. "Arson, which destroys property with fire for profit or revenge, is the tactic," according to author.

Major Baird's thesis discusses that terrorist organizations are adapting to avoid security and screening systems. "Instead of using expensive, complex, and readily detectable nuclear or radiological bombs, a terrorist could easily ignite several massive wildfires to severely damage regional economies, impact military and firefighting forces, and terrorize the American people." Unfortunately, impending destructive energy already exists in our nation's forests. An opportunistic terrorist "can unleash multiple fires creating a conflagration potentially equal to a multi-megaton nuclear weapon."

The EMR-ISAC agrees that massive wildfires could overwhelm suppression resources, destroy critical infrastructures, weaken regional economies, demoralize the general public, and put much pressure on local, regional, and national leadership. Therefore, the EMR-ISAC supports Major Baird's call for greater threat awareness by those living and working in the vicinity of wildlands. Increased alertness can be achieved by "community service advertising" on the television, radio, Internet, and in print. The goal of this dedicated campaign should be an aware citizenry looking to reliably identify and quickly report suspicious activity in the nation's forests. Assisted by a vigilant public, law enforcement will be in a better position to catch the perpetrators and negate the devastating effects of pyro-terrorism.

Another Threat to Emergency Personnel

U.S. Army sources reported this week that a renegade band of Mexican military deserters expanded operations into the United States to protect loads of cocaine and marijuana being transported by Mexican smugglers. The deserters, known as the "Zetas," trained in the United States as an elite force of anti-drug commandos, but have since become mercenaries for Mexican narcotics traffickers. Officials believe the "Zetas" are recruiting followers in various states of the nation including Texas, Arizona, California, and Florida. They also learned that this dangerous band is offering $50,000 bounties for the assassination of American law enforcement officers.

The U.S. Border Patrol confirmed that the number of assaults on their agents increased dramatically this year along 260 miles of the U.S. - Mexico border in Arizona. Two of the agents were seriously wounded in an ambush on their patrol route. The assailants are typically dressed in black commando-type clothing, use high-powered weapons and hand-held radios, and quickly withdraw from the area using military-style cover and concealment tactics.

Since the "Zetas" have directed death threats toward law enforcement officers, the EMR-ISAC recommends extreme caution by emergency personnel when performing duties that may bring them in contact with this criminal group. Appropriate safety and force protection techniques must be used when responding any incidents involving the "Zetas."

Incorporating CIP into Training

As always, quality training depends on the attitude, knowledge, skills, abilities, and dedication of the instructor. Most would agree that good training should be proactive, realistic, interesting, and provide ample rehearsal of the organization's mission-essential tasks. Many would also agree that training should offer practical and efficient opportunities to correct operational difficulties, improve procedures, enhance command protocols, resolve conflicts when integrating the duties of multiple response organizations, etc.

The EMR-ISAC submits that meaningful training significantly contributes to the protection of the most critical of infrastructures-personnel. However, training activities can additionally teach the rank and file to recognize and protect an emergency department's internal physical assets and communication/cyber systems as well as those of the community they serve. The potential benefits resulting from training integrated with critical infrastructure protection (CIP) awareness and practices should be considered by leaders and trainers alike.

The EMR-ISAC, therefore, encourages all emergency department trainers to know their internal and external critical infrastructures, to understand how these infrastructures may or may not be protected, and to appropriately integrate CIP when planning and conducting each training event. Organizational survivability, continuity of operations, and mission assurance may depend on the awareness and practice of CIP, including prevention and protection, before and during response and recovery actions.

Protecting Health and Safety after a Hurricane

Among the many resources applicable to the Emergency Services Sector published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a new Fact Sheet entitled: Protect Your Health and Safety After a Hurricane.

Those departments and agencies operating in areas susceptible to hurricanes can see this 2-page guide at the following link: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/pdf/recoverysummary.pdf (PDF, 92 Kb, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help).