InfoGram

February 3, 2005

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.

Terrorist Threats Reporting Guide

On 7 January, the Department of Homeland Security released the Terrorist Threats to the U.S. Homeland Reporting Guide for Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource Owners and Operators (TTRG). Later that same day, the Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) forwarded this "For Official Use Only" (FOUO) document through a secure portal to those senior leaders of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) that are registered and subscribed to DisasterHelp.gov-the EMR-ISAC list server-for critical infrastructure protection (CIP) information.

The purpose of the TTRG is to leverage the vast information resources of the nation's critical infrastructure partners to assist in recognizing activities or conditions that may be indicative of terrorist activity. This important document-not for public consumption-identifies common indicators and patterns that may be associated with terrorist threats to the critical infrastructures of the United States. The guide also encourages reporting of relevant indicators and patterns to law enforcement and homeland security officials.

There could be several ESS senior leaders (e.g., fire/police/EMS department chiefs, assistant/deputy chiefs, emergency managers, fire marshals, emergency medical services directors) who did not receive the TTRG because they are not electronically connected to the CIP FOUO information sharing portal of DisasterHelp.gov. Since CIP FOUO information frequently affects the plans and operations of emergency management and response organizations, the ESS leadership are encouraged to access EMR-ISAC CIP information about threats, vulnerabilities, and lessons-learned by registering/subscribing with DisasterHelp.gov at: https://disasterhelp.gov/usfacip.html.

Any questions or concerns about CIP information sharing, particularly FOUO information such as the TTRG, should be directed to the EMR-ISAC at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov or at 301-447-1325.

COOP and CIP Planning

Today's threat environment and the potential for a no-notice crisis, including localized acts of nature, hazardous material accidents, technological emergencies, and terrorist attacks have increased the need for Continuity of Operations (COOP) capabilities and plans that enable emergency management and response agencies to maintain their indispensable operations across a broad spectrum of disasters. The Federal Preparedness Circular 65, dated 15 June 2004, defines COOP as the activities of individual departments and organizations and their sub-components to ensure that their essential functions are performed.

In the CIP Process Job Aid, the EMR-ISAC explains that CIP consists of the proactive activities to protect key personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems from all hazards. Stated differently, it's about protecting the people and things that must be intact and operational 24x7 in order to guarantee survivability, COOP, and mission success.

The EMR-ISAC proposes that COOP and CIP planning activities are mutually inclusive and interdependent, particularly for the departments and agencies of Emergency Services Sector. COOP plans ensure that vital organizational services are continuously available without any interruption. However, it should be clear to emergency planners that COOP will be degraded unless an organization's critical infrastructures remain fully functional. Without CIP there can be no COOP.

Therefore, the identification of the critical infrastructures and mission essential tasks must be a prerequisite for COOP planning, because it reliably establishes the parameters that drive crucial planning and protection endeavors in resource-restrained organizations on limited budgets. Furthermore, experience sustains that as CIP significantly bolsters COOP, so does COOP planning considerably enhance CIP.

Regional Coordination

Numerous Emergency Services Sector organizations and agencies across the nation face similar circumstances everyday: inadequate funding, equipment shortages, insufficient training, no backup, etc. These realities demand a lot of ingenuity and creativity by emergency department leaders who must contend with such prevailing conditions. The situation seemingly questions the logic of "jurisdiction-specific" plans and operations, particularly in suburban and rural areas. While recognizing the complexity and challenges to multijurisdictional organization and preparation, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in September 2004: "The most effective responses are coordinated and planned across the region." The GAO study disclosed that several factors characterize effective regional coordination:

• Strategic plans developed by regional organizations can be effective tools to focus limited resources and efforts to address common problems.
• Regional organizations that include representation from many different jurisdictions and diverse stakeholders serve as structured forums for these parties to discuss public policy problems and agree on possible solutions.
• Where regional collaboration is encouraged by the leadership and political traditions of state, regional, and local entities, flexibility for regional organizations to establish their membership requirements and collaborative processes is important.

The benefits of regional coordination are assured for emergency preparedness; however, the EMR-ISAC submits that there can be advantages for critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and continuity of operations (COOP) as well. Multijurisdictional efforts to protect local and regional critical infrastructures will promote the CIP and COOP of the participating communities and their first responders.

Emergency Preparedness Guide for Homeowners

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a new resource for homeowners entitled the "Emergency Preparedness Guide." The document gives homeowners practical measures to prepare themselves, their families, and their homes for any possible emergencies.

Based on the recommendations of DHS and the Homeownership Alliance, the guide outlines the simple steps homeowners should take to ensure their emergency preparedness. This latest effort by the DHS Ready to encourage Americans to prepare for potential terrorist attacks and other emergencies can be downloaded from the following link: http://www.homeownershipalliance.com/documents/emergency_final.pdf.