InfoGram

June 23, 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.

Independence Day Holiday Preparations

Although there may be no substantiated threats against 4 July holiday celebrations, community leaders must consider the probability of terrorism, criminal behavior, vandalism, confrontational tactics, demonstrations, service disruptions, etc. Local government officials and their emergency response organizations can capitalize on the few remaining days to guarantee that all critical infrastructures (i.e., personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems) are sufficiently protected and prepared for any civil unrest, criminal violence, or terrorism that might occur during holiday festivities.

Are emergency departments having small or large celebrations at or near their jurisdictions now engaged in prevention and protection activities? The EMR-ISAC cautions that the answer to this question must be affirmative to ensure citizen safety and morale as well as successful Independence Day observances. Dedicated efforts should be ongoing to protect participants and deter any interruption of 4 July events. Therefore, the EMR-ISAC offers the following brief reminders to bolster preparatory actions:

• Develop provisions to validate the identity of official personnel, guests, and vehicles that may be seen at or near planned gatherings.
• Become familiar with local first responder uniforms and vehicles, including those from mutual aid partners and other adjacent municipalities.
• Establish strict internal accountability for uniforms, accouterments, vehicles, operating devices, codes, and anything else that can be used by adversaries to "legitimize" their presence or to facilitate illicit acts.
• Reliably ascertain if there is any group (violent or non-violent) that plans to appear at local celebrations with or without a formally approved permit.
• Rehearse plans to professionally intercept and remove individuals or groups that unlawfully disrupt proceedings.
• Confirm the readiness of joint and mutual aid partners to execute emergency response plans if a destructive device is detonated.
• Reinforce the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System.

The Dangers of Fireworks

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a special report, part of its Topical Fire Report Series, examining the dangers of fireworks. An estimated 23,200 fireworks fires in 2002 caused approximately $35 million in property loss. Fifty-nine percent of fires caused by fireworks occur during the month of July around the Independence Day holiday. Children under the age of 15 suffered 45% of all injuries from fireworks. Firecrackers, sparklers, and bottle rockets are the leading contributors to these injuries.

The report, The Dangers of Fireworks, was developed by the National Fire Data Center, part of FEMA's U.S. Fire Administration, and is based on data from the 2002 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The report summarizes some of the characteristics of fireworks fires, with an emphasis on the dangers and injuries that are associated with fireworks.

A copy of the full report regarding the dangers of fireworks can be downloaded from: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/reports/pubs/tfrs.shtm

Domestic Terrorism Update

The nation's attention remains largely focused on Iraq and Afghanistan, and the threat from transnational terrorists. Nevertheless, the FBI continues to investigate about 150 open cases of arson, bombings, and other violent crimes associated with American militant activists and hate groups. "Violence by environmental and animal rights extremists has increased so much that it's currently the FBI's top domestic terrorism issue," a top agency official said. Making matters worse, the Southern Poverty Law Center counted 762 active hate groups in the United States during 2004. Not surprisingly, when analyzing the status of domestic terrorism during the first half of 2005, a senior law enforcement spokesperson stressed that "the dangers of domestic criminal violence is unusually high this year."

Home-grown terrorists have steadily planned and executed ambitious attacks across the country. Vicious acts of sabotage motivated by belligerency and hate have caused serious turmoil and destruction in communities nationwide at great risk to citizens and their first responders. This bitter reality necessitates that Emergency Services Sector organizations consider domestic terrorists among the viable threats to their critical infrastructures. Consequently, the EMR-ISAC urges communities and emergency departments to include domestic terrorism among the existing threats when conducting prevention, protection, and response planning.

Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Website

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and Penn Well Corporation announced a new website, http://www.everyonegoeshome.com, established for the nationwide Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program. "Penn Well's efforts, as well as those of many supporters, are providing opportunities to reduce firefighter fatalities all across America. This is a first for the NFFF and the American fire service and is part of an ongoing, comprehensive program to prevent firefighter deaths and injuries," said Chief Ron Siarnicki, NFFF Executive Director.

Each year, more than 100 firefighters are killed in the line of duty in the United States, and approximately 100,000 firefighter injuries are reported. As a result of these significant numbers, the NFFF is working in partnership with the U. S. Fire Administration to reduce these deaths. The Initiatives are funded by a Fire Act Grant through the Department of Homeland Security and a corporate donation from Fireman's Fund.

"The Everyone Goes Home website will greatly benefit firefighters, their families and co-workers, fire departments, and the general public by helping reduce the number of line-of-duty deaths and the impact of those tragedies on families and communities," according to Hal Bruno, Chairman of the NAFF Board of Directors.

Homeland Security Standards Database

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced that the Homeland Security Standards Database (HSSD) is now operational at http://www.hssd.us. ANSI undertook this project on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The first set of standards is loaded under the following categories: Threats, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Borders and Transportation, Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, and DHS Adopted Standards. Many of these categories have additional subcategories for further specificity.

The goal of the HSSD is to provide a single, comprehensive source for standards that relate to homeland security. To meet this goal, ANSI is working with DHS, standards developing organizations, and other stakeholders to identify and classify those standards that are pertinent to homeland security. The initial effort deals with the area of first responders. This is being done in cooperation with the Responder Knowledge Base and uses the Standardized Equipment List as the basis for the classification structure.