InfoGram

March 3, 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.

Prevention Considerations

Local governments and their emergency services have heard and seen a lot of information about preparedness for domestic and transnational terrorism. To complement the emphasis on preparedness, additional consideration should be given to the prevention of terrorist activities. This recommendation is based on the logic that "the best way to respond to a terrorist attack is to prevent it from ever happening." Generally, the goal of prevention is to detect, deter, and mitigate threats against the homeland. The EMR-ISAC suggests that this goal is leader-driven, but the responsibility of all citizens, particularly those employed by state and local governments as well as their emergency responders.

Terrorists and criminals cannot easily accomplish their reprehensible deeds when vigilant personnel encircle potential targets. The most effective deterrent is for everyone, not just security personnel, to be attentive to their surroundings. Case studies substantiate that adversary operatives abandon their intentions or select different targets when they suspect their presence or planning has been detected.

Antiterrorism specialists assert that terrorist and criminal preparatory activities are frequently recognizable days, weeks, and months before an attack. "While terrorists/criminals can shield unusual behavior from security personnel and cameras, they absolutely cannot keep ordinary people and employees from seeing what they are doing." The experts maintain that citizens and employees have an important role to play in stopping these activities, because they know their own living and working environments very well and should be able to identify and report unusual or suspicious behavior, objects, and circumstances.

The EMR-ISAC submits that members of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) can provide leadership by example in this urgent matter. ESS personnel should quickly report their observations to local authorities, and also to the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center: Voice: 202-282-9201, Fax: 703-607-4998, E-Mail: nicc@dhs.gov.

Infrastructure Protection Forums

Although originally designed to prepare and maintain emergency plans addressing hazardous substances and weapons of mass destruction, many regions of the nation use the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to coordinate plans that entail all aspects of prevention, protection, response, and recovery among the represented communities. The majority of LEPCs enjoy the positive synergy achieved by a broad-based membership that develop emergency plans integrating regional resources and effectively orchestrate automatic and mutual aid.

For those municipalities lacking the benefits of a LEPC or similar entity, the EMR-ISAC recommends the creation of an Infrastructure Protection Forum (IPF). The IPF offers an organization and structure that brings together public and private agencies within a community or neighboring communities with the common goal of protecting critical infrastructures upon which they depend for health, safety, and survivability. Considering the threats by "all-hazards" nationwide, this type of association is something that no locality or localities should be without.

Serving as a premier networking and collaborative forum of stakeholders, the EMR-ISAC suggests that the IPF can perform the following major functions (not inclusive) for a community or participating communities:

• Solidifies relationships and contact lists before a man-made or natural disaster.
• Partners industry and government leaders for local survivability and continuity of operations.
• Promotes the meaningful sharing of information and expertise.
• Fosters awareness of critical infrastructure interdependencies, threats, and vulnerabilities.
• Encourages a "prevention and protection" operational framework for all activities.
• Identifies mutual needs for joint response and recovery procedures and assets.
• Supports emergency first responders by addressing necessary joint training and exercises.

Wildfire Reflections

Some noteworthy information about the approaching wildfire season has appeared in national news media. California and Florida sources reported about the possible threat of these blazes arising in areas not normally associated with wildfires. Officials from these states discussed the dangers of debris left behind by the hurricanes, floods, and mudslides on both sides of the United States during the past six months. They expressed concern about too many piles of dead trees, branches, and other combustible material that still remain in many areas. A U.S. District Forest Ranger in Florida said the debris caused by "hurricane blowdown" might fuel a wildfire that could burn intensely and quickly spread to nearby residential and commercial areas.

The EMR-ISAC reminds first planners and responders in these areas that terrorists or arsonists can capitalize on the vulnerabilities resulting from disastrous hurricanes, floods, mudslides, or any other natural disaster. Extremists could attempt to create catastrophic fires from the unattended debris as a means of attack or diversion. Therefore, involved communities and their emergency responders can consider controlled burns of remaining debris as an active and cost-effective prevention measure.

More information about wildfires can be obtained at the U.S. Fire Administration website using the following link: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/subjects/wildfire/safetyinfo.shtm.

CAER Training Programs

The DuPont Corporation offers the Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) Program at no cost to all emergency response organizations concerned with the safe handling and transport of hazardous materials (HazMat). All classes can be conducted at local communities of any size or at the Delaware State Fire School. The sponsoring municipality only has to plan the event, schedule it with the DuPont manager, and provide any necessary logistics such as food.

CAER training ranges from 4 hours of basic HazMat awareness to 24 hours of intensive operations training. DuPont utilizes two fully outfitted CAER tank railcars, two completely equipped training units, and a training trailer as needed to represent what emergency responders may encounter during a chemical incident. The specially designed tank cars are outfitted with both high-pressure and non-pressure top appliances and other external fittings.

For more information about this free training call Mr. Ray Beaudry, Manager, DuPont Emergency Response and Regulatory Training, at 302-774-3047 or by facsimile at 302-773-5484. He can also be contacted by writing to the DuPont Safety, Health, and Environmental Excellence Center, Wilmington, DE 19898.