InfoGram

March 24, 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.

Risk Analysis

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff stated last week that his department will use a risk management approach in carrying out its mission of protecting the homeland. "Risk management must guide our decision-making as we examine how we can best organize to prevent, respond, and recover from an attack," the secretary said. "For that reason, the Department of Homeland Security is working with state, local, and private sector partners on a National Preparedness Plan to target resources where the risk is greatest."

As part of the critical infrastructure protection (CIP) process, especially for local entities, risk analysis occurs when an organization or agency determines that one or more threatened critical infrastructures are vulnerable to deliberate, natural or accidental attacks. Risk analysis begins with an examination of the negative effects of the degradation or loss of a critical infrastructure on an emergency department's response-ability and mission assurance. Following this action is an evaluation of the cost of countermeasures in terms of available resources (e.g., time, money, personnel, and materials). The probable negative effects caused by doing nothing to prevent the degradation or loss of a critical infrastructure are then weighed against the cost of doing something with protective measures.

Decision-makers should conclude that risk is unacceptable if the impact of the degradation or loss of a critical infrastructure (i.e., doing nothing) will be catastrophic for their organization. The CIP process must continue to the final step for the expeditious implementation of countermeasures when risk is unacceptable. The EMR-ISAC maintains that the failure to properly assess the risks can result in the inefficient application of scarce resources and reduced operational effectiveness.

Highway Watch Program: An Invitation

As a result of an information exchange between the Highway Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Highway ISAC) and the EMR-ISAC, an invitation for free CIP-relevant training has been extended to the departments and agencies of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS). Security and highway professionals of the Highway Watch Program have offered to teach ESS personnel how to recognize potential security threats as well as safety hazards while on the road in the performance of emergency duties.

Highway Watch is the highway sector's national safety and security program that uses the skills, experiences, and "road smarts" of America's highway transportation workers to help protect the nation's critical infrastructures and the movement of people, goods, and services. The program supervisor recommends a partnership with the ESS to provide additional "eyes and ears" that are trained to identify and report suspicious activities and dangers on America's roads and highways.

Highway Watch training is available in multiple formats such as online, by CD-ROM, by request for a training team visit, etc. ESS leaders and trainers who desire more information about this no-cost opportunity can call Highway Watch toll-free at 1-866-821-3444, or by electronic message at highwaywatch@trucking.org. The program web address is: http://www.highwaywatch.com.

NIMS, ICS, and CIP

The EMR-ISAC recognizes the relationship between CIP and the Incident Command System (ICS) component of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The ability to deliver emergency services is highly dependent upon the rapid establishment of effective on-scene incident management, which is essential to the successful command and control of major incidents. According to the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) Specific Plan as input to the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, any disruption of command and control of the ESS poses a threat to the security, health, and safety of first responders and the citizens they serve.

In a recent article, the NIMS Integration Center wrote that actions to "institutionalize" the use of ICS means "government officials, incident managers, and emergency response organizations at all jurisdictional levels adopt ICS and launch activities during FY 2005 that will result in the use of ICS for all incident response operations." A Center official further explained that at the organizational/operational level, evidence of "institutionalizing" ICS by incident managers and emergency response organizations would include the following:

• ICS is being integrated into functional and system-wide emergency operations policies, plans, and procedures.
• ICS training is planned or under way for responders, supervisors, and command level officers.
• Responders at all levels are participating in and/or coordinating ICS-oriented exercises that involve responders from multi-disciplines and jurisdictions.

For more information about the NIMS and the ICS, see the paper at the following link: http://www.fema.gov/txt/nims/nims_ics_position_paper.txt.

Economic Consequences of Firefighter Injuries

In its latest research effort, the National Institute of Standards and Technology credibly quantified the economic impact that injuries have to firefighters, their departments, the insurance industry, and society. The study team culled information from a broad search of literature and examined various methodological approaches for insight to calculate the many components that comprise financial losses from injury.

The research group analyzed such elements as the labor costs of investigating injuries, along with the hours required for data collection, report writing, and filing. They also considered what employers of firefighters pay to provide insurance coverage, as well as for safety training, physical fitness programs, and protective gear and equipment-all of these expenses related to preventing injuries and reducing their severity.

Research results can be seen in The Economic Consequences of Firefighter Injuries and Their Prevention-Final Report, a 68-page document seen at the following link: http://www.fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/NIST_GCR_05_874.pdf.