InfoGram

September 29, 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.

Exploitation Threat

After four hurricanes impacted Florida last year, an independent group of government and private experts discussed the conceivability that domestic or transnational terrorists could attempt to capitalize on the strain to emergency response and security personnel. Some of these same individuals speculated that the current national distraction caused by two catastrophic hurricanes in the Gulf Coast may increase the threat of exploitation by adversaries intent on further degrading America's critical infrastructures, economic stability, and public morale.

Considering recent events, many states and local governments are reviewing and revising their plans, protocols, and procedures for major natural disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Nevertheless, security specialists suggest additional actions to mitigate or prevent potential exploitation of prevailing conditions by terrorists, common criminals, disgruntled workers, etc. The EMR-ISAC assembled the following key recommendations applicable to the Emergency Services Sector to maintain preparedness and security for possible deliberate attacks:

• Increase vigilance at critical infrastructure sites.
• Reinvigorate identification checks in and around critical infrastructures, including those of the Emergency Services Sector.
• Prevent imposters from gaining access to unauthorized areas.
• Observe and report casing of critical infrastructures by unfamiliar personnel and vehicles.
• Guard against social engineering and deny critical information to those who don't have an "official need to know."
• Inspect parcels and packages delivered by vendors and visitors.
• Rigorously account for all sensitive materials, equipment, and apparatus.
• Quickly report missing personnel, materials or equipment.
• Inspect the interior and exterior of stations, firehouses, and buildings (including storage areas, waste bins, closets, HVAC intakes, energy and telecommunications feeds, etc.)
• at frequent but irregular intervals.
• Ensure the security and quality (including expiration dates) of food and materials stored for operations over extended periods without replenishment.

Reports should be sent to the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC) at Voice: 202-282-9201, Fax: 703-487-3570, E-Mail: nicc@dhs.gov, in addition to local police authorities.

NIMS Compliance

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Incident Management Integration Center recently reemphasized that first responder departments and agencies must adopt and use the National Incident Management System (NIMS) every day for incident management. Those that fail to do so are not compliant with DHS rules. According to DHS, the NIMS goal is to have responders at all levels apply the same organizational structures, terminology, procedures, and systems at all times. DHS cautions that emergency organizations that do not follow NIMS regularly will not be able to integrate their activities in the event of a disaster requiring assistance from other localities or federal agencies.

Federal preparedness funding will be contingent on NIMS compliance beginning October 1, 2005. This will include all preparedness money from all federal agencies as well as DHS funding. For more information about NIMS compliance, contact the NIMS Integration Center at 202-646-3850 or by email at nims-integration-center@dhs.gov.

American Levee Systems

According to the Flood Risk Education Alliance (FREA), "The flooding of the City of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is a stunning illustration of the role levees play in flood protection, and of the problems that can result when levees fail." There are approximately 15,000 miles of levees in the United States, and when a levee system fails or is overtopped, the results potentially can be more damaging to communities and their critical infrastructures than if the levee were not there.

A levee is an embankment whose primary purpose is to provide flood protection from seasonal high water. Urban levees reduce flooding in communities; agricultural levees provide flood protection in farming areas. Furthermore, it is important to know that levee systems have limitations: they are designed to protect against a particular flood level and may be overtopped; require comprehensive maintenance programs, especially as they age; involve significant planning and resources to be made ready for flood events; and, may fail to provide the level of protection for which they were designed.

Levees are operated and maintained by special districts, known as sponsors. If a community is protected by a levee system or is adjacent to a river with a levee system, it is essential that community leaders-including those of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS)-identify the sponsor, investigate the system's overall maintenance condition, and ask about the status of funding for continued maintenance. Also critical to know is whether the sponsor and community decision-makers are ready to engage in meaningful intervention plans to avert a disaster.

The EMR-ISAC encourages ESS department chiefs to seize the initiative by identifying levees in their jurisdiction, assessing the risks of a levee failure, determining the vulnerability of critical infrastructures to a levee failure, and advocating upgrade intervention for weakened or inadequate levees.

Emergency Planning Guide

"Standing Together: An Emergency Planning Guide for America's Communities," has just been released by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). This Guide was prepared to help small, rural, and suburban communities to both "prepare for and successfully respond" to major local and regional emergencies, including hurricanes, floods, terrorist attacks, major infectious outbreaks, hazardous materials spills, and other catastrophic occurrences.

Upon examination of this 97-page document, the EMR-ISAC believes the Guide has value for the prevention and protection activities of emergency managers and responders. The text opens with a section on "defining the community," and includes chapters on determining the hazards, preparedness and response planning, determining current capacities and capabilities, communication planning, vulnerable populations, funding sources, training, critiques, and other topics. It also includes a resource section.

Read or download the document online at: http://www.jcaho.org/news+room/press+kits/ems/planning_guide.pdf (PDF, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help)