June 1, 2006 InfoGram

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.

Situational Awareness: A CIP Enhancer

The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) more closely examined the relationship between situational awareness and critical infrastructure protection (CIP). After reviewing numerous law enforcement alerts and researching credible online sources, the EMR-ISAC proposes that there is a positive correlation between the two. In other words, an increase in situational awareness almost always results in an increase in CIP.

For example, multiple sources discussed the frequency of bomb-making in hotel rooms, apartments, homes, and vehicles in order to keep the explosives clandestine and highly mobile. Nevertheless, the evidence of bomb-making activities are volatile substances used in everyday life such as acetone, nail polish remover, peroxide, and fertilizer. And, according to Stratfor.com, although electronic devices such as cell phones or wristwatches may not appear unusual in the context of a residence, "signs that they have been modified or taken apart entirely should raise a red flag, as these components are commonly used as detonators." Fumes from the chemical reactions are another "telltale sign" that can be detected upon entry by responders into a location.

Emergency services personnel practicing active situational awareness must notice the signs of a makeshift explosives laboratory in order to protect themselves, colleagues, and citizens from inherent dangers. Emergency Services Sector leaders and trainers should ensure that first responders are continuously watchful for gallons of acetone, peroxide, sulfuric or nitric acids, and tools such as beakers, protective gloves, and masks. The EMR-ISAC asserts that all emergency responders who recognize when something is amiss wherever performing mission essential tasks will enhance the CIP of their organization.

Public Trust and CIP

Accepting that trust is the foundation of the unwritten pact between citizens and their community, the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) briefly considered the connection between public trust and critical infrastructure protection (CIP) as they pertain to the emergency services. Information found on this matter substantiated that the general public should have genuine confidence and high expectations in the abilities of their emergency services to protect community critical infrastructure as well as internal organizational infrastructures.

An article in the May 2006 Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Report, published by the George Mason University (GMU) CIP Program, asks the question: "Who do people trust - and who do they blame - when it comes to providing critical infrastructure protection and essential services?" GMU research suggests that public confidence in emergency response and recovery agencies is vital to assuring order and calm in the event of large-scale disruption by terrorism, natural disasters or technological calamities.

Upon further scrutiny, the direct link between public trust and CIP seems clear, despite the reality that managing public trust and confidence is a complex aspect of public relations and CIP. Therefore, the EMR-ISAC suggests that civil leaders, emergency managers, and the chief officers of the emergency services consider strategies for managing public trust and generating confidence in infrastructure service delivery during both tranquil and catastrophic periods. Man-made and natural disasters in the past five years make such strategies more meaningful and justifiable.

National Response Plan Updated for Hurricane Season

The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) reminds the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a periodic update to the National Response Plan (NRP) that includes modifications based on organizational changes within the agency and experience gleaned from responses to Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita last summer.

DHS updates the NRP every four years or periodically as necessary to incorporate new Presidential directives, legislative changes, best practices, and procedural changes based on lessons learned from exercises and actual incidents. Any department or agency with assigned responsibilities under the NRP may propose a change to the plan; DHS then coordinates all proposed modifications with primary and support agencies and other stakeholders. A stakeholder review in the fall of 2006 may result in additional modifications.

Among the modifications is a change clarifying that multiple Joint Field Offices may be established in support of regional-level and/or nationwide incidents. For Emergency Support Function (ESF) 13 (Public Safety and Security), the DHS will no longer be the co-coordinator and primary agency. That role will be taken over by the Department of Justice. With respect to ESF 14 (Recovery and Mitigation), a modification recognizes the reorganization of the DHS Mitigation program within ESF 14 and the Joint Field Office Operations Section. This occurred after the NRP was implemented in April 2005. Another change provides a new supplement to the NRP for the quick reference of senior government, non-government organizations, and private sector leadership. The EMR-ISAC encourages ESS leaders to familiarize themselves with the latest changes to the mandated plan.

The current update, referred to as a Notice of Change, includes a table of change summaries and list of contacts for questions about the changes. It can be viewed at the DHS Website. The Emergency Management Institute continues to offer on line IS-800 National Response Plan, An Introduction. This FEMA Independent Study Program course and other resources to assist in understanding and using the NRP are available at the Emergency Management Institute Website.

Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure

One of the many consequences of Hurricane Katrina was disruption to the chemical infrastructure, particularly the petrochemical industry. As part of its post-Katrina research efforts, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asked the National Academy of Sciences to study the nation's chemical infrastructure and make recommendations for actions needed to better protect the chemical industry and the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) from chemical events.

The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) reviewed the just-released Terrorism and the Chemical Infrastructure: Protecting People and Reducing Vulnerabilities, and identified information relevant to response organizations. This study is available for free download at The National Academies Press Website.

In addition to an overview of the chemical infrastructure and its most significant general types of vulnerabilities, the report includes brief descriptions of historical accidents and their consequences, e.g., deaths and injuries sustained by responders. Another section contains realistic incident scenarios based on events defined as catastrophic (overwhelm the ability of emergency responders) under the National Response Plan. Each scenario discusses conditions, initiating event, immediate consequences, cascading events, assessment of impact on government function, and mitigating consequences.

The first of the report's dozen major recommendations clearly highlights the importance of the response sector: "DHS should support research directed toward enhancing emergency preparedness, emergency response and disaster recovery." The EMR-ISAC will provide updates on activities that emerge as a result of the many recommendations.