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.
The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) disseminates Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) "For Official Use Only" (FOUO) Notices to the validated leaders of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS). These notices usually originate from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and normally contain information regarding the threats to, vulnerabilities of, and security best practices for ESS departments and agencies.
To assist recipients to comprehend the importance and applicability of CIP (FOUO) Notices, effective 7 August 2006, the EMR-ISAC will include the following qualifying terminology about each document:
CIP (FOUO) Notices are exclusively for vetted ESS leaders. The information should NOT be released either in oral or written form to the media, the general public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need to know" without prior approval from the EMR-ISAC. Additionally, all printed FOUO information should be stored in a locked container when not in use.
Individuals in leadership positions within ESS departments and agencies who are not receiving CIP (FOUO) Notices should contact the EMR-ISAC as soon as possible at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov or at 301-447-1325.
The third annual National Preparedness Month (NPM), sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), builds on the momentum of previous years. Currently, more than 200 national, regional, and local organizations are National Preparedness Coalition members. Coalition membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. Membership can be acquired by visiting Ready.gov and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner.
NPM provides Americans with information about preparing themselves, their families, and their communities for emergencies. Under Secretary for Preparedness, George Foresman, views September's focus as a way for all Americans to fulfill their "personal responsibility to ensure their family is prepared for the unexpected." Robust public participation in coalition or community-sponsored events and activities, including preparing emergency supply kits and plans, and learning about potential threats, helps citizens to better understand both their role in emergencies and their relationship with the Emergency Services Sector (ESS).
The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) encourages communities planning to conduct "preparedness month" activities to seek the counsel and support of their emergency managers and the chief officers of emergency departments. These individuals can offer assistance to ensure worthwhile events during the month that promote citizen preparedness.
Additionally, the EMR-ISAC suggests that responder organizations use this month each year to enhance the readiness and protection of their organization's personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems (i.e., their internal critical infrastructures).
The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) first discussed Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Teams (WMD-CSTs) in the 17 January 2003 InfoGram. These Department of Defense teams assist in preparing for and responding to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) incidents as part of a state's emergency response structure.
The 55 WMD-CSTs rapidly deploy to assist local incident commanders, provide medical and technical expertise, help determine the nature of an attack, and identify WMD agents and detected substances. Each team has 22 members that can include Army National Guard and Air National Guard personnel.
Their importance as a resource to assist Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel cannot be overstated. The teams arrive quickly with their own communications equipment to bolster the efforts of local responders and serve as an advance party for any additional federal resources.
Writing for DomesticPreparedness.com, Jonathan Dodson of the National Guard credits the creation and deployment of CSTs as a significant preparedness factor for WMD attacks. Therefore, the EMR-ISAC suggests that ESS leaders familiarize themselves with this critical infrastructure asset and the locations of CSTs by visiting the GlobalSecurity.org Website.
While researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to study the transmissibility of the H5N1 bird flu virus, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urges organizations within the nation's many critical infrastructures (e.g., Emergency Services Sector) to begin preparing immediately for pandemics and other potential disasters that can degrade infrastructure and adversely affect continuity of operations.
Considering the potential for degradation of critical infrastructure operations and services caused by severe personnel shortages, the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) offered basic planning suggestions for ESS leaders in the 27 October 2005 InfoGram . Since then, additional pandemic information has become available. The National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, the federal government's lead document, addresses preparedness and communication, surveillance and detection, and response and containment issues.
Another resource is Preparing for a Pandemic Influenza: A Primer for Governors and Senior State Officials, available for download at the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices. The 32-page, June 2006 document stresses the need to look beyond the initial public health and medical response and develop strategies to ensure the perpetuation of essential government and private sector resources. Chief among these resources is the ESS whose leaders should work closely with state officials in a pandemic situation.
The U.S. Fire Administration/EMR-ISAC does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites, and does not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.
This INFOGRAM may contain copyrighted material that was not specifically authorized by the copyright owner. EMR-ISAC personnel believe this constitutes "fair use" of copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use copyrighted material contained within this document for your own purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
DHS and the FBI encourage recipients of this document to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to DHS and/or the FBI. The DHS National Operation Center (NOC) can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9685 or by email at NOC.Fusion@dhs.gov.
The FBI regional phone numbers can be found online at www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm
For information affecting the private sector and critical infrastructure, contact the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), a sub-element of the NOC. The NICC can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9201 or by email at NICC@dhs.gov.
When available, each report submitted should include the date, time, location, type of activity, number of people and type of equipment used for the activity, the name of the submitting company or organization, and a designated point of contact.
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