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.
Although natural disasters will frequently and continually threaten many regions of the nation, analysts believe that terrorism will remain the most significant threat to the United States. Such beliefs understandably evoke concerns about al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and similar groups. But several terrorism specialists forecast a decline in the number of state-sponsored terrorist organizations over the next five years. Instead, they project that privately sponsored extremist groups will increase in number and present new "asymmetric" threats to America's homeland security, economy, and morale.
Research by the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) revealed that terrorism experts anticipate an increase in domestic activity by individual terrorists or lone actors (also called "lone wolfs") in the next few years. These extremists will "draw ideological inspiration from formal terrorist organizations, but operate on the fringes of those movements." Despite their impromptu nature and limited resources, they will "mount high-profile, extremely destructive attacks that are difficult to detect."
According to her article in the recent Disaster Resource Guide, Dr. Jennifer Bower, a principal scientist and policy analyst at RAND Corporation, suggests there is low probability of domestic terrorists launching large-scale attacks to inflict mass casualties. She clarifies, however, that their zeal and relative anonymity make detection and prevention extremely complicated; therefore, their ability to mount successful and devastating attacks is real danger.
Case studies by terrorism experts confirm that "lone extremists" display some similar traits. Most seem to function poorly within societal standards and institutions. Several have psychological issues that motivate their violent acts more than a devotion to a principle. There are other possible indicators (not an inclusive listing): a history of psychological disorders, admiration for another "lone wolf," interest in explosives, expressions of militant beliefs, and possession of extremist propaganda and materials.
Emergency Services Sector personnel who observe individuals exhibiting these indicators should exercise caution and contact their local law enforcement authorities for further investigation, in addition to the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC) at 202-282-9201 or at nicc@dhs.gov.
Two video programs that are part of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's (NFFF) Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Resource Kit are now being distributed via the Internet by the National Preparedness Network for the benefit of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS).
The initial distribution of the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Resource Kit in June 2006 was to 30,000 fire departments across the U.S. The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) understands that the decision to make the materials available online to every responder is consistent with the U.S. Fire Administration's (USFA) goal to reduce line-of-duty deaths and injuries to personnel, the most important component of ESS critical infrastructure.
A mix of video presentations and training materials, the kit's six modules present a safety roadmap for the four statistically predominant areas of responder deaths: cardiopulmonary health, vehicle response, structural fire attack, and training exercises. The remaining two modules pertain to organizational assessments and fire protection/prevention in the built environment. The information is presented as Parts I and 2; each contains four chapters that vary in length from 10 to 30 minutes.
The resource kit, part of NFFF's Everyone Goes Home program, is among several of the Foundation's projects to support the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. The complete kit, including the video programs, is available online at EveryOneGoesHome.com.
Subsequent to recent InfoGram articles on the dangers of extreme heat to Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel, the Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned of a Website that offers a variety of rehabilitation resources.
FireRehab.com, operated by FireRescue1.com, stresses the vital role of rehabilitation in staying safe and healthy during the performance of responder duties. It offers clinical studies, training tools, suggestions, news, and reports on such topics as cyanide poisoning, carbon monoxide (CO), dehydration, and exhaustion. Among the site's current online training offerings are the U.S. Fire Administration's Emergency Incident Rehabilitation Manual, a CO course from the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, FirefighterCloseCalls.com's rehabilitation training slideshow, and the training video "Carbon Monoxide: The Odorless Killer" from the Fire and Emergency Training Network (FETN).
An example of the resources available on the site is a link to frequently asked questions about cyanide provided by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Another offering is "Fighting Heat Stress," from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
The EMR-ISAC considers the FireRehab Website an online information and research source available 24/7 for the benefit of responders' varying work schedules, with tools and materials updated to protect the most critical of emergency services infrastructures: personnel.
Emergency Services Sector (ESS) operations take place in stressful and time-sensitive environments. Decisions often are made based on minimal information and in unfamiliar settings. The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) believes that these constraints and conditions not only increase the hazards to emergency responders, but are a cause of line-of-duty injuries and deaths.
Responding at all times of day or night in diverse weather conditions, and often without sufficient information about hydrant locations, valves, building communications systems, and occupant locations, etc., are factors that adversely affect personnel safety. To help tip the scales in favor of responders by streamlining their interactions with building features and fire protection systems is the goal of the new publication from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The manual contains information to protect responders during responses to fires, hazardous materials incidents, emergency medical operations, terrorist events, and non-fire rescues.
Fire Service Features of Buildings and Fire Protection Systems also can be used as an adjunct to pre-incident plans, for instance, when new personnel lack familiarity with all preplans, or when certain preplans are maintained by "first-due" companies for their specific response areas. The booklet's terminology is generic to make it widely usable; many of the recommendations cost nothing to implement, but provide direction in cases where model codes or consensus standards allow options.
The EMR-ISAC encourages emergency organizations to consider this OSHA publication for protecting their internal personnel and physical assets. The manual is available for free downloading through the OSHA Website.
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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