October 26, 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.

Relationship Building for Effective CIP

Security experts allege that poor relationships among local public and private agencies will potentially obstruct critical infrastructure protection for all hazards. The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) agrees with this allegation, because interagency decisions by local government, emergency services, and businesses can make a significant difference in the quality and timeliness of protection measures.

Genuine human interaction and cooperation are the key ingredients necessary to overcome unacceptable barriers to CIP that may persist within a specific municipality. Outstanding interoperability among community systems cannot be achieved without strong interagency relationships based on trust, respect, and genuine concern for citizens and survivability. The constructive interrelationship and interdependence among all local organizations will considerably improve the implementation of communication, coordination, and collaboration.

To create a seamless interoperable network for community continuity, "public and private sectors must join together in a new covenant for a shared vision," according to Under Secretary for Preparedness George Foresman. Secretary Foresman continued, "The risks of going it alone or not doing anything are simply not acceptable." Therefore, the EMR-ISAC maintains that all local stakeholders should actively collaborate on community security needs and harness the power of collective skills and services. Effective CIP is possible when the leaders of local public and private entities cooperatively negotiate together to integrate plans, procedures, and protocols into a single community approach.

Flu Prevention Measures

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that the traditional peak months of seasonal flu exposure (January and February) are quickly approaching. CDC cautioned that the ailment is not a trivial matter because influenza season hospitalizations continue to climb substantially with each passing year. Severe cases of the flu result in pneumonia, dehydration, and a worsening of other medical conditions.

The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) realizes that when the illness affects multiple personnel within one organization, it can possibly degrade the accomplishment of mission-essential tasks. This is unacceptable for the nation's Emergency Services Sector (ESS), particularly the smaller departments and agencies. Consequently, the EMR-ISAC encourages ESS leaders to consider flu prevention measures by acquiring inoculations for all eligible first responders. Unlike previous years when there was a shortage of the flu vaccine, the CDC reports that this year there is an ample supply for the general populace.

Arranging for the vaccination of emergency responders by the end of November will provide the best protection for each individual. The action significantly increases the likelihood that an organization's response-ability will not be weakened by a local influenza outbreak. Additionally, flu prevention measures help to ensure that emergency organizations can deliver on citizens' expectations for uninterrupted service from their local emergency responders regardless of circumstances. See the CDC Website for more information.

Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Planning

The second of two major objectives for critical infrastructure protection (CIP) is to deter or mitigate attacks on critical infrastructures by people, nature, or accidents. Given the importance of the mitigation component, the Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) reviewed Multi-Jurisdictional Approaches to Hazard Mitigation Planning, the latest release in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) "how-to" series on mitigation planning.

Leaders of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) are also planners who have diligently worked to engage other stakeholders in the planning process. FEMA's newest guide highlights the benefits available through multi-jurisdictional planning, such as cost savings, shared staff and resources, and comprehensive approaches to mitigation hazards that cross jurisdictional boundaries. Intended to address the needs of both large and small communities, the guide's suggestions for planning meet the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA 2000).

While there is no single organizational model that works best for all jurisdictions, the guide presents two: the Direct Representation Model and the Authorized Representation Model, and explains how to combine them into a third model. Whichever model participating jurisdictions choose, all must agree on the structure, follow an agreed-upon schedule, and comply with the agreed-upon participation components.

According to this guide, planning team members first consult the state hazard mitigation plan, identify all possible hazards, describe those that vary by jurisdiction, and avoid combining dissimilar hazards. A subsequent step explains vulnerability in terms of the types and numbers of existing and future infrastructures, critical facilities, and buildings in the identified hazard areas. The final step imparts mitigation goals to reduce long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards, followed by analyzing a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions.

The balance of the guide includes plan maintenance and blank planning sheets for the task areas. Using the guide to participate in creating a multi-jurisdictional plan can potentially improve the CIP posture of involved communities.

Emergency Vehicle Safety Partnership

Partnerships between the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and three national fire service organizations yielded web-based educational programs that focus on a leading cause of death and injury to the Emergency Services Sector (ESS): accidents when traveling to and from incident scenes.

In a recent InfoGram, the Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) noted that vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers. Because it is now also the second leading cause of fire service on-duty fatalities, there is a clear need for additional resources to protect the personnel infrastructure of the ESS. To meet this need, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) developed materials to directly target their constituencies.

• IAFC produced the Guide to Model Policies and Procedures for Emergency Vehicle Safety. It is an online program to assist in the policy and procedure development required to support safe, effective operation of emergency and privately owned vehicles used during responses.
• IAFF created a similar web/computer-based program: Improving Apparatus Response and Roadway Operations Safety in the Career Fire Service. It offers instructor and participant guides as well as case study folders containing National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) incident reports, police crash reports, news stories, photographs, and incident summaries.
• NVFC generated: Emergency Vehicle Safe Operations for Volunteer and Small Combination Emergency Service Organizations. This web-based program presents a best-practices self-assessment, example standard operating guidelines, and motivational techniques intended to enhance safe vehicle behavior.

The EMR-ISAC suggests ESS personnel use these Websites to improve survivability of responders and citizens when moving in emergency vehicles and apparatus.