InfoGram 1-07: January 11, 2007

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.

2007 CIP Resolution

The past year was a relatively good one for critical infrastructure protection enhancements. Nation-wide efforts continued within the Emergency Services Sector during 2006 to reduce or eliminate the threats from terrorism and natural disasters. However, every new day brings new threat possibilities. America's enemies remain determined to attack particularly soft targets because of the perceived lack of security related to the openness or exposure of personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems (i.e., critical infrastructures). Furthermore, no one can accurately forecast what "Mother Nature" will do this year!

Recognizing the likelihood for future terrorist or nature attacks, the Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) encourages the leaders, owners, and operators of the nation's emergency services to resolve to proactively practice the protection of internal critical infrastructures essential for uninterrupted response-ability. For 2007, the EMR-ISAC specifically recommends the revision and rehearsal of plans, procedures, and guidelines to emphasize protection and prevention activities as well as response and recovery actions.

Identifying and reducing the vulnerabilities of internal critical infrastructures will bolster protection and prevention, and make the infrastructures more resilient to both man-made and natural calamities. There are time-efficient, low-cost methods to reduce or eliminate threats and vulnerabilities. Many of them are the result of ingenuity and creativity. Some are limited more by imagination than by time and money. The EMR-ISAC extends its best wishes for great success throughout 2007 with the selection and application of protection and prevention measures appropriate for each first responder organization and its community.

Revising Community Preparedness Plans

George W. Foresman, Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Preparedness, recently stated: "Preparedness is the critical link between what we do to prevent, protect, and secure our critical infrastructure, and how we respond and recover from disasters." Borrowing from another quote by Coach Vince Lombardi, preparedness planning must be a local initiative "that requires the commitment of each and every individual to a group effort�that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."

After analyzing local preparedness intentions, the Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) appreciates that an appropriate goal for community preparedness planning should be "a safe and secure community that protects cherished values and services." To accomplish this fitting purpose, preparedness planning must establish an integrated method of actions that focus and unify how the locality will prevent, protect, manage, respond, and recover from a full spectrum of threats or incidents.

When revising community preparedness plans with attention given to critical infrastructures, the EMR-ISAC suggests local emergency managers, assisted by a team of community stakeholders, consider the following five essential lessons learned. If accomplished, these recommendations should increase the probability that a municipality will achieve the appropriate goal for community preparedness planning identified in the preceding paragraph.

• Upgrade local preparedness through regional collaboration, cooperation, and decision making.
• Build regional capabilities to prevent and protect against critical infrastructure degradation, and to expedite the restoration of vital services after the event.
• Identify and address the various threats to and vulnerabilities of existing critical infrastructures.
• Schedule activities to minimize or eliminate identified vulnerabilities within the shortest amount of time.
• Ensure all critical infrastructure leaders, owners, and operators receive the information needed to improve their own safety and security.

Cyanide Kit Approved by FDA

A cyanide antidote kit that can be carried on ambulances and used on scene for lifesaving treatment of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) members was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The newly approved kit, Cyanokit, has been used for a number of years by first responders in Europe. Its manufacturer, Merck KGaA of Germany, states that the kit is safe enough to be administered to victims at incident scenes, and that it works quickly enough to save lives "in minutes." Cyanokit contains hydroxocobalamin, a precursor to vitamin B-12, which binds to cyanide and neutralizes it so the poison is no longer toxic. The drug is given intravenously and acts immediately. Side effects, such as skin discoloration, are minor and temporary.

During their studies of the role of cyanide in smoke inhalation, medical professionals found that emergency responders are more susceptible to cyanide poisoning than was previously known. Some specialists point to exposure to modern combustibles, e.g., fiberglass insulation, as well as to the fact that responder personnel can be poisoned by cyanide even during the decay phase of a fire. Additionally, experts consider cyanide to pose a terrorist threat because of the ease with which it can be acquired.

With respect to protecting the critically important personnel infrastructure of the ESS, the EMR-ISAC offers the FDA's approval of Cyanokit for consideration by leaders of the emergency response community. The FDA press release about the kit's approval can be viewed at the FDA's Website and additional information can be seen at the Merck KGaA Website.

2007 DHS HSGP and IPP Funding

The 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) will fund Emergency Services Sector (ESS) activities in five distinct program areas: State Homeland Security; Urban Areas Security Initiative; Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program; Metropolitan Medical Response System; and Citizen Corps Program. New to the 2007 HSGP are that program evaluations to improve state/urban homeland security programs are now an allowable expense, and intelligence-gathering and information-sharing (fusion) centers are a priority.

The Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) notes that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented changes to the HSGP that are favorable to interested ESS organizations. The changes include more time to prepare applications, a lengthening of the performance period from 24 to 36 months, and consultations with DHS grant program and subject matter experts before final application review.

Specific program guidance information, an application kit, user's guide, and HSGP overview are available at the Office of Grants and Training Website. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST, April 5, 2007.

Additionally, the EMR-ISAC learned the DHS will award $445 million this fiscal year under the Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP) that covers transit, port, intercity bus, trucking, and buffer zone protection security.

Intended to support state, local, and private industry infrastructure protection initiatives, the grants fund a range of preparedness activities, including strengthening infrastructure against explosive attacks, preparedness, planning, equipment purchase, training, exercises, and security management and administration costs. IPP programs support objectives outlined in the interim National Preparedness Goal and related national preparedness doctrine, such as the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan, and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan.

DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff explained that, "We're investing resources where risk is greatest and where the funds will have the most significant impact." Of relevance to the ESS is the buffer zone protection funding to secure critical infrastructure sites, including high-risk/high-consequence facilities such as chemical facilities, nuclear and electric power plants, dams, and stadiums.

IPP applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. EST, March 6, 2007. Information is available at the Office of Grants and Training Website.

The EMR-ISAC encourages emergency response organizations to take advantage of the HSGP funding opportunity to acquire or enhance resources supporting critical infrastructure protection and resiliency.

Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov)

The Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) invites Emergency Services Sector personnel to join Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS.gov), the Department of Homeland Security's national, online network for lessons learned and best practices. LLIS.gov is a free and secure system open only to vetted emergency response providers and homeland security/defense officials. LLIS.gov includes a collection of peer-validated lessons learned and best practices developed in consultation with, and validated by, emergency responders. The system also houses an extensive collection of homeland security-related materials and a comprehensive library of documents, reports, directories, and manuals.

LLIS.gov was developed by the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism in Oklahoma City, in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Grants and Training (G&T). For more information and to register, visit www.LLIS.gov.