InfoGram 14-07: April 12, 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.

Forming Permanent Antiterrorism Relationships

To bolster local critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and the antiterrorism efforts of law enforcement agencies, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) has promoted terrorism threat awareness for all members of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS). Terrorism threat awareness is vital among ESS organizations for two major reasons:

• The increasing probability of homegrown (i.e., domestic) terrorism in the United States;
• The likelihood that first responders will be exposed to threat information and intelligence when performing assigned duties.

Terrorism specialists believe that the most likely terrorist plot here will be carried out by a local, radical person or persons who are not part of a massive global network. This would raise the possibility for ESS personnel to see or hear something suspicious during routine operations, such as clues that a plan could be unfolding. By recognizing odd activity, potential terrorist planning, viable threats to critical infrastructures, and also what expeditious actions to take, those who comprise this nation's “first line of defense” can make a substantial contribution to homeland antiterrorism activities.  

Because emergency responders are the “front line in the war on terror,” local FBI agents, police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics must form permanent cooperative relationships to prevent the next terrorist attack against American people and infrastructures. Genuine professional relationships should ensure the collaboration and communication necessary to share information and intelligence gleaned while executing mission essential tasks.

First responders who effectively share threat information and intelligence with the leadership of other ESS departments and agencies can make a significant difference in the local battle against terrorism. Additionally, the EMR-ISAC asserts that situational awareness, vigilance, and the multi-disciplinary sharing of observations regarding suspect individuals and extraordinary things will tremendously assist community infrastructure protection.

Critical Infrastructure Protection DVD Program

With the outstanding cooperation of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) leaders of Charlottesville (VA), Cobb County (GA), and Kansas City (MO), the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) facilitated the production of a program to advocate the practice of critical infrastructure protection (CIP) within ESS departments and agencies. Specifically, the 60-minute program on DVD medium accomplishes the following:

• Identify the categories and some examples of ESS critical infrastructures.
• Review the reasons for activities to protect critical infrastructures.
• Explain CIP actions that are typical within ESS departments and agencies.
• Describe the purpose and services of the EMR-ISAC.
• Introduce the Critical Infrastructure Protection Process.

ESS organizations can obtain one free copy of the CIP DVD (Catalog # FA-308) by calling 1-800-561-3356, or by sending a facsimile to 301-447-1213. It can also be ordered by visiting the U.S. Fire Administration Website. Note: The DVD contents are in the public domain and can be reproduced as needed.

Protecting Communications and Cyber Systems

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) reviewed a new video, Government at Risk: Protecting Your IT Infrastructure, which reinforces the criticality of protecting Emergency Services Sector (ESS) communications and cyber assets.

ESS organizations are featured prominently in this video developed by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) to make the business case for disaster recovery and business continuity planning. The NASCIO Disaster Recovery Working Group chairperson, David Taylor, discusses the direct and indirect effects when disasters shut down a state's mission-critical applications for any length of time. According to Taylor, these devastating outcomes make disaster recovery and business continuity planning indispensable.

The EMR-ISAC regularly addresses the degradation of operations and response-ability that often results after man-made and natural disasters as well as power outages, vandalism, etc. The loss of mission-critical communications and cyber systems can interrupt, delay, or deny essential planning information, crucial operations, and requisite resources when they are most needed.

The 11-minute NASCIO video can be viewed, and single complimentary copies (one per user) can be requested, online at NASCIO's Website. This Website also offers free downloadable communications and cyber resources, no-charge subscriptions to electronic publications, and profiles of the 50 state communications and cyber information offices.

Bomb Response and Injury Resources

A multi-disciplinary panel of blast-related experts from countries that experienced terrorist attacks recently identified common issues that can enhance preparedness and protect Emergency Services Sector (ESS) critical infrastructures.

The panel used a “disaster paradigm” it believed could be applied to all types of mass casualty events. The model included the following issues: Detection, Incident Command, Scene Security and Safety, Assess Hazards, Support, Triage & Treatment, Evacuation, and Recovery. Considering the relevance for ESS organizations, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) noted the following points:

• Attack detection was not difficult, but initial reports to 9-1-1 call centers were often misleading in terms of the scope and location of the event. This could result in an inadequate response and endanger responders unaware of the appropriate precautions against a secondary device.
• Regions with predefined command structure and triage guidelines responded successfully and quickly. For example, in London, emergency medical personnel triage every patient on “Triage Tuesdays” as if the person were involved in a mass casualty event.
• The panel emphasized that it is imperative to identify all those at the incident scene, and to ensure they are not a threat to responders. This was hard to achieve at events where responders neglected to carry proper identification.
• The media can be used to impart messages to the public during and after bombings. In one country, media outlets urged citizens not to report to emergency departments unless they had a true emergency, which limited patient volume and the demand on emergency personnel.

To help protect all ESS assets, the Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) offers a free online course entitled: Strategies for Prevention of Bombing Injuries. It covers threats posed by building bombings, and explains how to use William Haddon's 10 basic strategies and the Haddon Matrix to reduce injuries that could occur as a result of terrorist acts. After visiting the Center's website and filling out a brief registration, those completing the three modules will be awarded a certificate. The Hopkins Center offers additional online training modules on topics such as infectious diseases, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terror.

The Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response provides a free standalone software program to model disaster scenarios for drill planning and as an educational resource. Electronic Mass Casualty Assessment and Planning Scenarios (EMCAPS) uses Department of Homeland Security Planning Scenarios to allow casualty estimating arising from improvised explosive devices and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks.