InfoGram 15-07: April 19, 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.

School Shootings: A CIP Perspective

To acquire some insights into mass casualty incidents related to school shootings, the Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) consulted the writings of a behavioral analyst, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Mary Ellen O'Toole, Ph.D. From her articles, the EMR-ISAC synthesized three perspectives with some relevance for the critical infrastructure protection of Emergency Services Sector personnel responding to tragedies such as the one earlier this week at Virginia Tech University.

Emergency responders need to be vigilant, especially now, when the Virginia Tech heartbreak is still generating headlines. This means more than just being watchful and wary of who's out of place in a neighborhood, mall or school. It means paying attention to the moods and behaviors of the people around you, including those you know. There can be plenty of signs, because most deliberate mass casualty shootings are not "spur of the moment" events. They require planning, coordination, and action for supplies, weapons, etc. "People who act out violently don't wake up one morning and snap. There are clues," Dr. O'Toole noted.

Take all threats seriously, especially those leveled with a strategy in place for a feasible execution. "People will sometimes alert you ahead of time that they will commit violence," Dr. O'Toole stated, "Don't dismiss it as idle talk." Unfortunately, there is no single profile for a potential mass killer, young or old. "There is no typical school shooter. They don't fall within a set of traits and characteristics," she observed. "That's why it is so important for schools to have a fair, rational, and standardized method of evaluating and responding to threats." Of course, any methods must be thoroughly coordinated with the school or campus safety and security office as well as local emergency services organizations.

The EMR-ISAC proposes that some tragedies may not be preventable no matter how attentive we are for suspicious and extraordinary deportment. Dr. O'Toole confirms: "There may not be a single thing that can be done to prevent a mission-oriented person from committing an act of violence." Massacres like those at Columbine High School and Virginia Tech can happen anywhere in the nation. "There is no one location that's necessarily immune from this kind of violence," according to Dr. O'Toole.

To assist in preventing and safely responding to similar mass murder incidents, the International Association of Chiefs of Police prepared the Guide for Preventing and Responding to School Violence (PDF, 395 Kb).

Partnerships Enhance "Response-Ability"

When discussing the desirable outcomes of critical infrastructure protection (CIP) for Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies, the Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) frequently mentions the term "response-ability," referring to an organization's ability to successfully respond to all hazards. The EMR-ISAC fully comprehends that this indispensable ability depends on personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems. But are these internal critical infrastructures sufficiently available and operational for all local major disasters?

Recognizing there are small, medium, and even large ESS organizations that must rely on external support for quality emergency preparedness, the EMR-ISAC reminds sector leaders that partnerships will enhance their ability to choose the appropriate response and effectively deliver mission-critical skills. Considering the complexities of current and future catastrophes, it is exceptionally prudent for emergency organizations to cultivate multi-disciplinary and cross-sector partnerships yielding appropriate aid agreements. Such partnerships enable all stakeholders within a specific community as well as adjacent communities to develop all-hazards emergency plans to pool resources and information, coordinate response efforts, and share training opportunities.

Sharing resources among partner organizations and communities helps the emergency services to meet response challenges by supplementing existing assets, particularly during large-scale incidents that can quickly deplete inventories. To backfill these resources, partnerships can plan to eliminate the significant gaps in personnel, equipment, and communications (i.e., internal critical infrastructures) to capably respond to and recover from emergencies. Hence, the EMR-ISAC alleges that professional partnerships should enhance both the continuity and "response-ability" of ESS departments and agencies.

DHS Chemical Plant Rules

Newly released Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rules, which represent the first mandatory national security standards for the nation's chemical plants, require that all inland chemical plants (those not covered by the Maritime Transportation Act) undergo inspections for terrorism preparedness. What this means for the Emergency Services Sector (ESS), state and local officials, and community planners is that information important for critical infrastructure protection will be available for preparedness activities.

The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) revisited the potential consequences for responders and communities from fires and explosions at chemical facilities. For example, the EMR-ISAC again ascertained that the lack of access to inventory lists of stored products impeded emergency planning and potentially endangered responders and their communities. However, under the new DHS rules, owners of the approximately 7,000 plants now affected (refineries, petrochemical plants, fertilizer facilities, and other operations that handle any of 344 "chemicals of interest") must complete preliminary screening assessments to determine the level of risk associated with the facility. If a facility initially qualifies as high risk, owners will be required to prepare and submit a security vulnerability assessment and site security plan that will be validated through audits and site inspections.

The rules are intended to determine the vulnerabilities of chemical facilities and likely results of a terrorist attack or internal sabotage, and to set standards to achieve specific outcomes, e.g., securing perimeters and critical targets, controlling access, etc. Furthermore, the information acquired during the process-chemicals used and stored, and the risks associated with them-will give responders preparedness data useful for protecting the internal critical infrastructures of ESS organizations. Facilities' vulnerabilities and the security plans developed to protect them also constitute the planning and preparedness information vital for responders and community stakeholders.

DHS CTGP and CEDAP Funding

Emergency Services Sector (ESS) organizations interested in developing and delivering innovative training programs that address high priority national homeland security needs can apply for 2007 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Competitive Training Grant Program (CTGP) funds.

Approximately $29.1 million will be awarded to support training initiatives that are national in scope and further the DHS mission of preparing the nation to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from catastrophic events. The 2007 CTGP funding targets programs in five focus areas: public communications; executive leadership of homeland security programs; intergovernmental coordination and planning; managing homeland security risks; and legal issues in preparation, response, and recovery.

The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) notes the focus topics for 2007 CTGP funds complement critical infrastructure protection (CIP) efforts. For example, the executive leadership of homeland security programs support CIP by encouraging training that integrates and synchronizes prevention, protection, response, and recovery. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 4, 2007. Full details of the CTPG requirements are available at Grants.gov.

This week DHS announced that the application period for the $33.7 million to be awarded under the agency's Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) begins at 9:00 a.m. EDT on April 29, 2007, and ends at 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 29, 2007. ESS departments and agencies are eligible to apply for funds in seven categories that will strengthen an organization's regional response capability, mutual aid, communications, and general CIP status: personal protective equipment, thermal imaging, night vision and video surveillance tools, chemical and biological detection tools, information technology tools, risk management tools, and interoperable communications equipment.

To review CEDAP solicitation and application materials, visit the Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) Website. Users not already registered with the RKB can simply log in as a "guest" to view the CEDAP information.