InfoGram 28-07: July 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.

ESS Terrorism Preparedness

Despite recent terrorism estimates released by the Federal Government, personnel of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) at the local level are typically focused on issues other than terrorism. Daily realities necessitate attention to matters that directly affect citizens, such as criminal acts, traffic accidents, fires, etc. Therefore, the Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) perceives the need for antiterrorism training to prepare first responders to successfully identify terrorist activity.

Properly trained emergency personnel will be better prepared to identify and disrupt terrorists at a decisive juncture of the terrorist attack cycle. For example, the thwarted London car bomb attack was interrupted based on information received from an alert paramedic. Additionally, ESS members often have close ties to the community where they work. These relationships enhance the ability of responders to discern which suspicious acts may be terrorist or criminal in nature. Antiterrorism competencies will also bolster the critical infrastructure protection of emergency departments and agencies, as well as the infrastructures of the municipalities they serve.

Considering current terrorism estimates and that certain actions may indicate terrorist planning efforts, the EMR-ISAC offers the following "7 Signs of Terrorism," which are commonly accepted in law enforcement channels for recognizing and reporting possible terrorist activity:

• SURVEILLANCE. May include drawing diagrams, note taking, or vision-enhancing devices to monitor or record activities and facilities.
• ELICITATION. Attempts to obtain information on the people, procedures, or security of an organization or facilities.
• TESTS OF SECURITY. Efforts to breach security measures or assess response times.
• ACQUIRING SUPPLIES. Gathering harmful chemicals, infected materials, or other supplies.
• SUSPICIOUS PERSONS. People who do not appear to belong in a given setting due to unusual demeanor or attire.
• TRIAL RUNS. Preparatory behaviors, such as practice runs or route mapping.
• DEPLOYING ASSETS. Placing individuals and supplies into position to commit an attack.

Life Safety Initiatives Resource Kit - Volume 2

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) Life Safety Initiatives Program began distributing Volume 2 of its Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Resource Kit to Emergency Services Sector (ESS) organizations nationwide.

The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) reported on the release of the initial Resource Kit in June 2006. As with the first kit, Volume 2 has been sent to 30,000 fire departments across the U.S. The EMR-ISAC confirmed 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 foremost component of the ESS critical infrastructures.

Volume 2 of the Resource kit includes two DVDs and a CD ROM. The DVD, Turn Out for Life, outlines responder health and fitness issues, and includes an instructor guide. Also on the DVD is an overview of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, and two programs (Ten Cones of Highway Safety, and Hats of Highway Safety), which support personnel and equipment critical infrastructure protection. The CD contains the complete set of Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives program newsletter, and the Study of Risk Management Program Development for the Fire Service.

The resource kit, part of NFFF's Everyone Goes Home program, is among numerous Foundation projects to support the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. Information about acquiring the new Resource Kit is available at EveryoneGoesHome.com.

Power Line Precautions

Wildfires and other incidents where personnel and equipment assets are close to power lines endanger the critical infrastructures of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) organizations. The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) reiterates the following personnel and equipment protection precautions from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). These specific protection measures are from NIFC's "Six Minutes for Safety."

As a first step, request that the power company deactivate lines in the incident area.

Do not:

• Operate heavy equipment under power lines.
• Use right-of-ways as jump or cargo drop spots.
• Drive with long antennas under power lines.
• Stand near power lines during retardant drops.
• Park under power lines (Magnetic field around energized lines can induce an electrical charge in ungrounded vehicles or equipment and shock responders who touch the vehicle).
• Apply straight streams to power lines.

Remind personnel that:

• Smoke can become charged and conduct electrical current. Deactivated transmission and distribution lines can continue to pose an induction hazard.
• They should wait for the arrival of the power company and remain in their vehicle if a power line falls on it, unless it is on fire or near fire. In that case, personnel should jump clear, not hang on, keep their feet together, and hop away from the vehicle.

Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grants

The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) are authorized to award $968 million in Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grants by 30 September 2007.

The PSIC program is a one-time grant opportunity to help Emergency Services Sector (ESS) organizations improve public safety communications during man-made and natural disasters. Specifically, the funding assists public safety agencies in acquiring, deploying, or training for the use of interoperable communications systems that can use reallocated public safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band for radio communications.

The funds will be awarded to state and local first responders in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories, with the grant projects to be completed in Fiscal Year 2010. The EMR-ISAC encourages responder organizations to participate in this unique program to augment the communication/cyber systems of their critical infrastructure components.

The grant opportunity announcement, program guidance and application kit, FAQs, and additional PSIC information are available at the NTIA Website.