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.
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During the past six years, particular critical infrastructure sectors such as energy and chemical have become hardened and more difficult to attack and disrupt. Antiterrorism experts allege that the successful hardening of those sector facilities causes "soft targets" to become more attractive to domestic and transnational terrorists. This has certainly been verified by recent events in other nations of the world.
According to an online encyclopedia, "soft targets" are relatively unarmored or unprotected assets that usually accommodate large numbers of people with unobstructed entry and minimal security precautions. The Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) suggests that aspects of this definition apply to the personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems (i.e., critical infrastructures) of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS).
When conducting training or response operations, many ESS departments and agencies (e.g., fire and emergency medical services) are relatively unarmored and unprotected. These vulnerabilities provide the "soft target" circumstances that appeal to America's adversaries. Therefore, considering the possibility that terrorists may seek to capitalize on exploitable conditions within some ESS organizations, the EMR-ISAC recommends the implementation or enrichment of critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and resilience (CIR) activities. Concerned departments and agencies should focus their resource-restrained actions on only those people and things that must be intact and operational 24x7 to guarantee uninterrupted "response-ability."
ESS personnel must realize that an attack on first responders�even a secondary one�would likely produce reactions similar to a terrorist attack on an American school. It will potentially intimidate the general public, elicit fearful emotions, and reduce mainstream commercial activities. These are yet more reasons why the emergency services must develop and rehearse force protections plans concurrent with traditional emergency response plans for all hazards. As defined in the Emergency Support Function #13 (Public Safety and Security) Annex within the National Response Plan (NRP), force protection requires the protection of emergency responders and other workers operating in a high-threat environment. The May 2006 update to the NRP can be found on the Department of Homeland Security's Website.
Recognizing that Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies in rural communities across the country face unique challenges, the U.S. Congress authorized the development of the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC) in 2004, to create and deliver all-hazards training in support of rural homeland security. The RDPC is now offering responder organizations throughout the nation a free resource to bolster critical incident protection and maintain response capabilities: Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-certified hands-on training.
The Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned from personnel at the RDPC that Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) is the leader and executive agent of the universities and colleges that comprise the RDPC. The Consortium is guided by an advisory board of public safety experts and officials appointed by major national emergency response associations, including the North American Fire Training Directors. RDPC held the first of what will be an annual National Rural Emergency Preparedness Summit during which 15 critically needed training subjects were identified.
In 2006, the Consortium conducted a training needs assessment. The assessment instrument was organized based on the DHS Target Capabilities List with input from law enforcement, fire, EMS, public health, and local officials. From the standpoint of the number of personnel needing training, each discipline named a different Target Capability as its greatest training need: law enforcement (responder safety and health); fire service (citizen preparedness and participation); EMS (CBRNE detection); public health (planning for terrorism events); and, general government (WMD/hazmat response and decontamination). All respondents indicated their preference for local, hands-on training.
Of a dozen 8- and 16-hour courses currently under development, pilots are being completed for Rail Car (Freight) Incident Response, and Port & Vessel Security for Public Safety Personnel. Another course, Emergency Responders and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community is available for delivery now.
EKU's Justice and Safety Center Director of Communications, Jo Brosius, expects the organization's Website to be fully functional after 6 January 2008. The Executive Director of RDPC is Linda Mayberry. She can be reached at (859) 622-2067 or Linda.Mayberry@EKU.EDU. For information about training courses and scheduling, contact Amy Hughes at (859) 622-6861 or Amy.Hughes@EKU.EDU.
A new document from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides background information to help the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) and state and local leaders make informed decisions and the best use of available resources during public health emergencies, including natural disasters, and terrorist-created emergencies.
As Public Health Emergency Response, A Guide for Leaders and Responders (PDF, 1.8 Mb) indicates, no matter how well trained and equipped first responders are, public health emergencies that do not always have obvious beginning and ending points present unique challenges. "Unlike a fire or earthquake, a lurking infectious disease can simmer beneath the surface for some time before it is clear that there is an emergency or outbreak. And people may be affected simultaneously in many different parts of the country." These emergencies, the Guide continues, "take on the characteristics of a marathon rather than a sprint�the response continues over time--�and greatly tax the emotional, physical, and mental reserves of all leaders and responders involved."
A resource for before, during, and after a crisis, the Guide is divided into color-coded sections, each preceded by a short list of highlights. The section on potential food security risks and impact of foodborne illnesses is timely, given the many food-related illnesses and product recalls experienced recently across the U.S. Practical information, e.g., crisis communications lessons learned from public health emergencies, and 10 tips for conducting successful exercises are included, as is guidance for leading communities towards resiliency. One section of the Guide is devoted to the physical and emotional care of responders. Six appendices provide overviews of biological and chemical agents, radiation emergencies, threat of pandemic influenza, disaster supply kits, and resources for responders.
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center views the Guide's information as useful to protect personnel, the foremost of Emergency Services Sector critical infrastructures, and to maintain continuity of operations.
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 – nformation 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:
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's Website. Note: The DVD contents are in the public domain and can be reproduced as needed.
The U.S. Fire Administration/EMR-ISAC does not endorse the organizations sponsoring linked websites, and does not endorse the views they express or the products/services they offer.
This INFOGRAM may contain copyrighted material that was not specifically authorized by the copyright owner. EMR-ISAC personnel believe this constitutes "fair use" of copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use copyrighted material contained within this document for your own purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
DHS and the FBI encourage recipients of this document to report information concerning suspicious or criminal activity to DHS and/or the FBI. The DHS National Operation Center (NOC) can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9685 or by email at NOC.Fusion@dhs.gov.
The FBI regional phone numbers can be found online at www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm
For information affecting the private sector and critical infrastructure, contact the National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC), a sub-element of the NOC. The NICC can be reached by telephone at 202-282-9201 or by email at NICC@dhs.gov.
When available, each report submitted should include the date, time, location, type of activity, number of people and type of equipment used for the activity, the name of the submitting company or organization, and a designated point of contact.
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