InfoGram 42-08: October 30, 2008

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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Election Day Preparedness

The federal government has no credible information that individuals may attempt to disrupt polling places on 4 November. However, considering the historic nature of this year’s presidential election and anticipated record number of voters, documents disseminated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and several State Fusion Centers recommend heightened awareness and timely reporting of suspicious persons and activities before and during Election Day events.

In the few remaining days before the general elections, police and fire officials can scrutinize the voting sites where large numbers of people might gather. This is an excellent opportunity for emergency responders to demonstrate community leadership and make a national difference in the safety of citizens and continuity of democratic traditions. Doing so can provide the occasion to reinforce the protection of critical infrastructures, including those of emergency departments and agencies.

To assist the Emergency Services Sector with Election Day preparedness, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) collected the following few suggestions from various public and private sources:

• Confirm the location of voting sites and perform a safety inspection if time permits.
• Validate the identity of official personnel and vehicles that may be seen at or near polling sites.
• Determine actions to remove large gatherings that may intimidate or influence election activities.
• Establish strict accountability for uniforms, vehicles, operating devices, codes, etc., that can be used by adversaries to “legitimize” their presence or facilitate criminal acts.
• Familiarize with local first responder uniforms and vehicles, including those of organizations from adjacent municipalities.
• Instruct election workers to report persons who are lingering around the site with no apparent reason.
• Enjoin poll workers to watch for and report unusual, suspicious, or unattended boxes, packages, backpacks, brief cases, etc.
• Direct election officials to report inappropriate attempts to access voting booths, machines, and ballots.
• Prepare poll workers to lead the expeditious evacuation of their respective voting sites if necessary.

More information regarding Election Day security and safety can be seen at these Websites:

• National School Safety and Security Services
• California Department of Education

National Gang Intelligence Center

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website, gangs continue to pose a threat to many American communities. To stem the growth of gangs and related criminal activity in the United States, the FBI established the National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC).

“Established in 2005, the NGIC is an FBI led multiagency effort that integrates the gang intelligence assets of the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement entities to serve as a centralized intelligence resource for gang information and analytical support.” The Center provides law enforcement with a one-stop-shop mechanism for submitting requests for information and conducting relational analysis of gang information as it pertains to past and present gang investigations.

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that the NGIC combines the manpower and resources of partner agencies responsible for investigating and gathering intelligence on violent street and motorcycle gangs. It supports law enforcement organizations through timely and accurate information sharing and comprehensive analysis of federal, state, and local police information focusing on the growth, migration, criminal activity, and association of gangs that are a significant threat to U.S. citizens and their property.

For more information about the NGIC, contact your local FBI office using the locater site. Alternatively, call the FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC: 202-324-3000.

DHS Standards Adoption

Ten years ago, the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA), Public Law 104-113, was signed into law, and implemented using Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119, “Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities.” NTTAA requires all federal agencies and departments to use technical standards, unless their use is impractical or inconsistent with law. NTTAA is the basis for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) adoption of Non-Government Standards (NGS).

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) examined DHS standards adoption and its meaning for the nation’s Emergency Services Sector (ESS). The standards adoption and maintenance program is managed by the DHS Test & Evaluation and Standards Division of the Science and Technology Directorate.

DHS has so far adopted at least 35 responder-relevant standards that pertain to personal protective gear, radiation and nuclear detection equipment, incident management, and biometrics, developed by organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Adopted most recently were NFPA 472, “Standard for Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents,” and NFPA 473, “Standard for Competenciesof EMS Personnel Responding to Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents,” that set minimum requirements for responders to incidents that involve hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

When DHS formally adopts an NGS, it is designated a “DHS National Standard.” Its use is not mandatory, but strongly encouraged. Once adopted, DHS National Standards boost limited federal resources by increasing DHS access to subject matter experts, thus enabling resources that would be devoted to internal standards development to be applied to other critical areas. For responder personnel and other homeland security professionals, DHS National Standards offer best practices that support national initiatives (e.g., the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Preparedness Goal) that enable implementing a preparedness and response system that includes a common language and standard operating procedures. By identifying minimum performance and describing best practices, DHS National Standards bolster interoperability of products and practices, as well as interchangeability, durability, flexibility, portability, dependability, survivability, sustainability, scalability, and maintainability of homeland security products and services. For additional information about ESS-related DHS National Standards, visit dhs.gov.

Private Sector Resource Awards

Recognizing the current fiscally challenging environment, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) shares the following award opportunities for consideration of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies.

ESS organizations can apply now through 9 January 2009 to be considered for the award of a Polaris Ranger 6x6 utility vehicle through the Operation Ranger program, sponsored by the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC). The Operation Ranger program was instituted to recognize the dedication and service of responders to their communities. The company provided nearly 80 Polaris Rangers to fire, rescue, law enforcement, EMS, emergency management, and wildlife law enforcement organizations in 2008, and has awarded more than 450 off-road vehicles nationwide since the program launched in 2002.

Applications (DOC, 1.2 Mb, Microsoft Word Help) and all supporting materials must be postmarked by 9 January 2009 to be considered. Application review will begin in February 2009. In addition to the brief application, the program committee urges applicants to include any additional materials (e.g., organizational publications, news articles, photos, DVDs, CDs, or VHS tapes) that could assist program reviewers. Additional information and program updates can be found here.

Another opportunity for ESS organizations to augment their physical assets is through the Georgia-Pacific (GP) Bucket Brigade™ grant program, instituted to help resource-constrained departments near the company’s facilities acquire equipment and gear. More than $300,000 has been awarded to fire departments in at least 50 communities since 2005. Additional outreach initiatives include product donations, supplying volunteers to firefighting units, and distributing fire safety materials to GP communities.

To determine if a department is located near a Georgia-Pacific facility and, therefore, eligible to participate in the award program, check the list of 35 states and the District of Columbia.