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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In October 2007, the communications platform and portal framework by which the Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) pushes information transitioned from DisasterHelp to GovDelivery for InfoGram subscribers. Validated Emergency Services Sector (ESS) leaders, owners, and operators were migrated to GovDelivery and DHSInteractive for receipt of CIP (For Official Use Only) Notices. Unfortunately, the relocation of subscribers from the former system to the two new systems was not without some technical problems. However, those problems have since been corrected.
Nevertheless, the EMR-ISAC learned this week that some ESS leaders continue to unsubscribe from receipt of CIP (FOUO) Notices. Although several FOUO documents may not contain actionable information specifically for emergency departments and agencies, this ISAC asserts that it is imprudent to stop receiving these notices. When crisis strikes, individuals and organizations not subscribed for FOUO information may not receive consequential, mission-essential information necessary for their emergency plans and operations.
If technical difficulties with user names, passwords, document access, etc., are causing any frustration, please contact the EMR-ISAC for assistance before unsubscribing from CIP and CIR information. This Center has an excellent relationship with the help desks possessing the expertise to resolve almost any problem. The EMR-ISAC can be notified at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov or at 301-447-1325.
The FBI announced this week that "swatting" continues to increase nationwide. This illegal activity involves pranksters or criminals who make false 9-1-1 calls to elicit an emergency response by first responders and, particularly, from Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams. To conceal their identity, "swatters" typically place their calls using phone numbers of other unsuspecting individuals without their permission (i.e., "spoofing").
When examining this matter further, the Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that "swatters" frequently tell stories of hostages about to be executed or bombs that will soon explode. Such phone calls cause a reaction by Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies that put ESS personnel and citizens at risk as responders rush to the non-incident, which takes them away from an actual emergency elsewhere in the community. Additionally, it is a reasonable concern that domestic and transnational terrorists might adopt the practice of "swatting" to create multiple false alarms to deceive ESS organizations, create chaos, initiate evacuations, and/or ambush responders with a lethal surprise.
Whether instigated by pranksters or terrorists, "swatting" has the potential to seriously disrupt or degrade the critical infrastructures of emergency responders including their 9-1-1 telecommunications providers. Therefore, the EMR-ISAC recommends that ESS leaders, owners, and operators familiarize themselves with this growing menace and advocate strong penalties for convicted offenders. More information about "swatting" can be seen at the FBI's Website and also at the National Crime Prevention Council's blog.
A review of a just-released U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) report, Mitigation of the Rural Fire Problem � Strategies Based on Original Research and Adaptation of Existing Practices (PDF, 3.5 Mb, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help), by the Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) paints a picture of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) vulnerabilities, while offering best practices, recommendations, and sources of assistance.
The report gives considerable attention to explaining important rural fire issues, e.g., fire causes; types of challenges ranging from distance, remoteness, and isolation, to wildland firefighting and access to water; and insights regarding the people, lives, and regional differences of rural populations. It also provides chapters with specific strategies such as "Guidance for Effective Rural Safety Programs." With respect to the critical infrastructures of ESS organizations (i.e., personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems), the report's up-to-date statistics highlight areas of concern for the 13,440 rural fire departments, 96% of which are completely volunteer.
According to Appendix B: "Rural Highlights of U.S. Fire Service Needs Assessment and Volunteer On-Duty Fatalities," the following are examples of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities in rural fire departments:
The report clearly states additional vulnerabilities and challenges, but also describes successful program implementation in rural communities, including the positive outcome achieved by cooperating state, federal, local, public, and private/non-profit agencies and organizations to address existing shortcomings in a small, remote area. Among the suggested resources is the federally funded Fire Corps national network that organizes community volunteers to help fire departments by performing non-operational or non-emergency roles.
The EMR-ISAC reminds rural ESS leaders of examples of federal physical asset acquisition assistance programs: the Department of Homeland Security's Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program for smaller jurisdictions; the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Fire Department Resources for Local Officials; and Department of Justice programs such as the Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse (HDER) program and others.
One of the first courses available under the National Fire Academy's (NFA) new blended-learning format, Awareness of Command and Control Decisionmaking at Multiple Alarm Incidents (Q297), is online now.
The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned in 2007 that the NFA was undertaking efforts to redesign several of its resident courses using a "blended-learning" format, i.e., a portion of the course is made available online. The new self-study, Q297, is the pre-course assignment for the residential portion of NFA course R297 - Command and Control Decision Making at Multiple Alarm Incidents. The simulation-intensive residential course originally was two weeks in length. However, using the blended-learning format, attendance time was reduced to six days, with students able to engage simulations shortly after the course begins.
While the Q297 self-study is the required pre-course assignment, it also can be taken independently as a stand-alone course that covers classical and naturalistic decision-making, strategies for managing safety concerns at expanded emergency incidents, pre-incident preparation, resource allocation, effective use of on-site communications, Incident Command Post setup, and post-incident analysis.
The blended-learning format benefits Emergency Services Sector members through free online training that can enhance readiness and response-ability, while also lessening personnel time away from the workplace for those who attend the residential course offering.
To enroll in Q297, visit NFA Online.
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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