InfoGram 6-08: February 14, 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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Information and Intelligence for the Emergency Services

Immediately following the events of 11 September 2001, there occurred a relentless pursuit for information regarding what had happened in New York City, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, PA. Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel nationwide were particularly anxious for more information (i.e., what was known) at each of the three locations. Their desire for this information was primarily to determine how an ESS department or agency could assist at Ground Zero.

Additionally, many ESS organizations throughout the country initiated alert procedures in case of a possible attack on their cities. To enhance their preparations, these departments and agencies attempted to acquire answers to several questions. For example, they wanted to know if more attack planes were airborne, if other attack methods were feasible, etc. They clearly appealed for available "processed information" (i.e., intelligence). As affirmed by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) senior analyst, those very questions thrust the emergency services into the intelligence world.

Before, during, and after the next man-made or natural disaster, ESS personnel in leadership positions can avail themselves of consequential information and intelligence at no cost. Because of its connection to the National Operations Center, National Infrastructure Coordinating Center, and the Common Operating Picture, the Emergency Management and Response – Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) will disseminate any DHS information or intelligence reports that are "For Official Use Only" (FOUO).

The EMR-ISAC promotes the protection and resilience of ESS critical infrastructures using DHSInteractive as the secure collaboration portal to archive FOUO documents, and GovDelivery to push the information or intelligence to subscribed leaders, owners, and operators. Individuals who are ESS stakeholders should contact the EMR-ISAC (emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov) to ensure they are registered and validated to receive the CIP (FOUO) Notices whenever published by DHS.

College Research Reactors

During the past six years, the energy and chemical infrastructure sectors have become hardened and difficult to attack or disrupt. Yet, despite these advances, the Emergency Management and Response – Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned about 26 licensed research reactors located on college campuses nationwide that are relatively unarmored or unprotected with fairly unobstructed entry and minimal security precautions.

The EMR-ISAC reviewed current reports suggesting that the risks of a terrorist attack on a college nuclear reactor, and the potential consequences, have been underestimated. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), "Required safeguards for reactors on college campuses have undergone little revision since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, even as security measures at conventional nuclear power plants have been tightened significantly." The GAO document states that the reactors are commonly located "where large populations could be affected by any dispersal," that the "plants rarely incorporate fences, guard towers or other security measures," and that "unarmed campus police would probably be the first emergency responders to reach the sites in an attack."

The presence of a research reactor in a community is a target of consequence for Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel and citizens. As part of their critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and resilience (CIR) preparedness activities, a first step for ESS leaders would be to identify if a research reactor is located in their jurisdiction, by viewing a list of university nuclear programs.

If there is a research reactor, emergency departments can adjust response plans and guidelines, evaluate personal protective equipment, acquire necessary monitoring devices, and introduce appropriate training to protect personnel and physical assets. The Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse Program provides excess radiological detection instrumentation and other equipment, as well as training and technical support to responder agencies.

Nuclear-specific information and resources for ESS organizations can be found at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Emergency Preparedness and Response Program. This website offers a 2008 emergency exercise schedule. Another source is the U.S. Department of Energy's Fire Protection Program, which has free, downloadable, unrestricted training materials, including "DOE/International Association of Fire Fighters Training for Radiation Emergencies," and the "Hanford Fire Department Radiation Fundamentals for Emergency Responders".

NRF Online Training

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging emergency managers to complete a new independent study course released this month regarding the National Response Framework (NRF).

IS-800.B, "National Response Framework (NRF), An Introduction," presents the concepts and principles of the NRF and explains the doctrine, principles, and architecture of national preparedness and response to all-hazard disasters across all levels of government and all sectors of communities. Actions that support national response, roles and responsibilities of entities specified in the NRF, and the response organizations used for multi-agency coordination are described. Thorough comprehension of the NRF contributes to achieving seamless interactions between responders and allied stakeholders, and strengthens organizational survivability, continuity, and response-ability.

The Emergency Management and Response – Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that IS-800B is not a National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance requirement for emergency managers and other Emergency Services Sector personnel who already completed IS-800 or IS-800A.

There is no prerequisite for the course, which takes approximately three hours to finish. Upon completion, FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI) awards 0.3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Interested individuals can send email to the Independent Study office at Independent.Study@dhs.gov. Alternatively, contact the call center at 301-447-1200 or toll free at 1-800-238-3358, extension 1200. Independent Study Program office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (EST). IS-800B is available at , and additional information on the NRF can be obtained from the NRF Resource Center.

Line-of-Duty Death and Injury Reduction

A two-year study exploring ways to reduce line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) and injuries among Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel has now been completed. The study was funded by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives through a Department of Homeland Security grant.

Phase I of the study by Oklahoma State University established a list of best practices by career, volunteer, and combination departments to minimize LODDs and injuries based on six domains, including health, fitness and wellness; vehicle safety; training; prevention and public education; and, structural and wildland firefighting.

Phase II focused on developing a methodology that would allow all fire departments in the U.S., regardless of size and type, to assess and improve their organizational safety culture, emphasizing all of the aforementioned domains, with the exception of prevention and public education. It found that the "Company Officer plays THE critical role in defining on a day-to-day basis the nature of the organizational safety culture in a fire department." Pages 57-60 of the Phase II report explain the concept of "Developing a Safety Culture in the Fire Service".

The Phase II report cautions, however, that "The development of a safety culture in the U.S. fire service will be a difficult transformation – Those who choose to embark on the effort to change the identity of their organizations and to begin to change the identity of the fire service, will face a highly emotional and defensive response." Therefore, intervention strategies will be a focus of the upcoming Phase III of the study. The Emergency Management and Response – Information Sharing and Analysis Center will report those findings in its continuing mission to help emergency organizations to protect their personnel, physical assets, and communication/cyber systems.