InfoGram 1-10: January 7, 2010

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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Theft of Emergency Equipment

In order to provide relevant infrastructure protection and resilience information to Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) collects information from many public and private sources.  During the latter part of 2009, several of these sources documented what appears to be an increase in the theft of the following equipment from ESS organizations: vehicles, weapons, vehicle light bars, portable radios, air packs, oxygen cylinders, hazmat response suits, personal protective clothing, badges, uniforms, axes, and flashlights.

In the cases where the thieves have been apprehended, the investigators concluded that the perpetrators were not terrorists.  In most instances, the motive for stealing the equipment was for resale only.  Nevertheless, the possibility exists that future larcenies will be committed by individuals who may attempt to use stolen property to conceal their real identity for the purpose of facilitating additional crimes or to blend with first responders at the scene of an incident.  This likelihood necessitates that emergency responders know why and how they should energetically prevent the loss of property by actively enforcing effective theft prevention measures.  It is also important to comprehend how terrorists can use stolen items to access an event site and make first responders their secondary targets.

The EMR-ISAC offers some guidance for improving the physical security of emergency facilities and equipment, which can be seen at the following documents: Department of Homeland Security Physical Security Performance Measures (PDF, 631 Kb), and the U.S. Geological Survey Physical Security Handbook.

Carbon Monoxide: A Duty-Related Danger

Below freezing temperatures now occurring at many locations throughout the United States potentially increase the risk for carbon monoxide (CO) exposures according to officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).   When examining the CDC website, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) observed: “As some people try to use alternative sources for heat, the possibility for injury or death greatly increases because CO is a colorless, odorless toxic gas.”   It is produced when any fuel such as natural gas, propane, gasoline, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned.

Water heaters, stoves, ovens, kerosene heaters, grills, wood and gas fireplaces, portable generators, and automobile engines are the primary sources of CO, which are occasionally the main causes of fires. Firefighters responding to these fires should understand that CO poisoning is a danger at every fire regardless of the cause of a fire.  “Its symptoms—headache, dizziness, fatigue—are often absent or non-specific, making on-scene awareness and detection difficult.”  This puts firefighters at significant risk because even mild CO poisoning can deny the brain of oxygen.  It can also rob the heart of oxygen, causing immediate life-threatening complications.

The EMR-ISAC confirmed that firefighters wearing a poor-fitting self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or working in fire zones without an SCBA sharply raise their chances of CO exposure.  CDC experts maintain that this reality makes firefighter awareness a critical necessity.  Therefore, see more information on this matter at the CDC Fact Sheet and at CO Poison Prevention and Alarm Responses.  

SAFER Grant Changes

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant applicants expressed concern regarding the prohibition against using SAFER funds to supplant local budgets and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary’s ability to waive the prohibition.  Therefore, DHS revisited the existing policy on supplanting for the 2009 SAFER funding cycle and consideration of petitions will be made on a case-by-case basis and under certain conditions. 

Considerations will be based on the following conditions according to the 2009 SAFER Update:

• 2009 SAFER grantees that lose firefighters during the period of performance and find that they are unable to back-fill vacated firefighting positions due to documentable economic hardship may petition for a waiver.  In order to qualify for this waiver, the economic hardship must affect the entire public safety sector in their jurisdiction, not merely the fire department.
• The causes of the vacancies could include retirement, voluntary or involuntary separation, or calls to active duty in the reserves or National Guard.
• In the absence of a granted waiver, the policies stated in the present guidance would still apply, i.e., vacancies caused by one of the circumstances cited in the above bullet do not have to be replaced and will not cause a cancellation of the grant if not replaced.  However, the amount of the allowable reimbursement of SAFER positions would be reduced by the number of vacated positions, not replaced.  
• The policy regarding the prohibition against layoffs has not changed.  No waivers will be granted for layoffs and SAFER grantees are prohibited against laying-off any firefighters during the SAFER grant's period of performance.
• Applicants are reminded that while the previous requirement that newly createdpositions be maintained for an additional one year past the period of performance, there is no requirement to maintainthe positions past the period of performance for awards made to rehire vacated or laid off firefighters.

In order for all potential applicants to have sufficient time to consider this revised policy guidance, DHS will extend the 2009-2010 SAFER application period to Friday, January 15, 2010.  Applicants that would like to amend their application given this new policy guidance should call the SAFER helpdesk at 1-866-274-0960.

ICS Forms Booklet

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on 16 December 2009, the release of revisions to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS) Forms Booklet.  According to the Federal Register, the ICS Forms Booklet was developed to assist emergency response personnel in the use of ICS and corresponding documentation during incident operations. 

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) confirmed that the booklet is a companion to the NIMS ICS Field Operation Guide.  It complements existing incident management programs and does not replace relevant emergency operations plans, laws, and ordinances.  This updated version of the ICS Forms Booklet incorporates best practices, lessons learned, and input form emergency stakeholders.

FEMA invites first responders to examine the 111-page document (PDF, 1.6 Mb), and provide comments by 15 January.  Comments must be identified by docket number FEMA-2009-0013, and can be submitted by one of the following methods: (1) Mail: Regulation and Policy Team, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street, SW, Washington, DC 20472; (2) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.  Follow the instructions for submitting comments; (3) Email: FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. Include docket number in the subject line.

Technology Alert

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) received information regarding another Blackberry application: BBScanner.com.  It allows subscribers to listen to over 1,500 police, fire, and railroad communications.  The website advertises that the most popular scan sites are for Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver and Philadelphia Police Departments and the Dallas and Denver Fire Departments.  The website states scanner feeds are from RadioReference.com, WunderGround.com, and RailroadRadio.net.