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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Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel who have been vetted to receive Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) For Official Use Only (FOUO) Notices have seen the announcement at the DHS-Interactive (DHSI) login page stating " DHSI will be decommissioning soon." Please disregard this notification. The EMR-ISAC confirmed that the "Closing Down" alert does not currently apply to ESS personnel validated to receive the CIP (FOUO) Notices.
ESS leaders who have been accessing the EMR-ISAC CIP (FOUO) Notices via DHSI will be able to continue doing so until the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) is ready for use by the ESS. After HSIN has been tested and activated in the near future, sector personnel will be automatically transitioned from DHSI to a HSIN secure portal for the purpose of accessing the sensitive (FOUO) information disseminated by the EMR-ISAC.
To prepare for the transition from DHSI to HSIN, during the past five months the EMR-ISAC contacted most current FOUO subscribers and asked each individual to provide seven pieces of information to ensure their continued validation to receive the FOUO documents. If you receive the FOUO notices and have not been contacted or have not already provided the requested information, please update your contact information to ease the revalidation process and eventual transition from one system to the other. Therefore, FOUO recipients who have not already done so since 1 February should submit the following by email to emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov: (1) full name, (2) official work email address, (3) work organization name, (4) work phone number, (5) official postal mailing address, (6) official duty position/title, and (7) indicate if you occupy a leadership or supervisory position. This information will NOT be shared.
To eliminate any concerns or confusion, the EMR-ISAC will provide additional information in advance of the transition from DHSI to HSIN. However, if you have questions about the requested information or this eventual improvement in service, please contact this Center at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov or at 301-447-1325.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release last week in which Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the adoption of the final standards for the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep). DHS sources informed the Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) that this action is a major milestone in the DHS implementation of a program recommended by the 9/11 Commission to improve private sector preparedness for disasters and emergencies.
"Private organizations across the country�from businesses to universities to non-profit organizations�have a vital role to play in bolstering our disaster preparedness and response capabilities," said Secretary Napolitano. "These new standards will provide our private sector partners with the tools they need to enhance the readiness and resiliency of our nation."
PS-Prep is a partnership between DHS and the private sector that enables private entities to receive emergency preparedness certification from a DHS accreditation system created in coordination with the private sector. Under an agreement with DHS, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB) will be the accreditation body responsible for carrying out independent accreditations and overseeing the certification process.
The EMR-ISAC noted the ANAB will allow private sector organizations�including those of the Emergency Services Sector�to demonstrate through formal certification and other means their compliance with voluntary preparedness and business continuity standards. The three standards designated by DHS provide businesses with a flexible range of options from which to choose to enable them to become more resilient.
The Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) continues to see national media reporting of suspicious packages and letters being received nearly daily throughout the United States. Frequently, packages containing unidentified substances have been found at federal buildings, municipal buildings, courthouses, subways, schools, etc. In almost all instances, the contents of the packages causing disruptions and delays have tested negative for hazardous substances and are determined to be safe or non-threatening.
Since 9/11, federal government agencies have published information (e.g., FBI Website) regarding the possible dangers of suspicious packages. The following is an EMR-ISAC abbreviated summary of the more salient cautions:
More helpful information about suspicious packages can be seen at the DHS Response Checklist (PDF, 512.4 KB) and at the DHS Suspicious Package Indicators (PDF, 831 Kb).
Several months ago, the Emergency Management and Response – nformation Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) received information regarding the free availability of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) application, which is designed to assist first responders in hazardous material incidents. The WISER system concept works as a stand-alone application or connected mode. It provides a wide range of knowledge on hazardous substances, including chemical identification support, physical characteristics, human health information, and containment and suppression guidance.
Earlier this month, the EMR-ISAC learned the NLM announced the release of the WISER for iPhone/iPod touch. Similar to other iPhone applications, WISER is also compatible with Apple’s iPad. Interested emergency personnel can acquire a free download of WISER for the iPhone/iPod touch from the iTunes App Store.
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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U.S. Fire Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727 | USNG: 18SUJ00529652
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June 24, 2010 InfoGram