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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The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) often examines lessons learned and best practices to acquire insights for infrastructure protection and resilience. As researchers and analysts, finding and studying lessons learned and best practices is an appropriate activity. However, the EMR-ISAC staff understands that genuine participation in activities and exercises provides “real learning opportunities” to enhance the preparedness of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies.
Simulations of emergency situations, or emergency exercises, are integral to a sound preparedness program. They offer practical and beneficial opportunities to practice and improve response plans, incident command protocols, operational procedures, and mission-essential tasks for various incidents. By participating in different types of exercises, ESS organizations can identify strengths and weakness in emergency response and recovery operations.
According to specialists at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, exercises assess and validate the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of capabilities, and test the adequacy of policies, plans, procedures, and protocols in a risk free environment. “Aside from actual events, they provide the best means of evaluating homeland security capabilities.” Additionally, lessons learned by the EMR-ISAC substantiate that quality exercises promote the goals of infrastructure preparedness and operational continuity.
The Exercise Design Course (IS-139), offered online by the Emergency Management Institute, is based on the premise that emergency exercises are worth the effort. “Exercises identify areas that are proficient and those that need improvement.” They can be used to revise operational plans and provide a basis for training to develop proficiency in executing those plans. The course specifically addresses the value of conducting exercises to increase preparedness and the steps in designing a functional exercise.
The production and use of methamphetamine (meth) across the United States continues to present considerable challenges to Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel. The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) consulted the Environmental Protection Agency (PDF, 1 MB) to ascertain that meth is easy to make, highly addictive, and its production and use may have serious impacts on both human health and the environment. These realities warrant vigilance by emergency personnel “not only because of the destructive nature of meth itself, but also due to the significant environmental hazards meth labs generate.”
U.S. Department of Justice (PDF, 791 KB) sources indicate that thousands of independent meth labs operate across the nation. These labs require no specialized equipment or knowledge and can be found in any geographic area or setting. In the past year, the “shake and bake” method of producing a small batch of meth has become popular. It requires only a soda bottle, some cold pills, and easily available chemicals. However, if not handled correctly, this technique can produce powerful explosions.
The EMR-ISAC also verified that addicts are increasingly using their vehicles as mobile labs.
Consequently, a routine traffic stop or accident with injuries can quickly escalate into a HazMat incident. Therefore, first responders must exercise caution when approaching an individual passed out in a car, any vehicle during a traffic stop, or at the scene of an accident. It is prudent to consider these events as potential HazMat situations.
Since the toxicity of the chemicals may have contaminated the area surrounding a meth lab, responding personnel should follow their department’s operating procedures and personal protective equipment guidelines. More information regarding hazardous chemicals at meth labs can be seen at the Fact Sheet by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the “National Health Security Strategy of the United States of America” (PDF, 639 KB) to help galvanize efforts to minimize the consequences of significant health incidents.
According to the HHS News Release dated 7 January 2010, the document is “the nation’s first comprehensive strategy focused on protecting people’s health during a large-scale emergency. The strategy sets priorities for government and non-government activities over the next four years.”
The National Health Security Strategy and the accompanying “Interim Implementation Guide for Implementing the National Health Security Strategy of the U.S.” (PDF, 1.9 MB) outline the following
10 objectives to achieve health security:
The EMR-ISAC noted in the HHS News Release that national health security means the nation and its people are prepared for, protected from, and resilient in the face of health threats or incidents such as bioterrorism and natural disasters. The National Health Security Strategy provides a framework for actions that will build community resilience, strengthen, and sustain health emergency response systems, and fill current gaps.
The National Fire Academy (NFA) announced its Management Science curriculum has been updated. The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) observed that course names reflect the increasingly diverse role contemporary fire and emergency medical service leaders perform in their communities.
According the U.S. Fire Administration Press Release, NFA Superintendent Dr. Denis Onieal explained that emergency services management skills have changed over the last few years and NFA modernized several courses to keep pace with this trend. “The Management Science curriculum now offers some of the leading courses that prepare today’s fire service leaders to better handle the challenges of managing organizations in today’s rapidly changing economic, political, regulatory, and social climates.”
The following courses were updated:
EMR-ISAC also noted in the press release that Leadership I, II, & III for Fire and EMS (formerly Leadership I, II & III) were updated to include lessons learned and activities emphasizing the NFA’s congressionally-mandated role to expand its presence in fire-based emergency medical services management training and education.
The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) advises Emergency Services Sector organizations of the following changes to the notifications provided by National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), its National Hurricane Center, its Storm Prediction Center, and its National Weather Service:
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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January 21, 2010 InfoGram