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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Recent shooting incidents at various locations of the United States seem to indicate rising violence at work places, and even at hospitals that were once considered safe havens. However, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) has no credible evidence of a valid trend or pattern regarding active shooters.
According to the Department of Homeland Security “Active Shooter” booklet (PDF, 984 Kb), an active shooter is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. The booklet states: “In most cases, there is no pattern or method to their selection of victims.”
The booklet further explains that active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement is required to stop the shooting and mitigate harm to victims. “Because active shooter incidents are often over within 10 to 15 minutes, before law enforcement arrives on the scene, individuals must be prepared both mentally and physically to deal with an active shooter situation.”
The EMR-ISAC verified that the booklet provides guidance to individuals, including responders, managers, and employees, who may be caught in an active shooter situation. It also discusses how to react when law enforcement arrives at the incident scene. Another useful source of information on this subject is the Mass Shooting/Active Shooter First Responder Awareness Card (PDF, 35 Kb).
While researching current threats to Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) was reminded that a terrorist website once posted a message calling for “Forest Jihad.” This message of almost two years ago urged sympathizers in America to use forest fires as a weapon of death and destruction. Despite the posting, U.S. terrorism analysts have not yet reliably verified that this type of arson or eco-terrorism is a credible threat.
The EMR-ISAC recognizes that arson has been a continuing problem in urban and rural America that may or may not become a terrorist tool (i.e., eco-terrorism). However, in his article, Robert Neale, National Fire Academy Deputy Superintendent, wrote that arson occurs more than 80 times a day and puts a strain on local, state, and federal law enforcement, firefighting, and court resources.
Superintendent Neale affirmed that a successful arsonist needs only a match and a combustible target. He also indicated that “structural fires account for a large percentage of America’s property losses, but intentionally set transportation, chemical plant or wildland fires as terrorist acts can’t be ruled out.” Additionally, Superintendent Neale shared that except for highly publicized events, “fires generally are seen as a local problem needing local solutions.”
As a considerable issue for ESS organizations, arson warrants preparedness measures to mitigate or prevent the disruption or destruction of regional and local critical infrastructures. See the following websites for information regarding arson and arson prevention: InterFIREonline, U.S. Fire Administration, International Association of Arson Investigators, and the Business Library.
John Coleman, retired Toledo (OH) Fire Department assistant chief and technical editor of Fire Engineering, provided “Three Things You Can Do So You Won’t Die on Duty” to simplistically complement the 16 Life Safety Initiatives. He wrote: “When you want to get firefighters to do something, say it in easy, understandable, short sentences using words to which they can relate.”
The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) summarizes Chief Coleman’s safety recommendations as follows for the consideration of all personnel dedicated to the nation’s emergency services:
Additional information on this subject can be seen at Objective Safety and the Workplace Safety Toolkit.
A large number of police officers recently completed the Field Force Operations (FFO) course and the Initial Law Enforcement Response to Suicide Bombing Attacks (ILERSBA) course, according to the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) that provided the training.
Upon examination, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) acknowledged that the three-day FFO course consists of hands-on training and tools to understand and mitigate civil actions or disorders. ILERSBA arms front line law enforcement officers with the knowledge to effectively respond to an imminent suicide bombing attack or non-suicide attack involving a vehicle-borne device.
The CDP offers over 50 training courses at its resident campus focusing on incident management, mass casualty response, and emergency response to a catastrophic natural disaster or terrorist act. The EMR-ISAC confirmed that training at the CDP campus (Anniston, AL) is federally funded at no cost to state, local, and tribal emergency response professionals or their agency. Visit their website for more information on the CDP’s specialized programs and courses.
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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September 23, 2010 InfoGram