InfoGram 4-10: January 28, 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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State and Local Implementation of the NIPP

The Under Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Protection and Programs Directorate, Rand Beers, recently stated that the 2009 National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) (PDF, 4.5 MB) is at the “heart” of critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) protection and resilience. The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) confirmed that this latest issue of the NIPP recognized the indispensable roles performed by Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies.

The NIPP sets forth a comprehensive risk management framework and defines critical infrastructure protection roles and responsibilities for DHS, Federal Sector-Specific Agencies, and other federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners. In accordance with the NIPP, as well as the requirements identified in the Homeland Security Grant Program, state governments are responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining a statewide and regional CIKR protection program.

The State and Local Implementation Snapshot (PDF, 210 KB) imparts: “The processes necessary to implement the NIPP risk management framework at the state and/or regional level, including urban areas, should become a component of the state’s overarching homeland security program.” The EMR-ISAC requests interested state and local personnel visit www.dhs.gov/nipp for more information. Address relevant questions to NIPP@dhs.gov.

Railroad Incident Training

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that CSX launched a free, online training program, which takes less than an hour to help local emergency responders manage incidents involving rail property and equipment. CSX offers participants the opportunity to gain an understanding of how railroads operate, of possible hazards, and of protocols to keep responders safe.

The educational section of the training is divided into the following four topics which are then subdivided:

• Providing basics on safety—working near the rails, movements on tracks, equipment precautions.
• CSX Operations—railroad personnel, Unified Command structure, shipping papers.
• Initial response—preplanning, contact railroad personnel, hazardousness materials, other railroad incidents.
• Railroad equipment—locomotives, freight cars, tank cars, passenger trains.

The EMR-ISAC verified that upon completion, students receive a certificate after passing the on-line quiz. In addition to the on-line training, CSX presents the following training and emergency planning materials free of charge for emergency response agencies east of the Mississippi River (i.e., areas served by CSX):

• Community Awareness Emergency Planning Guide—contains information to augment existing plans and operating procedures. The guide is not intended to be used for individual training of responders, rather as a reference for agency decision-makers.
• Emergency Response to Railroad Incidents Self Study Guide—contains information about safety around the railroad, incident preplanning, and initial response procedures as well as railroad equipment and personnel.
• Emergency Response to Railroad Incidents Self Study Video—contains information about safety around the railroad, incident preplanning and initial response procedures, as well as railroad equipment and personnel.
• Locomotive Emergency Response Operations Video—contains information about safety around the railroad, incident preplanning and initial response procedures, as well as how to safely and efficiently rescue rail crews during emergency situations and special instructions when dealing with an accident on bridges or in tunnels.

Dangers of Indoor Marijuana Grow Sites

According to the 2009 National Drug Threat Assessment (PDF, 18.7 MB), “some cannabis growers have shifted from outdoor to indoor cultivation to gain higher profits generated from the production of higher-quality marijuana, resulting in an overall rise in indoor cannabis cultivation nationally.” This explains why the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) observed during the past couple of years that police and firefighters discovered illegal marijuana growing operations more frequently when responding to incidents inside homes or rental properties.

In the article, “Marijuana: A Growing Hazard on the Fireground,” August Vernon and Rick Hetzel, Firehouse.com contributing editors, clarified that marijuana grow sites expose emergency responders to the following dangers:

• Violence. Growers arm themselves or place “booby traps” to protect their investments.
• Fire. Hazards include exposed live wires, wire bundles, wire exposed to water, high-intensity light bulbs, chemical fertilizers, etc.
• Atmospheric. An oxygen deficient environment is the greatest hazard, worsened by artificially introduced carbon dioxide and ozone.
• Electrical. Attempts by growers to “bypass” normal distribution of power to accommodate high-intensity lighting cause very unsafe conditions and fire hazards.
• Environmental. In addition to extensive fungus and mold, large amounts of fungicides, pesticides, acids, and bases are stored and disposed of improperly.
• Structural. Homes used for indoor growing have usually been altered to maximize space and disguise operations, but in ways that undermine structural integrity.
• HazMat. Growers utilize hazardous, flammable, and volatile solvents including acetones, camp fuel, and isopropyl alcohol.

“Indoor marijuana growing activities have been found at different locations such as houses, attics, basements, apartments, storage units, barns, etc.” Regardless of where they are, the EMR-ISAC acknowledges that these sites can quickly incapacitate emergency personnel and jeopardize response operations. Therefore, training, safety, and protection are paramount for all responders at these types of events. Ideally, “each jurisdiction will have a plan and standard operating guidance and procedures for responses to indoor grow situations.”

A First Responder Awareness Card (PDF, 36.7 KB) for indoor marijuana grow houses has been prepared by Mr. Vernon for training and informational purposes only.

CDP HARM Course

The Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) is offering the Hazard Assessment and Response Management (HARM) course several times this year. This free 3-day course provides a scenario that requires students to determine and plan their course of action. The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) confirmed that the goal of the course is to challenge responders with a realistic operational weapons of mass destruction (WMD) environment in which students operate within the incident command system, and decide procedures, equipment, and tactical approach to an emergency event.

HARM builds on previous CDP attendees’ knowledge. HARM replicates the activation and deployment of a task force into an active operational incident of national significance.  Responders arrive at the CDP in the 36th operational hour of the event and are assigned to a task force. Each task force is briefed and assigned a daily rotational period recurring over three days.  The intent of this course is to apply acquired operational knowledge from each of the 10 emergency response disciplines in support of the task force and assist in mitigating a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive (CBRNE) incident.

The EMR-ISAC advises that interested personnel click on the following link for contact information regarding this and other CDP courses: http://cdp.dhs.gov/contact.html.

Coffee Break Training: Petroleum Bulk Plant Incidents

The Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) received notification that the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) published “Coffee Break Training-Special Blend: Petroleum Bulk Plant Incidents” (PDF, 226.6 KB) to honor the nine firefighters who died in the January 21, 1924, petroleum bulk plant fire in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The document asks departments to conduct a familiarity visit or inspection to bulk plants or refineries and offers the following recommendations to avoid a repeat of history:

• Visit the facilities, perform a risk assessment, and develop a pre-incident action plan for fire or hazardous materials release.
• Communicate the risk assessment and action plan to all emergency response personnel, and schedule training on the action plan.
• Check fire protection systems, especially foam systems, monitor nozzles, and private hydrant systems for operational status.
• Compute the amount of fire suppression foam or other special agent requirements are needed for an incident.
• Ensure mutual-aid resources and alternative water supplies are in place.
• Determine locations where aerial apparatus, ground ladders, and master stream appliance can be placed, while maintaining a safe distance from exposures.
• Look for overhead obstructions and hazards such as catwalks, process piping, or the power lines.
• Identify two means of escape for personnel and apparatus from the bulk storage area.
• Inspect the tank construction for potential access issues such as permanent ladders or stairs, location of tank control valves, overflow drains from diked areas, and adjacent exposures.
• Conduct a thorough check of the area to eliminate ignition sources.

The EMR-ISAC noted that additional information is available at Chapter 66 of NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code or NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code.