InfoGram 18-12: May 2, 2012

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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Plots Against Public Surface Transportation

Carnage Interrupted: An Analysis of Fifteen Terrorist Plots Against Public Surface Transportation (PDF, 3.0 Mb) examines 14 case studies of failed attacks on public transportation between 1997 and 2010 and gives new insight into the mindset and approach of terrorists trying to attack mass transit systems.   The cases chosen are not inclusive of all attacks in that time period, but all deal with rail or commuter systems, occurred in Western nations, and all were individual or small-group efforts.

The report’s two-page research brief (PDF, 698.57 KB) states: “While intelligence proved to be critical in thwarting these plots, the role of physical security seems to have been, at best, a complicating factor in terrorist planning rather than a preventive factor.  The fact remains that public surface transportation systems are necessarily open and therefore unavoidably vulnerable targets.”  The research also shows that the major source of information and intelligence the plotters’ used to construct the plans was based on their own observations of the site.

Employees whose duties have them around mass transit’s public areas need proper training to help them identify suspicious activities.  Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) initiatives such as “If You See Something, Say Something” are being expanded in major metropolitan mass transit systems and other venues to help keep the public aware of what to look for.

The Surface/Public Transportation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ST/PT-ISAC) is the Transportation Sector’s mechanism for information sharing, including incident reporting, cyber and physical threat /vulnerability information, and an online library.  For more information on joining, see their Frequently Asked Questions page.

(Source: Mineta Transportation Institute)

Emergency Preparedness Guidelines for Levees

While accountability for flood risk management is shared between government agencies, private-sector stakeholders, and citizens, the authority to determine land use in floodplains and to enforce policy falls wholly on state and local governments.   Levee systems are considered one of the nation’s critical infrastructures, and all-hazards safety and security of dams and levee systems should be considered in state and local emergency plans.

The Department of Homeland Security published the Emergency Preparedness Guidelines for Levees (PDF, 381 Kb) to help public and private entities mange levees and associated flood risk management systems against natural and manmade incidents.  The guide gives recommendations and guidance on developing emergency preparedness and security plans.

The guide states: “Many of the nation’s levees were built more than 50 years ago with the intent of protecting crops from flooding.  Over the past few decades, housing and commercial development on land protected by levees has increased the risk to public health and safety associated with potential levee failure.”

The Association of Dam Safety Officials has links to the National Levee Database, a Levees 101 page, a newsletter, and an extensive library on the levee safety section of their website.  Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has information on levee mapping, risk, and accreditation on the FEMA Levee Resource Library page.

(Source: Association of State Dam Safety Officials)

Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)

The Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) went operational at the beginning of April, according to an article in Government Technology.  It is the first national alert system that allows the public to receive notifications about major emergencies via their mobile devices.  The CMAS system will interface with the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) that wireless carriers are introducing in 2012.

The CMAS was developed through a partnership between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The text-based service is free to the public, and will include three types of alerts: imminent threats such as tornado warnings or other severe weather alerts, Amber Alerts, and presidential messages.  According to FEMA’s CMAS page, most of the alerts will be sent by the National Weather Service.

CMAS is part of FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (iPAWS), which works to increase the forms of communications providing public alert and warning messages, including satellite, digital radio, Internet, and commercial broadcast.

(Source: Government Technology)

2012 Arson Prevention Week May 6-12

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has announced "Prevent Youth Firesetting" as the theme for the 2012 Arson Awareness Week.  USFA partners this year with the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), Safe Kids USA, USAonWatch, National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and the National Association of State Fire Marshals to help focus attention on the issue of juvenile firesetting.

There is a wide variety of juvenile firesetting, such as intentional arson versus a child playing with a lighter.  According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, juveniles accounted for roughly 46 percent of arson arrests in 2005 to 2010.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire and Explosives also reports that from 2000 to 2009 there were 1,637 juvenile-involved fire incidents reported in the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Materials available on the USFA website for this year’s focus include profiles of successful juvenile firesetting intervention programs, resources for intervention specialists such as online and on-campus National Fire Academy classes and publications, and links to previous years’ Arson Awareness Week campaigns.

(Source: U.S. Fire Administration)