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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This week, a man entered the Clackamas Town Center mall in Oregon and opened fire with a rifle. Two people were killed and one critically injured before the shooter took his own life. Law enforcement officials say greater public awareness about active shooter incidents may play a significant part in why the injury and death toll was not higher, as there were 10,000 people in the mall at the time.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff, the shoppers appeared nearly as ready and able as police to deal with a gunman. As a group, they appeared to keep a level head, secure themselves in stores, get out of the mall and help others get out.
The sheriff also credits local law enforcement active shooter training at the Clackamas Town Center mall earlier this year involving both law enforcement and retailers. Police told the mall's manager they were amazed how many stores were secured and locked down by the time police responded.
A list of active shooter resources is available in the July 26th issue of the InfoGram.
(Source: Christian Science Monitor)The Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) will be undergoing major upgrades during 2013, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The upgrades include moving from the 2003 version of Microsoft SharePoint to the 2010 version. This will give users more technological capabilities to support the homeland security mission and will give the system an enhanced look and feel.
DHS wants current users to know existing communities will be migrated to the new system in waves. Users having access to several communities, especially at both the state and federal levels, will likely see some communities migrated before others. Users will be contacted about procedures as the migration moves forward.
The first migration of HSIN communities is occurring this weekend, Dec. 14-15, with the Puerto Rico site moving to HSIN Release 3. Next up is Virgin Islands. Following a review of the first migrations (and the holidays), the remainder of the state communities are scheduled to migrate in January and February. Federal communities will follow with migrations ending in May.
HSIN is DHS's secure web-based portal used for information sharing and collaboration between federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, private sector and international partners. For information on HSIN, contact hsin.outreach@hq.dhs.gov.
(Source: DHS)The National Weather Service (NWS) is working to clarify its winter weather hazard terminology, specifically the Watch, Warning and Advisory notices, after surveys and feedback have shown the public may not understand what each term means and how they should respond.
The NWS is requesting assistance in simplifying their terminology and clarifying the products they publish. The NWS demonstrates a new proposed headline method on their Web site and is requesting comments from the public on how the old and proposed systems compare. People may also submit alternative suggestions.
Certain parts of the country are currently seeing samples of the new weather warnings through March 31, 2013, and people outside the test areas can view current before-and-after examples using the map provided on the NWS website. This project is part of the Weather-Ready Nation initiative. Anyone may contribute by answering the NWS survey after reviewing the informational website. Clarification and unified messaging has the potential to help the public better prepare for winter hazards and will therefore help the emergency management community as a whole.
(Source: National Weather Service)The American Red Cross (ARC) is working to address the public’s demand for quick answers and access to information by providing a range of free mobile applications (apps) for disaster and preparedness needs. The reliance on mobile technology is growing, and the variety of uses grows to meet the demand.
The most recent offering in the ARC series of apps is for wildfires and was developed to enable citizens to monitor wildfire activity in a given geographical area using the “Blaze Tracker” feature. It also gives preparedness instructions, shelter location, viewable maps of fire locations and a one-touch “I’m Safe” message button that notifies family and friends via social media that the user is OK.
However, it also has benefits for responders. The app comes with a “toolbox” including an audible alarm, a flashlight, and a strobe light. These features can help rescue crews find stranded or trapped, and could also be used by wildfire crews and responders to find trapped personnel during incidents.
Other free apps developed by the ARC include Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Shelter Finder and First Aid. The First Aid app has over 1 million downloads and people have written ARC with examples of how the instructions provided in the app has helped them save lives. Each app features step-by-step instructions on a variety of situations, and all are available for Android and iPhone.
(Source: Occupational Health & Safety Magazine)Adobe Acrobat (PDF)/Other Help
December 13, 2012 InfoGram (PDF, 158 Kb)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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Last Reviewed: December 13, 2012
Happy New Year! Add this resolution to the top of your list: test all home smoke alarms each month - starting today! January 1, 2013 @ 10:04 AM ET
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