November 30, 2006 Infogram

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 e-mail at emr-isac@dhs.gov.

Emergency Services: First Line of Defense

It is apparent to most Americans that their Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies are the first line of defense within the United States. While America's military combats terrorism on foreign soils, local first responders are actively preventing and protecting against a terrorist event, and also preparing to respond effectively to any occurrence. This being the case, the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) acknowledges the many challenges and personal risks that confront emergency services personnel before, during, and after a terrorist attack.

Regarding the terrorism challenges and risks, the EMR-ISAC understands that ESS personnel must first recognize indicators of a possible terrorist event. Once they suspect that an attack has occurred, responders must immediately assess their security situation and take additional precautions. Obviously, emergency personnel must remain safe to ensure survivability, continuity, and response-ability on behalf of the citizens they serve.

The following are some safety precautions for the consideration of incident commanders and safety officers to protect the personnel infrastructure of responding organizations. These recommendations were abridged from the Emergency Response to Terrorism Job Aid, Edition 2.0, 2003, published jointly by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Fire Administration, and Department of Justice:

Initiate on-scene hazard/risk assessment.
Designate safe staging areas for incoming units.
Assess emergency ingress and egress routes.
Designate rally points for reassembly purposes.
Ensure personnel accountability.
Consider any decontamination requirements.
Examine need for additional specialized resources.
Prepare for the possibility for a secondary attack.
Coordinate with law enforcement for perimeter security.
Commit only essential personnel to minimize exposure.

If interested in downloading or acquiring a copy of the Job Aid referenced above, please visit the USFA Web site.

More about Hybrid Vehicles

The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that there may be confusion or misinformation among some Emergency Services Sector (ESS) personnel regarding hybrid vehicles. Because of potential danger for infrastructure personnel and equipment, the EMR-ISAC researched current automotive safety documents and web sites to assess if hybrid cars could be a threat to first responders. The findings presented below should indicate that no credible threat exists if some precautions are implemented and common sense prevails at the scene of an incident involving a hybrid vehicle.

Hybrids are powered by a drivetrain combining an electric motor with a gasoline engine. The electric drivetrain is direct-current (DC) power, although some models also generate alternating current (AC) power. The high-voltage (HV) drivetrain power can vary from 150 to 675 volts and run up to 125 amps as well. The cable that delivers power from the HV battery pack to the HV motor in the drivetrain is bright orange in color. Except for the drivetrain, these vehicles are like conventionally powered models to control after an accident with or without fire.

Therefore, as is the case with conventional (non-hybrid) cars, first responders must shut down a hybrid model by putting it in park, turning the motor off, and removing the ignition key. Powering down the vehicle discharges the energy storage capacitors and shuts the HV system down at the HV battery pack. Although there is a high-voltage power hazard present that warrants added precautions, the vehicle's inherent and internal safety components significantly minimize the threat to emergency personnel.

Additionally, according to an article in the November issue of Fire Engineering by Dave Dalrymple, a career Emergency Medical Services provider, "each hybrid model has a specific emergency response guide that tells emergency responders how to manage the vehicle if it's involved in a collision, catches fire, or needs to be towed." The EMR-ISAC recommends that ESS departments and agencies contact the major manufacturers or local car dealerships to acquire this guide and more information about existing and newer model hybrids.

New Web-Based ICS Review Courses

To help the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) respond safely and effectively to the challenges in their communities, review courses for two existing classroom-based Incident Command System (ICS) courses were recently added to the online curriculum of the National Emergency Training Center's Virtual Campus.

"The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) continues to move forward in their efforts to ensure the Nation's first responders have available to them the most current ICS body of knowledge," said Acting USFA Administrator Charlie Dickinson, in his announcement of the new web-based courses.

Added to ICS 100 (Introduction to ICS for Operational First Responders) and ICS 200 (Basic ICS for Operational First Responders) on the virtual-campus curriculum are ICS 300 and ICS 400, which are scenario-based courses that can be used as either pre-course modules or remedial training for the classroom versions of 300 and 400. Simply taking the two courses - Fundamentals Review for ICS 300, and Fundamentals Review for ICS 400 - online does not meet the training requirements for either; the online versions serve as adjuncts to the classroom versions.

ICS 100 through ICS 400 were jointly developed by the USFA, Emergency Management Institute, and the National Wildfire Coordinating Group in cooperation with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center. All of the ICS courses are based on standard learning objectives and are considered equivalent in terms of meeting NIMS requirements.

The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) suggests that ESS leaders who track their organization's progress in meeting mandated NIMS-required training visit the Virtual Campus and click on "Online Training" for additional information.

Grants Application Period Opens

Program guidance is available now for Emergency Services Sector (ESS) organizations interested in submitting applications for Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants, part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. The application period begins on 4 December 2006 and ends at 5:00 p.m. EST on January 12, 2007.

The Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) notes that among the eligible uses for grant awards are projects that improve responder safety, wellness, fitness, or health, all of which contribute to protecting the most significant critical infrastructure: personnel. A recent FP&S AFG grant made health screenings available for hundreds of ESS members.

Projects that improve ESS personnel safety by enhancing their understanding of hazards from incidents, buildings, or environments also are eligible, as are those that develop new equipment or technologies to enhance safety that can be incorporated into the emergency services. The EMR-ISAC views these areas as contributing positively to critical infrastructure protection.

The AFG Program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Grants and Training in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. FP&S monies also can be used to conduct formal or informal risk assessments, create public education campaigns, and to develop juvenile firesetter intervention programs, for example. In 2005, eligible uses of funds were expanded to include first responder (i.e., firefighter) safety research and development.

To link directly to the FP&S Grants applicant tutorial, visit the AFG Web site. Additional assistance is available by calling the grants' help desk, 1-866-274-0960, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.

FAIR USE NOTICE

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.

Reporting Notice

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 e-mail 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 e-mail 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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