Infogram

January 8, 2004

NOTE: This INFOGRAM will be distributed weekly to provide members of the emergency management and response sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. It has been prepared by NATEK Incorporated for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate. 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.

CIP New Year's Resolutions

Although residents of the United States entered the New Year in a relatively peaceful manner, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds us of the necessity to seriously plan and prepare for all hazards during 2004. DHS particularly advises owners and operators of the nation's critical infrastructures to ensure their readiness for man-made and natural disasters. In order to promote critical infrastructure protection (CIP) preparedness by members of the emergency management and response sector, the CIP Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) offers the following New Year's resolutions for the consideration of sector leaders.

Register with DisasterHelp.gov to facilitate receipt of the weekly INFOGRAMs and periodic CIP Bulletins for all sector members, and also Sensitive CIP Information for those in key leadership positions who have been validated.
Learn and practice the CIP Process as contained in the Job Aid at: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/subjects/emr-isac/cipc-jobaid.shtm
Become an active partner in the emergency management and response sector by participating in CIP information sharing.
Share incidents or suspicious activities affecting sector critical infrastructures.
Review and update applicable emergency response plans from a CIP perspective.
Contact the CIP ISAC at (301) 447-1325 or by e-mail at usfacipc@dhs.gov to acquire consultation regarding the implementation of CIP.

CIP Bulletins

On 23 December, the USFA CIP ISAC issued its first CIP Bulletin (1-03), which conveyed to CIP stakeholders DHS recommendations for adjusting to Level ORANGE of the Homeland Security Advisory System. CIP Bulletins will be prepared and published as necessary to provide members of the emergency management and response sector with timely, consequential, unclassified information affecting the protection of their critical infrastructures. Different than the weekly INFOGRAMs, CIP Bulletins will be posted as soon as information becomes available and only when circumstances require.

To facilitate access to CIP Bulletins, a new portal was created in the DisasterHelp.gov website that is available to all present and future INFOGRAM subscribers without any additional time and labor. In other words, all present and future subscribers to the INFOGRAM will automatically receive CIP Bulletin notifications without any additional steps on their part. Each bulletin posted in DisasterHelp.gov will generate an electronic message to each subscriber explaining that the attached link is to a CIP Bulletin promulgated by the USFA CIP ISAC.

Although the CIP ISAC has the responsibility to ensure designated DHS information relevant to the emergency management and response sector has been expeditiously disseminated, it is the recipient's prerogative to decide how to respond to each bulletin. Contact the ISAC at (301) 447-1325 or by e-mail at usfacipc@dhs.gov if you desire more information about this new initiative.

Bridge and Tunnel Security

Recognizing that bridges and tunnels are attractive terrorist targets because of their accessibility and potential impact on human lives and economic activity, a Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) of bridge and tunnel experts from professional practice, federal and state agencies, academia, and toll authorities recently convened to examine bridge and tunnel security and to develop strategies for deterring and mitigating possible attacks. The BRP determined that thousands of bridges and tunnels throughout the United States are critical infrastructures of the nation, communities, and local emergency first responders. The panel concluded that the loss of one of these critical structures, particularly at a "choke point" in the highway system, could result in a massive amount of casualties, billions of dollars worth of direct reconstruction costs, and even greater socioeconomic costs.

Under the sponsorship of the Federal Highway Administration and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the BRP crafted a set of seven "overarching recommendations" to reduce the probability of catastrophic structural damage that could result in substantial human casualties, economic losses, and socio-political damage. Generally, the BRP recommends prioritization of these bridge and tunnel assets, followed by risk assessment as a guide for allocating federal and state funds to address security concerns, and then implementation of cost-effective protective measures to reduce the vulnerability of critical, high priority bridges and tunnels.

The CIP ISAC agrees that bridges and tunnels are among the critical infrastructures of first responders, despite the fact that emergency response departments have little or no control over these essential structures within their jurisdictions. Given the importance of bridges and tunnels for the rapid and safe movement of emergency vehicles as well as citizens, community leaders including those of first responders should consider reviewing the BRP report at: www.securitymanagement.com/library/FHWA_Bridge0104.pdf.

Guide to Coping with an Attack

While many emergency first responders may be well trained and fully capable of responding to a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) attack, the safety of their family members and local residents remains a valid concern. If a community was attacked, it is still doubtful that family members and citizens would know what immediate actions to take. By not managing such an attack properly, contamination could be spread around a city or town, thereby overwhelming municipal medical facilities with both casualties and the "worried well."

To address this concern, the Center for Technology and National Security Policy, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington DC, created "Coping with an Attack, A Quick Guide to Dealing with Biological, Chemical, and 'Dirty Bomb' Attacks." The guide describes immediate actions to take in case of a biological, chemical, or radiological attack and contains answers to frequently asked questions. It can be reproduced locally and adopted for use by any local, state, and federal agency, as well as non-governmental organizations. Download the guide from the following link: http://www.ndu.edu/ctnsp/WMD_tipsheet.pdf.

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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