Infogram

July 15, 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.

Period of Increased Risk

The terrorist threat against the United States in the run-up to the November election is as serious as at any time since September 11, 2001, acting CIA Director John McLaughlin said this week. He explained that the threats were not connected specifically to the Democratic and Republican political conventions this summer, but to the whole period before the November presidential election. "It's related to this period during which the country is exercising its democracy in preparation for the election, but it's always a mistake in the counterterrorism business to focus uniquely on a date," McLaughlin opined.

"Convinced that terrorists are determined to disrupt the presidential election by attacking the United States, the government is mounting a massive homeland security effort as the ramp-up to the two presidential nominating conventions begins," according to the Washington Post. "Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the conventions in Boston and New York, where authorities believe al Qaeda may see an opportunity to interrupt and perhaps alter the outcome of the November 2 election." However, this immense planning and preparedness actually extends to all "symbolic events" such as Labor Day weekend, Thanksgiving Day parades, New Year's Eve at Times Square in New York City, and the Presidential Inauguration.

Are all emergency departments that will have these special events at or near their jurisdiction actively engaged in this extensive planning and the application of protective measures? The EMR-ISAC cautions that the answer to this question must be in the affirmative in order to ensure the survivability, continuity of operations, and mission success of first response organizations in or nearby the location of these "at risk" events. The "response-ability" of emergency personnel, their equipment and apparatus, and communication/cyber systems may depend on it, especially if an attack does occur.

ISAC Council

The National Strategy for Homeland Security (July 2002) identified 13 critical infrastructure sectors within the United States. These sectors are considered so vital to the nation that their incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact on national physical and economic security in addition to the general public health and safety. Among these are the emergency services, water, agriculture, information and telecommunications, energy, transportation, chemical, etc. Presidential Directive-63 (May 1998) required the initiation of an Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) for each sector to promote critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and facilitate the sharing of CIP information.

The mission of the Information Sharing and Analysis Centers Council (ISAC Council) is to advance the physical and cyber security of the nation's critical infrastructures by establishing and maintaining a framework for valuable interaction between and among the ISACs, with governments, and other organizations having a role in CIP. The following are a few of the major objectives of the ISAC Council:

The Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC), the source of this weekly INFOGRAM and other CIP documents, is an active member of the ISAC Council representing the Emergency Services Sector. Participation in ISAC Council work yields positive benefits for the EMR-ISAC and, subsequently, the Emergency Services Sector for which it exists to serve. To acquire more tangible results for the sector, EMR-ISAC operators will attend the ISAC Council Quarterly Conference next week (21-22 July) at George Mason University in Arlington, VA.

A Word of Caution

When examining what items suitable for terrorism or degrading critical infrastructures can be found on the Internet this week, a CIP specialist discovered an "eBay" advertisement (posted 9 July) for a private enterprise selling their entire inventory of state police uniforms and gear. The article elaborated that a large quantity of "new condition" uniform components and accouterments were available for sale. Considering the current threat environment, the EMR-ISAC found it quite disturbing that the "summary of selling policies" and "payment information" did not require validation that the buyer is a law enforcement procurement agent. In other words, it was quite clear that absolutely any bargain hunter could arrange for acquisition and shipment of these materials.

In the past three years there have been intermittent reports about individuals apprehended for impersonating police, fire, and EMS personnel. Although few in number, these incidents should elicit concern because this is a tactic used by terrorists around the world. Furthermore, counterterrorism officials teach that impostors from extremist groups endeavor to penetrate organizations to conduct deception activities, which conceal a planned terrorist attack. Such is why the EMR-ISAC offers a word of caution about the disposition of unwanted uniforms and equipment of first responders. All emergency response departments and those they protect are much more vulnerable when sensitive uniforms and equipment can be so easily obtained in bulk over the Internet or elsewhere without a proper vetting process.

New First Responder Training Courses

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness, in cooperation with the DHS/U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), announced last week three new courses that offer more comprehensive training to improve the readiness of emergency responders in protecting the nation's communities and, potentially, the critical infrastructures within municipalities. The newly approved courses offered by USFA's National Fire Academy include:

Contact Gordon Sachs (301-447-1594; Gordon.Sachs@dhs.gov) or Robert Murgallis (301-447-1347; Robert.Murgallis@dhs.gov) for details about the All Hazards Incident Management Course. More information about the first two listed courses (F315 and R317) can be seen by entering the school (NFA), course name, and/or course code at the following link: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/nfacsd/index.jsp.

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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