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Community Safety/Security eNewsletter
May 2008
Welcome to the May 2008 Issue
Stephen
Take a gander below and see what Joe has put together for everyone this month. For those of you who are waiting to see the paper I talked about last month (what I think that the structure of DHS should look like to be effective), I'm going to have to ask you to wait a bit longer. The paper has been submitted for the Admiral Colbert Memorial Prize competition, and I don't want to take a chance on violating the rules of the competition. What I've done is excerpted a few paragraphs for you this month, and I plan to publish it next month. For those folks who emailed me privately, I'll still a copy out to you, but will ask you to keep the paper close held until the results are finalized. I participated in the Los Angeles Infragard Chapter's tabletop exercise this month. It was a great opportunity to speak on behalf of the Chemical Industry as to what they would need to continue operations and get back on their feet after a major event. I'm hoping that I can talk Rick Jones into giving me a brief writeup for the newsletter next month. Thank you all for the opportunity to represent you in that forum. On that topic, the LA Chapter of Infragard is still looking for someone to fill the Chemical Sector chair position until I can get back. It's a great opportunity to have access to open and closed source information, network with other sector chairs that are doing the same thing, and find out what resources are available to people in your industry. If you are interested, please contact either myself or Richard Jones (contact info below) who is the current chair of the LA Chapter. We also had a meeting with Carlana Stone of the Courage Community which is a military social networking site intended to help our returning disabled veterans integrate back into society and communicate with each other. Check out her site at www.couragecommunity.org and if you know a returning veteran, point them in her direction. Thanks and have a good month!
It's getting hot in here!Summer is here and man, is it getting hot! High heat and the lack of rain here in Florida has gotten the fires jumping again. California is feeling it as well. If the wind-driven wildfires that continue to plague us have spared your area, there is no reason for complacency. We should be prepared for inevitable fire problems, given the fuel that has built up in wild areas during the dry season.
Always be quick to report fires, arson or suspicious behavior. Be very careful with open flames. It may go without saying, but do not do what two North Fort Myers men have been charged with in the past week or so, setting bonfires in their yards!
Perhaps the most important precaution for the large and growing number of people who like to live in woodsy areas, make your home "fire-wise" by following the steps listed below.
•Clear a 30-foot-wide buffer between house and trees, palmettos or other potential fuel.
•Keep roofs and gutters clear of dried leaves, pine needles, branches and debris.
•Store combustibles away from the home.
•Remove vines attached to your home.
•Use fire-resistant material in your roof such as tiles or metal.
•Keep your yard well-trimmed and watered.
•Install water sprinklers on your roof.
•Trim tree branches within 10 feet of the ground.
•Use less-combustible plants for landscaping and keep highly flammable shrubs such as palmettos away from structures.
•Connect a garden hose with a nozzle to an outside tap.Stay safe, we’ll chat again next month!
Jovanni
Technical Paper
Excerpts from Stephen's paper on the Structure of Homeland Security Organizations:
..."While the functions of such Directorates as Management, Science and Technology, and National Protection and Programs, are vital to the continued operations of DHS, they exist to be enablers of the Department's primary goals which are Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Mitigation. By focusing on the enablers rather than the goals, the Department runs the risk of allowing the means of the organization to become the ends, or to state it another way: to be focusing on processes rather than outcomes. The same is true of all of the agencies that fall under the Department. As an example, the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) is charged (in conjunction with the Immigration and Naturalization Service) with:
“keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. It also has a responsibility for securing and facilitating trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws.”If DHS is to stay focused on its mission, each one of those functions needs to be examined from the perspective of whether that mission contributes to one of the five phases of an emergency. If it does not, then the CBP should be moving that function to another department. This is not to say that a joint task force of the several departments such as CBP, the Department of the Treasury, and the Drug Enforcement Agency cannot work together to accomplish a specific one of those functions. They can and they should, but the primary responsibility for the non-mission tasks should be removed from the Department's purview, or else those tasks need to be included in DHS' overarching mission."
..."Since an organization must primarily focus on its ends to be effective, the phases of an emergency should serve as the top level. According to the Congressional Research Service's report, Presidential Appointee Positions Requiring Senate Confirmation and Committees Handling Nominations,1 the hierarchy within a cabinet is demonstrated to be (top-down): Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and then deputies. (Note that the following organizational breakdown does not preclude a Deputy Secretary to act as an “Executive Officer” type of position, nor does it preclude high-level positions for significant support functions.) In order to focus on the primary missions of DHS, the five top-level Undersecretaries should each oversee one of the phases of emergencies. For example, the Undersecretary for Preparedness would be responsible for overseeing all preparedness issues for the country. This part of the Department would interface with State and Local counterparts, oversee all prepositioning of equipment for an emergency, work with the Department of Transportation to ensure that supplies can get to the right places, evaluate State and Local Emergency Response Plans, develop training, etc. For maximum effect, the Undersecretaries should oversee the development of their phase within each Infrastructure Sector."
..."Once DHS is organized to align with its stated goals and purpose, the Department will still need to take additional steps to ensure that the organization actually works toward those goals. “What gets measured gets done.” This quote permeates management literature. Additionally, the “Hawthorne effect” as described by noted management guru Peter Drucker, states: “The act of measuring something changes both the event and the observer.”1 What this means is that DHS must focus on the outcomes of its programs. Every program implemented, action taken, or dollar granted to a local jurisdiction should be traced back to improving the Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery, or Mitigation of at least one Infrastructure Sector."
As Stephen mentioned in his comments, the full text will be posted on the website next month after the competition is completed.
Study finds gaps in DHS port security program
U.S ports could be exploited by terroristsBy Hope Yen
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON --
A Department of Homeland Security program to strengthen port security has gaps that terrorists could exploit to smuggle weapons of mass destruction in cargo containers, congressional investigators have found.
The report by the Government Accountability Office, being released Tuesday, assesses the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), a federal program established after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to deter a potential terrorist strike via cargo passing through 326 of the nation's airports, seaports and designated land borders. Under the program, roughly 8,000 importers, port authorities and air, sea and land carriers are granted benefits such as reduced scrutiny of their cargo. In exchange, the companies submit a security plan that must meet U.S. Customs and Border Protection's minimum standards and allow officials to verify their measures are being followed.
A 2005 GAO report found many of the companies were receiving the reduced cargo scrutiny without the required full vetting by U.S. Customs, a division of DHS. The agency has since made some improvements, but the new report found that Customs officials still couldn't provide guarantees that companies were in compliance.
Among the problems:
A company is generally certified as safer based on its self-reported security information that Customs employees use to determine if minimum government criteria are met. But due partly to limited resources, the agency does not typically test the member company's supply-chain security practices and thus is "challenged to know that members' security measures are reliable, accurate and effective." Customs employees are not required to utilize third-party or other audits of a company's security measures as an alternative to the agency's direct testing, even if such audits exist. Companies can get certified for reduced Customs inspections before they fully implement any additional security improvements requested by the U.S. government. Under the program, Customs also does not require its employees to systematically follow up to make sure the requested improvements were made and that security practices remained consistent with the minimum criteria. "Until Customs overcomes these collective challenges, Customs will be unable to assure Congress and others that C-TPAT member companies that have been granted reduced scrutiny of their U.S.-bound containerized shipments actually employ adequate security practices," investigators wrote. "It is vital that Customs maintain adequate internal controls to ensure that member companies deserve these benefits."
The GAO urged Customs and Border Protection to require consideration of third-party and other outside audits and take steps to make certain companies comply with any additional security improvements requested. The report also calls for some technological improvements to help improve consistency and better information-gathering in Customs' security checks.
Responding in part, Customs officials in the report agreed they could do more to follow up on suggested security improvements but noted that employees often use their expert discretion in assessing the potential danger before certifying a company. The agency has also said the program overall has made the nation safer.
Congress has been working to improve port security after the independent Sept. 11 commission cited the potential dangers in its 2004 final report. The commission stated that compared to commercial aviation, "opportunities to do harm are as great, or greater, in maritime or surface transportation." DHS has said that while the likelihood of terrorists smuggling weapons of mass destruction into the U.S. in cargo containers is low, the nation's vulnerability and consequences of such an attack are potentially high.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said the report shows the importance of the private sector's continued cooperation in helping improve port security. "I will continue to work with DHS and the private sector to ensure the effectiveness of the crucial port security program," she said.
The GAO study examined a sample of 25 company reviews by Customs and Border Protection from March 1, 2006 through Sept. 30, 2006. Investigators interviewed officials, reviewed documents and studied the agency's minimum security criteria to see if standards were being met.
Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=4936356DHS Awards $844 Million to Secure Nation's Critical Infrastructure
Release Date: May 16, 2008
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today more than $844 million in grant awards as part of its Infrastructure Protection Activities (IPA) grant program. Grant awards will strengthen security at ports and enhance transit, trucking and intercity bus systems. Funds provided will be used to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.
“With this year’s funding, the department will have provided roughly $3 billion in grants for securing the nation’s critical infrastructure and transportation systems,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “As capabilities mature, we’re encouraging state and local governments and the private sector to prioritize IED prevention and protection, communications capabilities, information sharing, and regionally based security cooperation.”
Fiscal Year 2008 IPA awards represent a 29 percent increase from last year. They include:
- Port Security Grant Program: $388.6 million
The Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) supports sustainable, risk-based efforts to enhance access control and credentialing, protect against an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and other non-conventional attacks, and conduct exercises for disaster-response scenarios. The seven highest risk port areas that comprise Group I will receive $220.9 million, which is a 26 percent increase from last year. There are 40 Group II port areas that will receive a total of $138.1 million, and 16 Group III port areas will be awarded $17.3 million. Other port areas will receive a total of almost $9.9 million, and five ferry systems will be awarded more than $2.4 million. DHS has provided nearly $1.5 billion in PSGP grants since 2003.
- Transit Security Grant Program: $380.1 million
The Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) supports sustainable, risk-based efforts to protect critical transit infrastructure, particularly against explosives and non-conventional threats that could cause major disruption to commerce and significant loss of life. The eight highest risk Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) Tier 1 awardees will receive a total of $333.2 million, which is a 46 percent increase from last year. There are 23 UASI Tier II awardees that will receive a total $16.9 million. They will also have an opportunity to re-compete for another $8.5 million. DHS has provided roughly $921 million in TSGP grants since 2005.
- Freight Rail Security Grant Program: $4.9 million
The Freight Rail Security Grant Program (FRSGP) provides awards to railroad operators that transport security-sensitive materials through high-density population areas. This is the first year of funding for the FRSGP, which will prioritize the development of vulnerability assessments and security plans, as well as security training of railroad front-line employees.- Intercity Passenger Rail Program: $25 million
The Intercity Passenger Rail Program (IPRP) will fund the National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak) to harden underground and underwater track and tunnels against IEDs, train key employees in counter-terrorism, and expand visible deterrence activities. DHS has provided more than $50 million in IPRP grants since 2005.
- Intercity Bus Security Grant Program: $11.2 million
The Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP) provides awards to operators of fixed route intercity and charter bus companies serving one or more defined UASI jurisdictions. Funding priorities include: IED prevention and detection; protection of high-risk/high consequence assets; antiterrorism training and preparedness exercises; visible, unpredictable deterrence activities; and the development of vulnerability assessments and security plans. There are six awardees providing extensive service to UASI Tier I jurisdictions that will receive $6.2 million. The remaining $5 million will be allocated to UASI Tier II eligible recipients. DHS has provided more than $71 million in IBSGP grants since 2003.
- Buffer Zone Protection Program: $48.5 million
The Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP) provides grant funding for security and risk-management capabilities at state and local levels to bolster pre-designated UASI Tier I and Tier II critical infrastructure sites, such as chemical facilities, financial institutions, nuclear and electric power plants, dams, stadiums, and other high-risk/high-consequence facilities. DHS has provided more than $236 million in BZPP funds since 2005.
- Trucking Security Grant Program (TSP): $15.5 million
The Trucking Security Grant Program (TSP) provides an award to a single grantee selected through a competitive process. The funding will support: participant identification and recruitment, planning, training, communications, and information analysis and distribution. DHS has provided nearly $78 million in TSP grants since 2003.IPA grants reinforce the department’s approach to risk-based funding and commitment to regional planning and security coordination. The department considered the threat, vulnerability and consequences of an attack on critical infrastructure as well as the effectiveness of proposed solutions in making grant determinations. The risk-based methodology is consistent across IPA programs and is aligned with methodology used to determine eligibility for core DHS state and local grant programs.
List of individual grants and further IPA information (PDF, 22 pages - 142 KB)
Source: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1210954542145.shtm
Recent and Upcoming Events
Recent Events
InfraGard Los Angeles CADRE 08 Exercise“CADRE-08” was an exercise designed by the InfraGard Los Angeles Board of Directors in coordination with the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare (“CAW”). The exercise was intended for integrated participation by (a) local and federal law enforcement, (b) consequence management personnel, (c) intelligence analysts at the LA Joint Regional Intelligence Center (“JRIC”), and (d) InfraGard Sector Coordinators representing the private sector.
General Objectives:
(1) For the Private Sector, Law Enforcement, and the Joint Regional Intelligence Center (“JRIC”) to gain experience working together and thus acquire a better understanding of each other's key competencies, practices, procedures and assets.
(2) For the twelve Sector Coordinators (and their co-coordinators for the exercise) to learn more about; (a) the impacts of terrorist-based incidents on their critical infrastructure sector and, (b) incident response practices/procedures in general. This information is intended to form the base of efforts and actual program development by Sector Coordinators for their sector members over the next year. Specifically, the CADRE-08 after-action report will identify “what they know vs. what they don't know”.
Operational Objectives:
(1) Incident Response Command Integration with InfraGard, JRIC and Law Enforcement personnel.
(2) The two-way transfer of Information /Intelligence between InfraGard, JRIC Analysts, and Investigators with the mission of supporting Command personnel in a real-time and an incident response atmosphere.
(3) Integrating counter-terrorism and consequence management activities/efforts between the JRIC, Law Enforcement and InfraGard Critical Infrastructure Sector Coordinators.
Contact Rick Jones if you have any questions on the event or if you would like to learn more about Infragard.
Richard L. Jones
President & CEO
InfraGard Los Angeles Members Alliance, Inc.
(818) 566-8300 x21
(818) 262-1854 Cell
rjones@infragardlosangeles.orgUpcoming Events
2008 ESRI Homeland Security GIS Summit (HSSummit)Be part of the 2008 Homeland Security GIS Summit, the only geospatial conference dedicated to homeland security. Explore the geographic advantage for your agency and see firsthand how GIS technology facilitates communication among federal, state, local, and private sectors. Join us and learn more about transforming data and information into action.
We hope to see you October 20–23, 2008, in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Please visit http://www.esri.com/events/homeland/index.html2008 Homeland Security Science & Technology Stakeholders Conference
The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science & Technology highlight the speakers list for the 2008 Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference East, taking place June 2-5 at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington, DC. The conference is presented by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) with subject matter support provided by the Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security. The theme of the conference is “Partnering for a Safer Nation.”
The Science & Technology Directorate is the gateway into DHS for innovative technologies and new ideas, and the S&T Directorate’s number one focus is delivering products to its customers. This conference will focus on the future of S&T while highlighting the partnerships for a safer nation that S&T has built in the U.S. and around the world. Attendees from the private sector, academia, and all levels of government will learn of exciting business opportunities for partnership with S&T for science and technology research. Exhibitors will meet extremely well-qualified visitors in the conference exhibition hall.Please log-on under the conference web site: http://www.ndia.org/meetings/8680
Road and Rail Security Symposium & Expo West 2008
(June 2-3; Tacoma, WA)
NOTE: POSTPONED UNTIL FALL 2008
The symposium will address key issues facing road and rail security on the home front: Is there a real threat? How are we preventing or mitigating the threat? Presentations by transportation and security professionals will include threat assessment, prevention, and consequence management. Through April 21, all military, government, and law enforcement personnel may register for the presentations and speaker sessions at no charge. The symposium will be co-located with the Pacific Northwest National Security Forum and the SpecOps West Symposium & Expo.
[view conference website]
We are continuing to do consulting work with cities and businesses and if we don't have an office in your area, we will either try to help over distance (using the internet and travel) or help you to find the right person in your area. As our business grows, we want you to know that we are committed to ensuring that we provide the same level of expertise and service to which you are accustomed. We work with people who are interested in making their business, community or jurisdiction safer, and not just people who want someone to help spend grant money. We make the world safer. It's our reson for being, our passion and if we're not doing that, then the project isn't right for us. If we can make the world safer, there isn't a more committed passionate
As always, if you are interested in working with us directly to make your community, business, or agency safer, please contact us at: info@oursafetowns.com.
Remember, Keeping Our Chemical Facilities Safe has been published, and is now available! We will provide free updates to all purchasers when we revise the book after DHS releases their guidance. Click here to purchase your copy! See you next month!
Useful Information
2008 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) Download
The Department of Transportation has started shipping the 2008 update of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG), and we are glad to announce that the 2008 ERG is in WISER as well.
In addition to ERG data integrated into the WISER substance data, an ERG
Tool is also available in the Windows and Windows Mobile versions of WISER. It provides a comprehensive electronic version of the 2008 ERG with powerful search capabilities.
New versions of all WISER platforms were made available for download from
the WISER web site last Friday afternoon (4/25). Or, access WebWISER, the on-line version of WISER.Download the ERG at http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/erg/gydebook.htm
Also, check out the WebWISER site at: http://webwiser.nlm.nih.gov/getHomeData.do
Each year, more than 4,000 Americans die and more than 25,000 are injured in fires, many of which could be prevented. Direct property loss due to fires is estimated at $8.6 billion annually.To protect yourself, it is important to understand the basic characteristics of fire. Fire spreads quickly; there is no time to gather valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be engulfed in flames.
Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames. Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened by a fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.
How can I protect myself from fire?
- What to do before a fire
- What to do during a fire
- What to do after a fire
- How to protect yourself from a wildfire
