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PO Box 6873 - Alexandria, VA 22306 - (951) 764-3626
http://www.oursafetowns.com/Community Safety/Security e Newsletter * April 2010
This one's a bit late, but it's been a heck of a month. I'll keep this one short. We have a new intern Lacey, and I don't want to steal her thunder. She's working towards her degree in International Security and Conflict Resolution over at SDSU, and we're quite pleased that she's chosen our company to learn a bit about the trade and so we've got her bringing you the highlights of this month's Safety and Security issues. I'll let you tell her a little more about herself in her editor's note. Until next month, stay safe!
-Stephen
Hello, my name is Lacey Whitaker and I am happy to be the guest editor for this month’s SRM News letter. I have been an intern with SRM since early March and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and experiences under the guidance of our more senior people. Before we progress into the news letter, let me share a little about myself. I am fourth-year-student at San Diego State University majoring in International Security and Conflict Resolution with a minor in Political Science. I have been focusing my academic career on International Terrorism and plan to graduate in Spring 2011, and find a career in an appropriate security field.
This month I have focused the newsletter on security risks that come from the warming weather, from the recent rise Drug-cartel conflicts taking place in Mexico, and potential changes to Chemical Security policies. I would again like to thank SRM Associates for the opportunity to intern.
Lacey Whitaker
NOAA Announces First Tsunami Awareness Week, March 21-27
NOAA and coastal states to test tsunami warning communication system
March 19, 2010
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program have designated March 21-27 as Tsunami Awareness Week. This designation comes in the wake of last month’s tsunami in Chile and less than six months after a tsunami hit American Samoa, both events resulting in loss of life and property. Read More
Mexican Drug Trafficking
Although Mexico has been a producer and transit route for illegal drugs for generations, the country now finds itself in a pitched battle with powerful and well-financed drug cartels. Read more at New York Times: Mexican Drug Trafficking
3 people associated with U.S. consulate killed in Mexico
March 15, 2010 1:24 P.M EDT
(CNN) -- Three people connected to the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, were killed in two drive-by shootings, a senior White House official told CNN Sunday. Two of the victims were an American employee at the consulate and her U.S. citizen husband. Read more.
How does this affect Travel to Mexico?
Travel Warning: MEXICO
The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico of concerns about the security situation in Mexico, and that the authorized departure of dependents of U.S. government personnel from U.S. consulates in the Northern Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros has been extended until May 12. Family members of U.S. government personnel assigned to other areas of Mexico outside the Mexican border states are not affected by this departure measure. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning of March 14, 2010, to note the extension of authorized departure. Full Warning
Unclogging Pipeline Security: Are the Lines of Responsibility Clear?
Another entry from the Chemical Facility Security News has brought up more questions about the transportation of chemicals via pipelines. In a field meeting of the Oversight Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee, the security of a Florida chemical pipe line was reviewed. The Chemical Facility Security blog provides an accurate overview, but the testimony's from the meeting can be read at Committee on Homeland Security's page. The security of chemical pipelines falls currently under TSA control but they are only maintaining voluntary standards. The arguments for and against government regulation are more accurately discussed in Dr. Paul W. Parfomak. With further testimony from Hillsborough County, Florida's Sheriff's Office, Fire and Rescue, and Emergency Man government enforced regulation for pipeline security may be in the near future.
Magnitude 7.2 - BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO
2010 April 04 22:40:42 UTC
The magnitude 7.2 Sierra El Mayor earthquake of Sunday April 4th 2010, occurred in northern Baja California, approximately 40 miles south of the Mexico-USA border at shallow depth along the principal plate boundary between the North American and Pacific plates.
Critical Infrastructure: Chemical Security
Department of Homeland Security
The Department's implementation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), published April 2007, entered its third stage with launch of the secure, on-line CSAT Site Security Plan (SSP) tool. Only facilities that submitted Security Vulnerability Assessments and were subsequently notified in writing by the Department they have been finally determined to be high-risk have access via CSAT to complete and submit the CSAT Site Security Plan (SSP). Read more at Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
Recent and Upcoming Events
Recent Events
15-19 Mar 2010: Free Cyber-terrorism Defense Initiative (CDI) Training Courses
Free Cyber-terrorism Defense Initiative (CDI) training courses were offered in San Diego March 15-19, 2010. The CDI course offerings are an excellent value (comparable to SANS Institute week-long boot camp) and included:
Cyber-terrorism First Responder (CFR)
-DHS-Certified, Course Catalog #PER (None)
-Course Detail: http://www.cyberterrorismcenter.org/cfr.html
Comprehensive Cyber-terrorism Defense (CCD)
-DHS-Certified, Course Catalog #PER 256
-Course Detail: http://www.cyberterrorismcenter.org/ccd.html
Call Michele Robinson at (916) 445-5239 with any questions or if you need additional information.
*CDI was developed to provide comprehensive, transferable, and inexpensive cyber-terrorism training to qualifying technical personnel throughout the United States and is administered by the Cyber-terrorism Defense Analysis Center (CDAC) of the Criminal Justice Institute (CJI), University of Arkansas System. The CI program is funded by a cooperative agreement from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency 9FEMA), Training and Exercise Integration/Training Operations (TEI/TO).
Upcoming Events
10-13 May 2010: NASTTPO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Courtesy of Tim Gablehouse, NASTTPO President (303) 572-0050
SAVE THE DATE: NASTTPO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
MAY 10-13, 2010
The Cliffs
2757 Shell Beach Road Pismo Beach, CA 93449
www.cliffsresort.com 800.826.7827
The group name is "NASTTPO" and the room rate is $84.
That rate is available the weekend before the conference begins.
Registration will be $385 - the agenda will follow.
I hope to see you all there - it will be a great conference!
16-17 Jun 2010: 4th Annual HAZUS Conference
The USEPA is putting together the Water Laboratory Alliance Security Summit – West Coast in June 16 and 17, 2010 in San Francisco. This is a great summit looking into a very important resource. More information is in the attached newsletter and the following web address:
https://www.thetestportal.com/wlasummit
For questions, please call: Joseph Crisologo, P.E., R.E.A.
Senior Homeland Security Engineer
California Department of Public Health
Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management
1449 West Temple Street, Rm 202
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-580-5743 (office)
213-580-5711 (fax)
Joseph.Crisologo@cdph.ca.gov (email)
23-25 Aug 2010: 4th Annual HAZUS Conference
The HAZUS Conference provides a unique opportunity for users of all levels in a wide variety of professions (e.g., first responders, local government decision makers, planners, GIS specialists) to share expertise and experience in the development and use of HAZUS-MH.
Downtown Indianapolis
Click here for more information: http://www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/hazus/hz_trngconf.shtm
2010 Chemical Sector Security Summit July 7 – July 8, 2010
Hilton Baltimore
401 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Md. 21201The annual Chemical Sector Security Summit provides a forum for attendees to exchange information and network with other security professionals. The event also allows participants the opportunity to ask specific questions about the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) as well as gain insight into the role of different agencies and departments involved in chemical security.
We've recently begun discussions with George Mason University's Center for Critical Infrastructure Protection (http://cip.gmu.edu/) to look into teaming on projects or working together to make the country safer.
Yet another colleague is looking for employment – this one is a former fire marshal for a town of over 50,000 people. Please give me a holler if you hear of anything that might interest him.
Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe can be purchased through Amazon.com here.
Paperback copies of Keeping Our Chemical Facilities Safe can be purchased through Amazon.com here.
Hardback copies will need to be purchased direct from SRM Associates; contact us for more information.
We are still working on links for the audio version of Keeping Our Neighborhoods Safe, the e-book of Mantiendo Nuestras Vecindades a Salvo, How to C.O.P.E. With Terrorism, and future titles.
We are also still working on electronic versions of our books. Any information you might have would be greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in working with us directly to make your community, business, or agency safer, please contact us at: info@oursafetowns.com.
See you next month!
Top Screen Problems
The Chemical Facility Security News provided an interesting entry that comments on how Chemicals of Interest (COI) maybe handled by the DHS in the future. Currently the NPRA proposal mentions that the current rules for Top Screen Submissions are based on the presence of a DHS COI at or above the screen level quantity (STQ), and resubmissions are required if there is a significant level of change in that inventory. The proposal notes that in short periods of times the inventory may fluctuate significantly, but this does not effect long term security, and requires resubmission for DHS. A number of scenarios and potential are solutions in respect to one time inventory fluctuations, recurring short term inventory and long standing or intermittent COIs, are outlined in the Chemical Facility Security News, read more about Top Screen Problems presented by Chemical Facility Security News.
National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) includes petrochemical companies, and refiners. In the most basic way NPRA is a national trade association based in Washington, D.C. representing nearly 500 members, including virtually all U.S. refiners and petrochemical manufacturers. Looking specifically at their Chemical Risk Policy, NPRA is in the process of forming an informal network of member representatives who are interested in chemical risk management policy. To find out more NPRA Home Page
Floods and Flood Safety
Anywhere it rains, it can flood. A flood is a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow. Many conditions can result in a flood: hurricanes, broken levees, outdated or clogged drainage systems and rapid accumulation of rainfall. More Safety tips can be found at, floodsmart.gov
TsunamiReady™ Helps Communities at Risk
Schools, playgrounds, hospitals, factories and homes are often built in areas vulnerable to tsunamis. The TsunamiReady Program, developed by the National Weather Service, is designed to help cities, towns, counties, universities and other large sites in coastal areas reduce the potential for disastrous tsunami-related consequences. Learn more at TsunamiReady
Earthquake Risks and Information
Get up to date Earthquake information at United States Geological Survey
Volcano Ash Cloud Sets Off Global Domino Effect
The U.S. Travel Association estimates that the ash cloud produced by the eruption has , approximately $130 million per day. That kind of loss to the economy affects the cash flow to fund about 6,000 American jobs, the association said. Every international flight bound for the U.S. is worth an average of $450,000 in spending from travelers, which the association says pays for five jobs per flight. Read more.
Wildfires
The threat of wild land fires for people living near wild land areas or using recreational facilities in wilderness areas is real. Dry conditions at various times of the year and in various parts of the United States greatly increase the potential for wild land fires.
View and share the latest earthquake data; download publications and learn how to reduce your organization's earthquake risks. http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/index.shtm
Flood Maps, Insurance, and Information
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Flood effects can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.