Arson Awareness Week
(Sources: U.S. Fire Administration)
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) notified the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) that the 2011 Arson Awareness Week has been scheduled for 1 to 7 May. This year's event is the result of a partnership with the International Association of Arson Investigators; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; USAonWatch; National Association of State Fire Marshals; National Volunteer Fire Council; and the Insurance Committee for Arson Control. Activities will focus public attention on the value of a collaborative effort with law enforcement, the fire service, and the community to battle serial arsonists.
Many communities across the country are experiencing a rash of serial arson-related fires. The USFA Press Release indicated that serial arson is an offense committed by fire setters who set three or more fires with a significant cooling off period between the fires. These types of fires are plaguing many rural and urban communities causing significant loss of life, including firefighters, and millions of dollars in property damage, adding to the suffering already caused by the current economic climate.
The goal for this year's Arson Awareness Week is to center attention on serial arsonists and provide law enforcement, the fire service, and communities with tools and tactics to prevent arson in their cities and towns. “A serial arsonist can paralyze a community with fear,” said Glenn Gaines, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator. “Each fire feels like a personal assault.” Therefore, “banding together as partners strengthens our resolve and can bring law enforcement, the fire service, and the public together to more effectively fight the crime of arson.”
Strategic Plan for Biological Terrorism
(Sources: DHS, the National Academies, and CDC)
According to a fact sheet from the Department of Homeland Security and the National Academies, a biological attack is the intentional release of a pathogen (i.e., disease-causing agent) or biotoxin (i.e., poisonous substance produced by a living organism) against humans, plants, or animals. An attack against people could be used to cause illness, death, fear, societal disruption, and economic damage. Unlike a chemical or nuclear attack, “a biological attack may go undetected for hours, days, or potentially weeks—depending on the agent—until people, animals, or plants show symptoms of disease.”
In the “ Biological and Chemical Terrorism: Strategic Plan for Preparedness and Response ,” t he Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a strategic plan to address the deliberate dissemination of biological agents. The Plan marks the first time CDC joined with law enforcement, intelligence, and defense agencies in addition to traditional partners to address this national security threat.
The Plan contains recommendations to reduce U.S. vulnerability to biological terrorism through five focus areas: preparedness planning, detection and surveillance, laboratory analysis, emergency response, and communication systems. According to the CDC, “Preparing the nation to address this threat is a formidable challenge, but the consequences of being unprepared could be devastating.”
Campus Safety and Security
(Source: U.S. Department of Education)
When researching protection and resilience issues between local emergency responders and college campuses within their jurisdiction, t he Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) found The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting (PDF, 2.2 Mb). This recently revised Handbook familiarizes the reader with the amended Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and the regulations added by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA).
The Handbook contains current U.S. Department of Education guidance, explains regulations, and steers users to compliance with all legal requirements. For example, it reviews f ire safety reporting requirements for institutions with on-campus student housing facilities, as directed by the HEOA. It also helps ensure that disclosures to students, employees, families, and the public are easily understandable and informative.
Additionally, the text includes citations for the applicable legislation, highlights important information in side notes, provides examples of crime and fire scenarios, suggests best practices, and offers sample documents to assist in determining if institutional policies and procedures are fully compliant.
Regional Emergency Coordinators
(Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services)
At the Public Health Emergency website of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) learned that HHS Regional Emergency Coordinators (RECs) synchronize preparedness efforts with regional officials and build strong relationships with individuals and organizations in their respective regions. They work closely with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state health departments to determine regional priorities for public health and medical emergency preparedness.
RECs have the primary leadership role for coordinating, activating, and deploying regional public health/medical personnel, equipment, and supplies in response to requests for federal health/medical assistance. During emergency operations under the National Response Framework, RECs lead Emergency Support Function #8 (Public Health and Medical Services), with responsibility for the overall direction of deployed federal health and medical resources.
RECs conduct programs and participate in the development of both regional and national policies, plans, and procedures that enhance local, state, tribal, federal, and private sector preparedness and response capabilities. They can be a valuable resource, particularly for local emergency managers seeking to regionalize protection and resilience initiatives among multiple municipalities. |
