The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has warned health officials that this year’s predominant strain of influenza is showing strong resistance to the antiviral drug, Tamiflu, which is commonly used to reduce flu symptoms. The CDC report states that 64 of 65 samples of the influenza A H1N1 strain were resistant to oseltamivir, the drug that is marketed as Tamiflu.

So far, this year’s flu season has been fairly mild; however, the onset of widespread winter weather could result in an increase in flu outbreaks. Since Tamiflu plays a major role in both prevention and treatment in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak, there is great concern that a pandemic flu strain could be resistant to Tamiflu.

The best prevention against the flu and the increasing chances of a pandemic flu outbreak is vaccination. It is recommended that health care professionals, first responders, children, and the elderly get vaccinated.

Sources

CDC Says Flu Strain Resistant to Tamiflu

TAMIFLU RESISTANT FLU SPREADS; CDC URGES VACCINATION

Prevention Relevance: A pandemic flu outbreak of a strain that is resistant to Tamiflu could have devastating results.

Prevention Techniques:

Intervention: Vaccination is recommended as a preventive measure against a flu outbreak.

Prevention Thought:

Intervention: Does your agency urge vaccinations to prevent the flu?

The Bush Administration has finalized rules that will require non-citizens who hold green cards to be fingerprinted and photographed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) whenever they return to a U.S. land border or airport from abroad.

DHS does not believe green card holders or “lawful permanent residents” (LPR’s) pose a great threat to the U.S.; however, the new rule gives DHS more opportunity to discover instances of immigration document fraud. Such fraud consists of altering lost cards, using fraudulent cards, or selling permanent resident cards.

DHS is concerned that the community of LPR’s could present opportunities for terrorist recruiters. LPR’s have commonly been permitted to use lines that are for designated for U.S. citizens when traveling in an international airport. While that treatment will likely continue, LPR’s may find themselves more closely scrutinized than U.S. citizens.

Over 4 million lawful permanent residents arrive at U.S. airports and seaports each year. This final rule will allow DHS to establish and verify the identity of aliens in an effort to further protect the U.S. from potential terrorists.

Sources

Green card holders will be fingerprinted and photographed at U.S. borders

Prevention Relevance: This final rule will allow DHS to establish and verify the identity of aliens in an effort to further protect the U.S. from potential terrorists.

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: Photographing and fingerprinting green card holders gives DHS more opportunity to discover instances of immigration document fraud; such as altering lost cards, using fraudulent cards, or selling permanent resident cards.

Prevention Thought:

Risk Management: How will this new rule effect airports or seaports in your area? Do you think this new rule will be beneficial in the fight against terrorism?

Preventing the use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists should be a top priority for the new U.S. Administration.

Focusing on bioterrorism is a must for the new administration. The development of protocols that prevent misuse of scientific research, improving response time in the event of an attack, and educating U.S. citizens to prevent panic are a few ways that may help to prevent the use of bioterrorism.

U.S. senior intelligence officials warn that the next terrorist attack on the U.S. is expected to originate from Pakistan. By stepping up policies toward Pakistan, the administration may be able to reduce this threat. Removing terrorist safe havens and securing nuclear and biological materials in Pakistan may help to prevent an attack against the U.S.

Sources

How to prevent terrorists from using weapons of mass destruction

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: Securing nuclear and biological materials in Pakistan may help to prevent an attack against the U.S.

Prevention Thought:

Risk Management: Do you feel that your city is vulnerable to an attack using weapons of mass destruction? How do you think the threat could be reduced?

A new study published last week in the International Journal of Health Geographics attempts to tackle the question of how to assess risk resource allocation for natural disasters. The geographic study, Spatial Patterns of Natural Hazards Mortality in the United States, may assist in risk-based emergency planning and funding.

The study tracked 11 different hazard categories. Winter weather, flooding, heat and drought, tornados, and lightning were among the hazards that were tracked by the study. The result of the study determines down to the county level, the chance of dying as a result of a natural catastrophic event. According to the report, the South, the northern Great Plains region, and the mountainous west are the most dangerous places to live in terms of natural hazards.

Emergency managers can possibly use the information collected by this study to determine what dangerous natural disasters are most likely to occur in their area and plan actions that may reduce casualties and destruction.

Sources

v

Spatial patterns of natural hazards mortality in the United States

NOAA Interactive Hazards Map

Prevention Relevance: The report determined that highly destructive, highly publicized, often catastrophic events such as hurricanes and earthquakes are responsible for few deaths when compared to the more frequent and less publicized events such as severe heat or cold temperatures.

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: Using this study as an emergency management tool can help officials determine what areas to allocate resources.

Prevention Thought:

Threat Recognition: What types of natural disasters is your area prone to? How can better planning help to lessen the affects of disasters in your area?

A U.S. Department of Justice report by the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) says that Mexican drug gangs pose the biggest organized crime threat to the United States. The report, the annual National Drug Threat Assessment 2009, evaluates the threat posed by illegal drugs by examining availability, production and cultivation, transportation, distribution, and demand.

The study estimates that Mexican and Colombian drug trafficking organizations make and launder between $18 billion and $39 billion in wholesale drug profits annually. Mexican drug smugglers control most of the U.S. drug markets, smuggling most of the cocaine available in the U.S. across the U.S./Mexico border.

Mexican drug trafficking organizations control most of the U.S. drug market and have varied transportation routes, advanced communication capabilities, and strong affiliations within the U.S.

State and local law enforcement agencies shared information for this report through personal interviews with the National Drug Intelligence Center.

Sources

Mexico drug gangs ‘top US threat’

National Drug Threat Assessment 2009

National Drug Intelligence Center

Prevention Relevance: Mexican drug trafficking organizations represent the greatest organized crime threat to the United States. Mexican drug trafficking organizations control drug distribution in most U.S. cities, and they are gaining strength in markets that they do not yet control.

Prevention Techniques:

Prevention Techniques Threat Recognition: Enhancing border control and increased awareness of drug trafficking organizations may help to control the U.S. drug market.

Prevention Thought:

Prevention Techniques Threat Recognition: Is drug trafficking a problem in your area? Do you have gangs in your area that may be affiliated with Mexican drug trafficking rings?

The terrorist attack in India has proven the need for security and disaster preparedness plans for hotels. Preparedness may not prevent or protect from disasters; however, it may help to prepare hotel staff to deal more effectively with disaster or terrorist situations.

Front line hotel employees should be trained to take control of disaster situations by directing guests to exit routes or reassuring them that the situation is being handled in the best possible way. Good communication plans are a necessity; therefore, having staff trained to quickly and accurately disseminate information may greatly benefit the outcome of the situation.

Hotels must incorporate a critical incident plan in order to be able to successfully resolve emergencies such as shootings, bomb threats, hostage situations, or natural disasters. Local 911 centers, first responders, and other emergency personnel should be involved and have access to critical information, such as floor plans. Hotel managers must be able to ‘lock down’ their facilities and notify all guests on emergency procedures. Lock downs can limit the number of guests exposed to violent situations and keep guests out of the way of emergency personnel.

Having good critical incident plans in place is vital to hotels and the successful resolution of disaster situations.

Sources

Be prepared to handle a critical incident in hotel

Disaster Management Plan for the Hospitality Industry

Mumbai terror attack and corporate preparedness

Precipitating Terrorist Event: Last month, guests and staff at some of Mumbai’s luxury hotels were attacked by terrorists armed with automatic weapons and explosives. The 60 hour siege was India’s worst terror attack in 15 years. The attack killed 164 people.

Prevention Relevance: Having critical incident plans in place is vital to hotels and the successful resolution of disaster situations.

Prevention Techniques:

Collaboration: Involving first responders in critical incident planning by giving them access to information such as floor plans can save time and lives in the event of a crisis situation.

Prevention Thought:

Collaboration: How are hotels in your area prepared for emergencies? What type of notification plan would be used to make guests aware of an emergency situation? Does your agency have access to floor plans for hotels in your area?

The possible criminal use of cloned vehicles is a growing homeland security concern for law enforcement officials. The deceptive vehicles are disguised with the markings and equipment of government, emergency, and delivery vehicles.

‘Cloned vehicles’ are often used in the U.S. for trafficking drugs, theft, or for human smuggling; however, counterterrorism officials fear that cloned vehicles could become a tool used to carry out acts of terrorism. When disguised as a government vehicle or delivery truck, terrorists could possibly bypass security measures to gain access to potential terrorism targets. Loaded with explosives, these vehicles could potentially become weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Criminals duplicate vehicles with incredible detail, such as, realistic decals and paint jobs, as well as adding official-looking equipment or antennas. It is important for law enforcement officers to pay close attention to the details of emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, and utility vehicles.

Cloned vehicles will continue to appeal to criminals or terrorists looking to smuggle drugs, people, weapons, and explosives. Law enforcement agencies can collaborate and share information on developing cases involving possible cloned vehicles to help prevent crimes involving such vehicles.

Sources

'CLONED' VEHICLES CONTINUE TO BE SECURITY PROBLEM

TON OF MARIJUANA SEIZED FROM CLONED UPS TRUCK IN ARIZONA

Prevention Relevance: Cloned vehicles can potentially be used by terrorists to smuggle people, weapons, or explosives into restricted areas. These vehicles may be used by terrorists for surveillance, pre-planning, or initiating an attack.

Prevention Techniques:

Threat Recognition: Looking for signs that vehicles could be posing as official vehicles may help to identify cloned vehicles that could be used to carry out crimes or acts of terrorism.

Prevention Thought:

Threat Recognition: What can your agency do prevent the use of cloned vehicles? What methods can you use to recognize these vehicles?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning a pilot program to scan commercial airline passengers and their baggage for radiological or nuclear materials. The Passenger and Baggage Pilot Program (PaxBag) will be developed by the systems engineering and evaluation directorate within the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO).

The goals of the PaxBag Program is scanning passengers traveling through U.S. international airports, their carry-on luggage, and checked luggage for radiological and nuclear materials, as well as detecting radiological sources of gamma or neutron emissions. The DNDO is hoping to find emerging technologies that can provide reliable and accurate detection technologies.

While PaxBag is just in the planning stages, it could prove beneficial to keeping radiological and nuclear materials which could be used to make ‘dirty bombs’, weapons of mass destruction, and other nuclear weapons from illegally entering the U.S.

Sources

‘PaxBag’ program to search for nuke material on airline passengers or in baggage

Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: Scanning airline passengers and their bags for nuclear and radiological materials can help reduce the risk of nuclear and radiological materials from being transported by commercial airlines.

Prevention Thought:

Risk Management: Do you think PaxBag will be beneficial in reducing the threat of nuclear and radiological materials being transported by air? What other methods of monitoring could be beneficial?

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is planning to help health care professionals prepare for a mass flu epidemic through the use of a game based training simulator.

The computer based program, being developed by SimQuest, will incorporate scientific models that present users with a variety of scenarios incorporating the early warning signs of an outbreak through a multi-media dashboard of information. The program will track and evaluate users strategic planning and decision making skills when presented with simulated events. The program will give health care professionals the opportunity to practice response tactics, recognize the early warning signs of a pandemic outbreak, and help reduce the spread of disease using local strategies.

Users will learn that hospital surge capacity will need to be increased to deal flu patients as well as to maintain normal hospital functions, such as treatment of trauma patients, normal emergency room visits, heart attack patients, and many other illnesses and injuries.

The pandemic influenza training program is also relevant to military training due to the fact that the U.S will likely require military support in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak.

Sources

SimQuest Awarded Phase 2 Contract from Office of the Secretary of Defense to Develop Pandemic Influenza Training Program

Gaming the next pandemic

Department of Defense Investing in Simulations for Mass Epidemic Training

Precipitating Terrorist Event: The Hong Kong Flu pandemic of 1968 and 1969 infected an estimated 500,000 people with a relatively low death rate. Fifty million people were infected in the United States, resulting in an estimated 34,000 deaths

Prevention Relevance: With the last influenza outbreak occurring in 1968, there is a shortage of caregivers that are experienced in pandemic response. Understanding the effect that strategic planning and tactical decision making skills can have on the outcome of a pandemic flu outbreak can help better prepare health care providers.

Prevention Techniques:

Threat Recognition: Incorporating skills that will help reduce the spread of disease during pandemic outbreak into a fun and interactive game format will make training more interesting to users while offering the experience of a variety of scenarios.

Prevention Thought:

Threat Recognition: How well are health care providers in your area prepared for a pandemic flu outbreak?

Environmental, state, and community groups have raised concerns over new federal rail security rules regarding the shipping of toxic chemicals. The new rules, developed by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), were published in the Federal Register on November 26.

Rail carriers will be required to compile annual data on shipments of toxic by inhalation, explosive, and radioactive materials. Railroads will be required to use the data to analyze safety and security risks along routes where hazardous materials are shipped.

Critics fear that the new rules will give rail carriers too much freedom when it comes to deciding which routes to use when transporting hazardous materials. The major concern is that shipments of these dangerous materials should be routed away for highly populated areas to reduce the dangers of these shipments being targeted by terrorists.

The new rules become effective 30 days following publication in the Federal Register. Railroads have until November 2009 to comply with them, although extensions may be granted till March 31, 2010.

Sources

RAIL RE-ROUTING RULE CRITICIZED

Hazardous Materials: Enhancing Rail Transportation Safety and Security for Hazardous Materials Shipments

Prevention Relevance: Routing dangerous chemical shipments through major cities increases the dangers of accidents and the threat of the shipment becoming a possible terrorist target.

Prevention Techniques:

Threat Recognition: Avoiding major cities and highly populated areas with dangerous rail shipments may help to reduce the threat of terrorism to shipments of dangerous chemicals.

Prevention Thought:

Threat Recognition: Do rail shipments of dangerous materials come through your area? Are emergency personnel in your area prepared should an accident involving a toxic by inhalation chemical rail shipment occur?

Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) released its sixth annual Ready or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health from Disease, Disasters, and Bioterrorism report. The report grades each state on 10 key indicators to assess health emergency preparedness capabilities.

Unfortunately, the TFAH report finds that progress to protect the U.S. against natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and bioterrorism is at risk, due to budget cuts and economic crisis. Over the past 6 years, the report has shown steady progress toward improved public health preparedness; however this year that progress was put at risk due to funding cuts.

The TFAH report also found major preparedness gaps remaining in the areas of preparedness, rapid disease detection, and food safety. Some of the preparedness gaps that remain are:

• Twenty-four states lack capacity to deliver and receive lab specimens, such as possible bioterrorism agents or new disease outbreak samples, on a 24/7 basis.
• Twenty states did not meet or exceed the national average rate for being able to identify pathogens responsible for food borne disease outbreaks.
• Many states do not have methods in place to support and protect the community assistance that would be required in the event of a major emergency or disaster.
• Sixteen states have purchased less than half of their share of federally-subsidized antivirals to be used in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak.

The report offers guidance to help states improve preparedness. Restoring funding to at least FY 2005 levels, strengthening leadership and accountability, enhancing surge capacity, and modernizing technology and equipment are just a few of the suggested improvements that the TFAH report offers.

Sources

Protecting the Public's Health from Disease, Disasters, and Bioterrorism

Report: Wisconsin ready for health disasters

Prepared for disaster? Georgia gets a passing grade

Prevention Relevance: Budget cuts in the areas of preparedness and homeland security can jeopardize the health, safety and security of the U.S.

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: Labs that operate on a 24/7 basis offer the ability to quickly analyze bioterrorism agents and dangerous disease strains, making it possible to limit exposure.

Prevention Thought:

Risk Management: Is your state prepared for disasters? What areas does your state need to improve on?

According to new security measures issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), nuclear facilities must identify potential “safe havens” along the route when transporting radioactive materials.

The safe haven can be any place that transportation crews could safely wait for law enforcement authorities, such as military bases, weigh stations, police departments, or truck stops. Safe havens must be well lit and in close proximity to the proposed route. Safe havens should have adequate parking and have telephones in case truck communication equipment is not working properly.

Other new rules for highway transportation of radioactive materials are:

• Trucking companies must have an established tracking system and communications equipment that allows drivers to call for assistance immediately, when needed.
• Carriers must have implemented transportation security plans.
• NRC must receive at least 7 days notice of planned shipment of radioactive materials.
• Provide a position monitoring system.

The new safeguards must be implemented by May 2009 or prior to first planned shipment of radioactive materials.

Sources

'Safe havens' required for highway transport of radioactive materials

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Prevention Relevance: Identifying safe havens along transportation routes offer transportation crews carrying radioactive materials a safe location to pull off in the event of a possible threat.

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: Communications equipment allows for transportation crews to notify authorities immediately in the event of an emergency or potential terrorism threat.

Prevention Thought:

Risk Management: Are there locations in your area that could be used as possible safe havens for trucks transporting radioactive materials?

Last week, the U.S. military performed a simulation test of a long-range missile attack. The test was part of a layered shield against missiles that could contain chemical, biological, or nuclear warheads.

The successful mission launched a target missile from Kodiak Island, Alaska. The target missile was simultaneously tracked by ground and water-based radars. The target was intercepted over the Pacific Ocean by a “kill vehicle” about 30 minutes after its launch.

The test was part of a layered shield against missiles that could contain chemical, biological, or nuclear warheads. Following the test, Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, chief of the Missile Defense Agency, announced at a press release that "It was the largest, most complex test we have ever done”.

Last weeks test was the 13th test of ground based interceptors since 1999. Eight of the 13 tests have proven successful in destroying the target missiles. The target missiles are the type of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that could be used to attack the U.S.

Sources

U.S. military sets high-stakes missile-shield test

U.S. Shoots Downs Missile in Simulation of Long-Range Attack

Prevention Relevance: Performing tests of the U.S. missile defense system can help to protect the U.S. from missile attacks, some of which could be carrying nuclear, chemical, or biological agents.

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: A layered shield against missiles could help protect the U.S. against missile attacks.

Prevention Thought:

Risk Management: How confident are you that the U.S. is well protected against a possible missile attack?

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), copper theft has become a national security issue. The demand for copper in developing nations is on the rise, resulting in increased international copper trade. Copper thieves take advantage of the increased demand by stealing and selling copper to recyclers for high profits.

While copper thieves are generally individuals looking to steal copper and then sell it for cash, organized groups such as gangs or drug users often conduct larger scale theft operations. Copper thieves often target cell towers, railroads, electrical sub-stations, and other critical infrastructures. The thefts have the potential to cause disruptions of utilities, transportation, security, and emergency services; resulting in public safety and national security risks.

Increased security measures, collaboration among the industries, and law enforcement partnerships may help to deter and prevent some copper thefts. Regulations that require the scrap industry to keep better records and enforcing strict penalties for non-compliance can help states to monitor the sales of scrap products.

Sources

Copper Thefts Threaten US Critical Infrastructure

FBI INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT WARNS OF INFRASTRUCTURE THREAT FROM COPPER THEFTS

Precipitating Event: In 2007, thieves cut out a large section of copper wire from a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control tower in Ohio. The theft threatened critical communications between pilots and air traffic controllers.

Prevention Relevance: Copper theft could result in major disruptions of services such as utilities, transportation, and emergency response. These disruptions could cause tremendous public safety and national security risks.

Prevention Techniques:

Collaboration: Partnerships between law enforcement agencies and industries could help to deter copper theft.

Prevention Thought:

Collaboration: How can your agency partner with other agencies and businesses to reduce the theft of copper in your area?

Researchers at Texas Tech University have created a new fabric to help clean up and possibly protect against biological and chemical agents.

The fabric is composed of layers of highly absorbent fabric with a layer of active carbon between. In tests, the new fabric outperformed 30 other materials at wiping off hazardous chemicals. Currently, first responders often use a carbon based powder to absorb chemicals. The powder leaves behind a layer of black dust that can be very messy during the decontamination process. The fabric wipes will offer a much more convenient and less messy alternative.

The new fabric is flexible, will stand up to variety of chemicals, and can be used to decontaminate sensitive surfaces, such as skin or electronic equipment. Besides being used as decontaminating wipes, the fabric may also be used to make protective clothing liners for first responders, military personnel, or those who work with hazardous chemicals.

The new fabric could be on the market within two years.

Sources

Fabric can wipe away toxic chemicals: study

Fabric passes tests to protect against chem agents

Prevention Relevance: Use of protective fabric liners could protect first responders, military personnel, and chemical workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: Quicker and more efficient clean-up of chemical agents could reduce exposure time in the event of a chemical attack.

Prevention Thought:

Risk Management: What methods do first responders in your area use for cleaning up and decontaminating in the event of a chemical emergency? Do you think decontaminating wipes would make the process easier?

A report, “World at Risk”, which was issued Tuesday by the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, warns of the likelihood of a biological or nuclear attack by the year 2013. The report contains recommendations to assist the U.S. in preventing such an attack.

The commission met with Vice President-elect Joe Biden to recommend ways that the new administration can reduce risks of biological and nuclear attacks. The commission, which is made up of 9 members, recommends that the U.S. advance the ability to study and fight potential biological threats. Anthrax, the plague, Ebola, and smallpox are among the diseases that could be spread quickly through biological weaponry. The government needs to be aware and protect laboratories that contain strains of these dangerous viruses.

Besides tightening security at U.S. bio-labs, the report also recommends strengthening nuclear nonproliferation agreements and reducing financial incentives for civilian nuclear power.

Sources

As threat of germ warfare looms, commission devises plan

US must halt spread of nuclear, bio weapons - Biden

Prevention Relevance: The likelihood of a biological attack is great; therefore, steps must be taken in strengthen and enhance security of biological laboratories.

Prevention Techniques:

Collaboration: Strengthening international nuclear nonproliferation agreements can help reduce the threat of nuclear attacks.

Prevention Thought:

Collaboration: Are there labs in your area that house deadly strains of viruses that could be used in biological weaponry? If so, how are these labs secured?

Social websites, such as Facebook and MySpace have the ability to join activists from around the globe together to demonstrate for their cause.

Internet communication technology can be used as a powerful weapon to promote social and political change. The Internet can bring like-minded people from across the globe together to communicate and push back against terrorism.

One example of the power of social websites is the February 4 protest against the Colombian terrorist group, FARC. Oscar Morales, an unemployed computer technician, was able to organize the protest using the popular networking site, Facebook. Morales organized the Facebook group, One Million Voices Against FARC, to show disapproval of the group’s kidnappings and acts of violence. Millions of people in nearly 200 cities across the world marched in protest of FARC.

With social networking sites being used to fight terrorism, it is only logical to think that they could be used for the promotion of terrorism as well. Officials need to plan for this possible new challenge in the fight against terrorism.

Sources

International Activists Use Facebook To Fight Terrorism

'Facebook terrorists' pose new challenges, warns general

Prevention Relevance: Internet communication technology can be used as a powerful weapon to promote social and political change.

Prevention Techniques:

Collaboration: The Internet can bring like-minded people from across the globe together to communicate and push back against terrorism.

Prevention Thought:

Collaboration: How do you think the Internet can be used as a weapon against terrorism?

Cell phones are very useful to terrorists because they are affordable, easily available, and easy to hide. A cell phone, set to vibrate, can easily be used to detonate an improvised explosive device (IED). By simply placing a call to the cell phone near the IED, terrorists can remotely detonate IED’s.

Cell phone tracking technology could prove very beneficial in identifying terrorists associated with such explosions. Authorities can utilize the latest cell phone tracking technology to identify cell phones in the area of explosions. Once cell phones are identified, authorities can determine which cell phone ceased to exist at the moment of the explosion. Once the suspect cell phone is identified, authorities can learn valuable information such as phone number, SIM card number, and possibly even the name of the person the phone is registered to.

Once the detonating phone is identified, tracking may allow authorities to identify where the initial call came from. This information allows authorities the opportunity to visit the site, interview people in the vicinity, and possibly identify a suspect.

Cell phones can provide authorities with valuable tracking information in the event of a terrorist attack.

Sources

Cell phone tracking can identify terrorists who detonate IEDs

FEDERAL LAW PERMITS CELL PHONE TERRORISM, CEO CHARGES

Prevention Relevance: Cell phones can be used by terrorists to detonate explosives; however, tracking technology can aid authorities in identifying potential suspects.

Prevention Techniques:

Information Sharing: Cell phone tracking provides authorities with valuable information in the event of a terrorist attack.

Prevention Thought:

Information Sharing: How does your agency use cell phone tracking during emergencies?

The government has warned of the threat of a possible terrorist attack on the New York City subway system during the holiday season. The potential threat, described in an FBI memo, seems to be directed at the New York City area; however, increased awareness and enhanced preventive measures could be seen across the nation.

An internal FBI memo indicated that al Qaeda may have been discussing targeting New York transit systems. The al Qaeda discussions reportedly involved the use of suicide bombers or explosives placed on subway or passenger rail systems.

Additional security resources were deployed to the New York subway system during the Thanksgiving holiday as a precaution.

Passenger transit systems are appealing to terrorists during the holidays, due to the increased number of passengers concentrated in a relatively small area. This year’s holiday season could be a particularly vulnerable period as the U.S. prepares to transition to a new president.

Sources

Gov't Issues Holiday Terrorism Warning

SECURITY STEPPED UP ON NEW YORK SUBWAYS AFTER FBI WARNING OF POSSIBLE TERROR PLOT

Prevention Relevance: The increased number of travelers using public transit systems during the holidays can be particularly appealing to terrorists.

Prevention Techniques:

Risk Management: Increased security for public transit systems during the holiday season could help to prevent a possible terrorist attack.

Prevention Thought:

Risk Management: Are there public transit systems in your area that could use additional security during the holidays?

Private aircraft will soon be required to provide increased security information for international flights arriving in and departing from the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking steps to reduce security vulnerabilities related to private aircraft. The new security measures will require complete passenger and crew manifest data prior to the aircraft entering U.S. airspace, data similar to that required of commercial flights. Flights will be required to provide advance notice of arrival and departure. Aircrafts will be screened to ensure that illicit materials do not enter the U.S.

Previously, private aircraft pilots were only required to provide one hours notice of arrival in the U.S., either directly to the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) or by requesting in the remarks section of their flight plan that the Federal Aviation Administration notify CBP.

DHS hopes that by putting these new aviation requirements in place, security gaps will be reduced and the U.S. will be less vulnerable to possible terrorist attacks involving private airplanes.

Sources

More security for US-bound private planes

DHS Ups Private Aviation Security Rules

Prevention Relevance: Private aircrafts could be perceived as feasible targets and therefore could be more vulnerable to misuse by individuals planning an attack on the U.S.

Prevention Techniques:

Threat Recognition: Enhancing security of private international flights could reduce the chances of possible terrorist attacks on the U.S.

Prevention Thought:

Threat Recognition: Do you think these private aircraft requirements will help to fill in security gaps?