Disaster Due Diligence January 29, 2010
Public Law 110-53, Title IX
The Department of Homeland Security is implementing a certification program for the private sector. This program, labeled PS-Prep, is defined in Public Law 110-53, Section 524. Failure to comply with these regulations may have serious consequences for you and your company.
More information about Public Law 110-53 Title IX
Communicable illness
HEADLINE: European hearing airs WHO pandemic response, critics' charges
SUMMARY: The Council of Europe's Committee on Social, Health and Family Affairs questioned World Health Organization officials this week about allegations from some European politicians that they exaggerated the H1N1 pandemic threat to benefit drug companies. Dr Keiji Fukuda, WHO special advisor on pandemic influenza, defended vaccine stockpiling as a prudent public health response, saying the novel influenza virus quickly sweeping the globe required unprecedented cooperation from a broad range of groups, including pharmaceutical companies. He also pointed out that the 1918 pandemic started with mild waves of illnesses before turning deadly, and to the CDC report that the number of children who die from the new virus is three times higher than for seasonal flu.
STORY LINK: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/jan2610council.html
ANALYSIS: It is significant to note that three former Surgeons General of the United States testified before Congress in July 2007 about the adverse impact of the “politicalization” of public health. There is no disputing the tremendous positive impact that medicine and public health have had over the past century. Ancient scourges like plague, polio and smallpox are now historical footnotes, absent an act of bioterrorism. Drs. Koop, Satcher and Carmona provided expert witness to how political agendas can detract from or undermine proven methods. Now, we are witnessing a disturbing increase in conspiracy theories and half-truths circulated via unprecedented rapid communications channels such as Internet blogs and social media. Although the WHO reports that measles vaccination resulted in a 78 percent drop in measles deaths between 2000 and 2008 worldwide, the isolated adverse reaction to the vaccine is what garners more attention.
It is this same dynamic, a political ax to grind, or perhaps a belief that belies the ample scientific evidence to the contrary, that prompts the unfortunate review by a political body of what is sound scientific advice. The alleged conspiracy to benefit vaccine companies would require an unprecedented degree of coordination and collaboration across nations, social strata, health agencies and independent experts. Having to defend against this is a phenomenal waste of time and resources. Moreover, subscribing to such beliefs opens the door to assuming the role of victim.
This also points to an individual need to assess one’s own “culture of preparedness.” While you may feel prepared, are you really ready for the unexpected? Who anticipated a major earthquake in Haiti? Do you, family members, and employees know what to do when disaster strikes? Have you practiced plans for survival and recovery, or does the plan gather dust on a bookshelf – assuming you even have a plan? When a crisis occurs, some will become victims while others will survive. Which side do you choose?
HEADLINE: U.S. gets 'F' on bioterror response
SUMMARY: The Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism cited the government’s H1N1 response as proof the United States was "woefully behind" in its ability to produce needed vaccinations and treatments rapidly in reaction to a bioterrorism attack. "H1N1 came with months of warning," the commission's report said. "But even with time to prepare, the epidemic peaked before most Americans had access to vaccine. A bioattack will come with no such warning."
STORY LINK: http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/26/security.report.card/index.html?hpt=Sbin
ANALYSIS: The analysis provided by the Commission highlights the unfortunate convergence of success in prevention and treatment, globalization and mankind’s penchant for destructive violence as a means to an end. The development of vaccines and discovery of antibiotics yielded extraordinary advances in health, advances that resulted in global public health capacity being allowed to wither. At the same time, advances in transportation enabled rapid movement across oceans that once served as a barrier to threats, including disease. The ability to move threat agents offers opportunities to supranational agents bent on destruction of a system of government and culture seen as immoral, to underdogs fighting a political cause, or to fringe groups seeking to make a dramatically deadly statement.
This has been vulnerability long in the making, irrespective of which political party has been ascendant at any given moment. Continuing successes in conquering disease limited the need for new research. Why fix what is not broken? In the 1940s, influenza vaccine was produced in hen’s eggs via a process that took months. Seventy years later, the process remains the same. Risk analysis and mitigation require not only an examination of what works against current threats, but also of what new – often unthinkable -- threat may emerge and what is needed for that.
In the case of a purposefully introduced communicable disease, the ability to respond rapidly may save tens or hundreds of thousands of lives. Ironically, this need exists for naturally occurring diseases as well, as H1N1 has demonstrated. It is impossible to prepare for every potential crisis. Still, the groundwork can be laid for addressing future unknowns. In this particular case, it demands the ability to rapidly produce vaccines against an emerging threat. Viewed through a broader lens, awareness of vulnerabilities and preparation to address those weaknesses is valuable to the nation, the community, the family and to you. Crisis commencement is the worst time to plan.
Data security
HEADLINE: Smartphones: The next big security threat
SUMMARY: Recent cyber attacks highlight the vulnerability of corporate intellectual property, with increased reliance on the smartphone providing easier network access for hackers. Adding to the susceptibility is the fact that employees aren't as careful with these devices as they are with their laptops, said Derek Manky, threat researcher with security firm Fortinet.
STORY LINK: http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/smartphones-could-be-next-big-security-threat/2010-01-20
ANALYSIS: The smartphone is the latest in a long line of “devices” (and for my purposes defined very broadly) that expand the functionality, portability and power of our computers, with increasing risks associated with the convenience.
Remember when flash drives first appeared? Almost as soon as we started moving our presentations and spreadsheets between laptops, we had occasion to move viruses from one machine to another. Soon thereafter, companies issued policies that defined and/or prohibited external devices from being used on our corporate computers without tight safeguards.
Even in the “ancient” BTI (Before the Internet) period, those of us who used floppy disks (now I am really dating myself) ran the risk of passing viruses between computers. In fact, when I left one technology company to join another, my own computer at the time had the very latest, industrial-strength virus detection software. Good that it did! Upon arriving at the new company -- interestingly enough, one whose primary business was providing contract programmers to major companies -- we discovered that every computer was infected when my computer would not load the company standard software.
With the increased sophistication of portable devices and computing come increased security issues. Touted as one of the next big areas of opportunity, supplying security to smartphones will be a burgeoning business in the next few years. Consider the degree of security on or available to you as part of your buying decision for any smartphone. As we at Firestorm regularly remind you, be prepared – Predict. Plan. Perform. If your life is now on your phone, get all the life insurance you can for that device and certainly get virus protection if you access the Internet regularly.
Campus safety
HEADLINE: Death threat looms over Ohio college
SUMMARY: The FBI is investigating a death threat against black students at Hocking College in Ohio. The threat was discovered by a student last week, written with a marker on a bathroom wall, saying black students would be harmed on Feb. 2. Despite increased security, the threat has sent a wave of fear throughout the campus, and an Associated Press report indicated that at least two students have left the school permanently because of it, while a dozen more have moved off campus.
STORY LINK: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/01/28/2010-01-28_death_threat_looms_over_ohio_college_black_students_fearful_of_feb_2_murder_spre.html
ANALYSIS: Campus violence is just another form of workplace violence, and workplace violence is part of the new norm. Every threat must be treated as real. Threats must be investigated. OSHA has identified workplace violence as a known threat. Yet 70 percent of organizations have no plan; 43 percent of threats go unreported; and 24 percent of the attacks go unreported.
All threats have real impacts, even if no attack ever takes place. In this case, two students have already left school. How many more may leave and not tell anyone why? Have donors stopped supporting the school? How many parents will not allow their children to attend the school because of this incident?
How do you monitor what happens at your organization? Do your employees know what signs to look for? Do your employees know who to notify?
Conduct an anonymous survey of your company on workplace violence. How many people know you have a workplace violence plan? How many have felt threatened or concerned at work? If you are not pleased with the results, you need to update your plan, conduct training and run exercises. Do not wait until after an attack. Are your employees ready?
Preparedness groups
Join Firestorm’s LinkedIn groups and help build a Culture of Preparedness for your family and organization:
DISASTER READY PEOPLE: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1914314&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1898572&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
COMMUNICABLE ILLNESS: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1899278&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
SWINE FLU: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1921222&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
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