Disaster Due Diligence April 2, 2010
Homeland security
HEADLINE: Why no subway is safe from terror attacks
SUMMARY: The suicide bombing of Moscow's subway this week highlights a potential danger that millions of people face on a daily basis on mass transportation systems. Security experts say little can be done to prevent future attacks without disrupting the infrastructures of the world's major cities. "Subway attacks are ideal for a terrorist," Will Geddes, CEO of International Corporate Protection, told CNN. "They are bringing the whole city to a halt and they not only create the disruption on that particular day but they create a greater residue of fear, which is their main aim.’’
STORY LINK: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/03/29/russia.subway.risks/
ANALYSIS: Today, Americans understand the risks associated with a free society and overall have been cooperative with increasingly invasive security measures for air travel. For years, the public transportation systems of European, Middle Eastern and Asian countries have been easy prey for terrorists. Why? The heart of terrorism targets innocent, regular citizens going about their daily lives.
Subways afford a higher degree of terror compared to above-ground modes of transportation. When a bus or above-ground railway is bombed, the responders have an easier time gaining access to the scene, traffic can be rerouted and the bomb blast is allowed to expand in open air, which dissipates the shock wave faster compared to a constricted environment like a subway.
This week, the agency that operates New York City’s massive subway and train network, the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) publicly announced that half of the cameras within the subway are inoperable for a variety of reasons. Here we are, eight-plus years after the attacks of 9/11 and we still do not have a fully operational surveillance system in NYC.
New York City has a very good response team and does conduct drills on a regular basis. The problem is all of these resources are designed for AFTER an attack occurs. More resources need to focus on the PREVENTION of an attack in the form of Preaction™ planning.
WPIX News in NYC toured some subway stations with MTA board member Andrew Albert to look at some of the areas of concern. Mr. Albert was very candid and forthright about the shortcomings of the MTA’s security system. He made the following statements addressing the camera and security measures in place on the subway:
· "It's here but we don't know if they are working or if they are even watching us in real time (referring to the security cameras overhead at the time).’’
· "So, we are pretty much alone. You have plenty of subway riders but you are alone when it comes to security."
· "Is anyone watching? Yeah, the terrorists, the criminals, the people that prey upon us ... they are watching."
These are not reassuring statements. In the latest Terrorism Literature Report dated March 1, the experts are clear that Al-Qaeda and its satellite operations (in the U.S. and abroad) are still very focused on another U.S. attack, desperate for a U.S. victory to maintain credibility amongst terrorist groups. Aside from AQ, what about the typical street predators that includes individual felons, gang activities, etc.? Our vulnerabilities are increasing as governments grapple with reduced budgets. The resources to prevent and respond to emergencies are diminishing. Citizens need to be more vigilant and self-reliant than ever.
Having a Culture of Preparedness requires personal, family and community planning. You can start by going to www.firestorm.com and downloading Disaster Ready people for a Disaster Ready America for free.
HEADLINE: Rancher's murder fuels firestorm
SUMMARY: The unsolved murder of a southern Arizona cattle rancher erupted as a new flashpoint in the debate over illegal immigration, with conservative media and politicians demanding increased border security. Cochise County detectives have no information on the lone gunman who shot 58-year-old Robert Krentz, not even a nationality. More than half of all undocumented immigrants arrested along the border last year were caught in the Tucson Sector, which covers most of southern Arizona. A Border Patrol spokesman said he was not aware of any U.S. citizen being murdered by illegal immigrants in that sector for more than a decade.
STORY LINK: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/03/30/20100330krentz.html
ANALYSIS: Trying to address the situation in Mexico will make the peace process in the Middle East seem simple. For years, Border States have been warning of this building powder keg to the deaf ears of Washington. The genie is about to come out of the bottle and he is angry.
The Homeland Security Newswire recently reported that it is not uncommon to have a dozen homicides in a night in Juarez, which once was a highly desired location for American companies taking advantage of NAFTA. Since then, these companies are turning into high-security compounds, which are eroding the profit margins they sought moving south of the border. Car-pooling, operating cash-free locations, high security fences, kidnapping training and personal defense topics are the rule of the day now. The Mexican police are reluctant to report murders and kidnappings because these incidents will further drive away tourism and much-needed American commerce.
This past month alone, we have had the senseless murder of this rancher, three U.S. consulate employees murdered, factories being robbed and now the cartels are putting bounties on school children so the parents will pay a fee to spare their children’s lives.
The current methods and policies of the “drug war’’ are not working the way they were intended to and need to be reviewed. Removing the prohibition -- and thus the high profit -- from the drug trade will have immediate impacts, reducing the amount of money available to buy weapons, politicians and public sympathy. DHS announced that they are spending $742 million to “launch’’ security improvements at the ports of U.S. entry (by government standards that could take years to start and perhaps decades to be completed). But how much money has already been spent since the 1980s when the war on drugs was declared? What has been our return on investment? We really need to rethink our strategies. Improving entry points is a great start but is not the end-all solution it is being painted to be.
Natural disaster
HEADLINE: Flooding affects roads, train service in Northeast
SUMMARY: The rain-soaked Northeast, particularly Rhode Island, endured more misery this week as it battled flooded roads and homes while waiting for water levels to drop. The Pawtuxet River, which runs through Cranston, R.I., reached nearly 12 feet above flood stage, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "We have some historic flooding going on in places we've never had flooding before," Cranston police Lt. Stephen Antonucci said. Rhode Island shut down parts of Interstate 95 in both directions.
STORY LINK: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/weather/03/31/northeast.flood.fears/index.html?hpt=T2
ANALYSIS: Forecasts across the country call for record flooding … again. We are seeing “500-year” or historic floods and the impacts are significant on personal, business and governmental levels. The country has faced a massive recession. The levels of foreclosures have hit all-time highs. Unemployment has risen to levels not seen in decades. Meeting basic personal expenses are impossible for many. Loss of homes because of flooding – the vast majority of people in these areas do not carry flood insurance -- becomes a fatal blow. Businesses see less demand. Employees can’t get to work and are distracted by personal problems and fear. Local and state governments are out of money to pay for basic services. The tax base is declining. There is no money for infrastructure repair or clean up.
Hearing that this was predictable is not welcome. Explaining to others what you did or didn’t do won’t resolve the problems. After an event, actions are the only thing that benefits.
Natural disasters, man-made accidents, workplace violence, communicable illnesses, and terrorism are real disasters that are predicable on many levels. The Red Cross states that there are over 70,000 disasters annually in the U.S. The exact timing of events may be unclear, but the likelihood is predictable. You know if you allow a child to run into traffic or run carrying scissors there is a chance they could be hurt or even killed.
Flooding is an annual event in many locations. Climate change is exacerbating the problem in recent years, bringing floods to areas not historically prone. Failure to plan is not an acceptable attribute for a family, business or government.
A disaster plan at home is a building block for a business continuity plan at work. If you or your employees need help, go to www.firestorm.com and download Firestorm’s book Disaster Ready People for a Disaster Ready America. It is a step-by-step guide on how to build a plan at home. Firestorm can even customize the print version of the book with your company’s logo for your employees.
We will see other problems this year and next. More than 55 percent of businesses fail within two years of a disaster. Don’t wait. Act now. Are you ready?
Communicable illness
HEADLINE: H1N1 flu resurfaces in the Southeast
SUMMARY: A late-season flurry of H1N1 hospitalizations in the Southeast – and Georgia in particular -- reflects a "worrisome trend," said the director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease. Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina all report an increase in regional flu activity, but it’s too soon to tell whether the situation heralds a new wave of illness nationwide, the CDC said. Georgia's hospitalizations, and a sprinkling of deaths, began among adults in mid-February and have continued, said Patrick O'Neal, the state’s director of emergency preparedness and response.
STORY LINK: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-03-30-swineflu30_ST_N.htm
ANALYSIS: This late resurgence of H1N1 is a reminder both of the flu’s persistence and of the historic incidence of influenza pandemics coming in three waves. It also potentially highlights our willingness to accept needless risk: New England states have seen immunization rates approaching 40 percent and have not experienced this third wave, while fewer than 20 percent of residents in Southeastern states have been immunized against H1N1, according to the CDC.
This flu season has been surprisingly mild. The simultaneous presence of H1N1 and seasonal flu thankfully resulted in far less flu-related deaths than normal – although this is little comfort for the friends and relatives of the 12,000 who did succumb. It would be unrealistic to believe this will be the indefinite future trend. The prudent individual would use the immediacy of the H1N1 pandemic, the current availability of information, and the luxury of the mild impact to prepare for a far more serious flu season, as well as for other unanticipated diseases (e.g., Legionnaire’s, West Nile or SARS). By all accounts, we were lucky this time. As the folks at Firestorm are fond of saying – appropriately so – Luck Is Not a Strategic Plan. The opportunity exists to prepare for the next event. Blame for not doing would be readily assigned. Are you willing to assume that responsibility – proactively or as culpability?
HEADLINE: Outbreak of rare disease in the Netherlands
SUMMARY: Q-fever, a rare disease which normally strikes farm animals and the people who work with and around them, has infected hundreds of people in the Netherlands who have no contact with farms. Most people who contract the illness come down with flu-like symptoms or pneumonia for a few weeks, but some are sick for months and a handful have died. Jos van de Sande, an infectious disease expert at the public health department in a Dutch province, said it's not clear why the disease is spreading but that the bacteria may have mutated. "And now Q-fever is spread by the wind, and the whole population can get it."
STORY LINK: http://www.pri.org/health/global-health/outbreak-of-rare-disease-in-the-netherlands1924.html
ANALYSIS: There are times when common occurrences assume uncommon significance. Q-fever is rare in humans, but present globally (except in New Zealand). Caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, it prompts an unusual reaction among the public for multiple reasons: it is seldom seen, it has a mysterious name, it has been a reportable disease in the United States since 1999, and it is officially listed as a bioterrorism concern. Analysis of this outbreak must occur through two lenses: that of the local phenomenon and that of the potential broader ramifications.
For the first six years of the last decade, between five and 20 cases of Q-fever were reported annually in the Netherlands. In the first half of 2007 that figure jumped to 63. At that time, epidemiological investigation revealed only sporadic cases and family clusters related to direct animal contact. This matched the historic manifestation of the disease. The number grew to 200 cases annually until 2009, when the count exceeded 2000.
Absent the specific details of the Dutch outbreak, it is impossible to postulate the contributory causes. It is significant to note that only about one-half of all people infected with C. burnetii show signs of clinical illness. It is possible that increased sophistication in diagnosis prompted by clinical education and highlighting of this disease improved detection of an already present contagion. The media report also highlights growth in Dutch livestock farming and of goat farms in particular, goats being a primary reservoir of Q-fever. To fully understand the interaction of human and environment, it is important to put the two into perspective. The Netherlands is approximately the size of Connecticut and Massachusetts combined, with 60 percent more population than those two states. This means there is a very congested region where urban and agricultural areas exist in close proximity and there are multiple avenues of infection. The CDC explains:
Organisms are excreted in milk, urine, and feces of infected animals. Most importantly, during birthing the organisms are shed in high numbers within the amniotic fluids and the placenta. The organisms are resistant to heat, drying, and many common disinfectants. These features enable the bacteria to survive for long periods in the environment. Infection of humans usually occurs by inhalation of these organisms from air that contains airborne barnyard dust contaminated by dried placental material, birth fluids, and excreta of infected herd animals. Humans are often very susceptible to the disease, and very few organisms may be required to cause infection.
This paints a picture of exposure by proximity. The bacteria can travel up to a kilometer in the wind. Fortunately, Q-fever is treatable with antibiotics.
A more ominous possibility exists that the sudden rise in cases is a result of human intervention: bioterrorism. Q-fever is listed as a potential bioterrorism agent because it is highly infectious – illness can be caused by a single cell – and relatively resistant to heat and drying. It typically takes from 2-3 weeks to become ill following exposure. Whether naturally occurring or of human origin, this and every other outbreak demands monitoring and attentiveness. Being aware of an outbreak can help prevent exposure. Responsive human resources policies, personal and workplace hygiene, and, if recommended by a physician, vaccination can minimize the impact of this disease.
Data security
HEADLINE: Stolen portable media device blamed in breach of 3.3 million
SUMMARY: The personal information -- including Social Security numbers and dates of birth – of more than 3 million borrowers was compromised when a portable device was stolen from a federal student loan guarantor. Educational Credit Management Corp. said the data breach took place the weekend of March 20-21. ECMC did not say whether the data on its media drive was encrypted. No bank account or other financial account information was included in the stolen data, the company said.
STORY LINK: http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid14_gci1507459,00.html
ANALYSIS: Control of computing accessories and devices is an important component of the policies and procedures for managing your information technology assets. The convenience of putting gigabytes of data on a USB device carries with it the responsibility to maintain absolute control of the device AND to delete any files from the device once they are not needed. Encrypting the devices creates a needed layer of security as well. Added to that is the necessity to be sure these devices remain virus-free. Even trusted sources may have inadvertently contracted a bug that could infect a computer or a network.
Beyond this example, consider how you must manage other portable devices. A salesperson may have your entire customer database on their PDA or cell phone. If they walk away from your company that information goes with them.
As this article points out, acting negligently will cost real dollars, such as contracting with a credit reporting agency for monitoring services for all of those compromised accounts. The additional cost to your reputation may even be greater.
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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