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Capacity to Respond to 'Rare Events'

The DOD asked the MITRE Corporation to assess the United States' ability to anticipate and asess the risk of "rare events," which are defined as catastrophic terrorist attacks, including the use of WMDs.  The report points out that the use of predictive models may be of little help, given that the models have not been validated due to the absence of a rare event to evaluate.  The authors also point out that rare event assessment is also a matter of human behavior, which likewise is impossible to accurately model.  Recognizing that their task was very hard, the authors nevertheless offer some suggestions for the way forward.

To read the entire report, click here.

RAND Issues New Report on Cybersecurity

The RAND Corp. has released "Cyberdeterrence and Cyberwar," a new look at the protection of cyber infrastructure.  Pointing out that the protection of cyberspace has become a national priority since cyberspace is now the dominant information medium, the report argues that cyberwar and cyber defense are nothing like traditional defense and warfare.  "Cyberspace has its own laws; for instance, it is easy to hide identities and difficult to predict or even understand battle damage, and attacks deplete themselves quickly. The author explores these in detail and uses the results to address such issues as the pros and cons of counterattack, the value of deterrence and vigilance, and other actions the United States and the U.S. Air Force can take to protect itself in the face of deliberate cyberattack."

To read the full report, click here.

INSA Calls for Public-Private Partnership to Address Cyber Security

The Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) has just released a white paper on cyber security, "Addressing Cyber Security Through Public-Private Partnership."  The paper proposes that a public-private partnership is the best approach for addressing cyber security issues and examines three existing models as examples of successful partnerships. The paper argues that private industry should set cyber security standards, while the federal government -- led by DHS -- should be responsible for cyber regulation, enforcement of laws, defense against threats, and response to threats.  INSA believes that a public-private partnership for cyber security can be initiated by private industry, presidential initiative, or Congresssional initiative, but stresses that no matter who takes ownership, it is crucial that one entity take ownership now and begin to systematically address the cyber security issue through a partnership comprised of all stakeholders.

To read the entire paper, click here.

DHS Inspector General Releases Report on CBP's Ability to Detect Biological and Chemical Threats in Maritime Cargo Containers

This IG report focuses on CBP's capability to detect and target biological and chemical threats in maritime cargo containers.  The review examines the information, tools and guidance that CBP agents use to examine containers at high risk of holding biological or chemical agents.  The IG asserts that CBP has initiated measures to mitigate the threat of radiological and nuclear threats in maritime cargo, but more is needed to mitigate the threat posed by chemcial and biological dangers.  The IG found that CBP needs new, improved technologies, as well as new procedures and policies for conducting inspections of cargo that might pose chemical and biological threats.

The complete report (with redactions) can be found here on the DHS website.

DOT Releases National Transportation Recovery Strategy

The Department of Transportation has released a National Transportation Recovery Strategy.  According to the document, the strategy is "designed to help transportation industry stakeholders and local, tribal, and State government officials prepare for and manage the transportation recovery process following a major disaster.  The overall goal of this Strategy is to promote a recovery process for transportation networks -- and subsequently of communities in general -- that results in a greater leavel of resilience."

To enhance the strategy, DHS and DOT are working jointly to release products, reports, best practice after-action reports, guidance and planning documents through http://www.dot.gov/disaster_recovery .

To read the entire strategy, click here.

HUD and DHS Solicit Public Comment Through DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov

DHS and HUD have launched a website specifically designed to solicit stakeholder input on disaster recovery.

From the DHS press release:

"Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the launch of DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov—a new interagency website that will allow federal disaster recovery officials to solicit public comments from state, local and tribal partners and the public.

The new website will be used by the federal government’s newly-formed Long Term Disaster Recovery Working Group—co-chaired by Secretary Donovan and Secretary Napolitano—to allow stakeholders to submit ideas for disaster recovery; articulate objectives for recovery assistance going forward; identify examples of best practices; raise challenges and obstacles to success; and share thoughts, experiences and lessons learned."

To view the full press release, click here.

President Obama Signs Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu

From the White House blog:

"In an effort to proactively address the ongoing pandemic, the President signed a National Emergency Declaration on H1N1 that allows healthcare systems to quickly implement disaster plans should they become overwhelmed.

As experts expected, H1N1 flu is moving rapidly throughout the country and the majority of states now have widespread influenza activity.  This declaration gives authority for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive certain regulatory requirements for healthcare facilities in response the ongoing pandemic. Specifically, healthcare facilities will be able to submit waivers to establish alternate care sites, and modified patient triage protocols, patient transfer procedures and other actions that occur when they fully implement disaster operations plans."

For more information, visit the White House blog site.

New report from GAO -- Homeland Defense: Planning, Resourcing, and Training Issues Challenge DOD's Response to Domestic Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosive Incidents

From the report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO):

"(The Department of Defense) plays a support role in managing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High-Yield Explosives (CBRNE) incidents, including providing capabilities to save lives, alleviate hardship or suffering, and minimize property damage. ...

"GAO is making recommendations to DOD to improve the link between DOD and other federal plans, match capabilities with requirements, increase readiness, and improve oversight of CCMRF funding and resourcing. DOD agreed or partially agreed with the recommendations and cited ongoing or planned actions to implement them."

Download the report as a 64-page PDF.

HHS publishes reports on pandemic preparations at state and local levels

The Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services has released two  timely reports on state and local preparations for pandemic influenza.  Both reports mark some progress, but note that much still needs to be done.  Both reports found that the state and localities they studied had conducted exercises, but failed to follow them with after action reports or a record of lessons learned.

• State and Local Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Medical Surge http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-02-08-00210.pdf
• Local Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Vaccine and Antiviral Drug Distribution and Dispensing http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-04-08-00260.pdf

RAND report: 'New Tools for Assessing State and Local Capabilities for Countermeasure Delivery'

This report will be of interest to state and local health departments that are responsible for planning and exercising countermeasure delivery, as well as to other agencies charged with supporting countermeasure-delivery operations. It will also be of interest to those who want a deeper description of the thought process that went into the assessments included in the CDC cooperative-agreement guidance. In addition, the report will be of use to those interested in broader exercise and measurement issues.

Download the report as a 58-page PDF.