On Thursday the Department of Homeland Security released a new guide to help leaders of fire and EMS organizations develop and implement appropriate measures under each of the five terrorism threat conditions set by DHS.

The Fire and Emergency Services Preparedness Guide for the Homeland Security Advisory System is available online in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) or text format from the USFA Web site. The U.S. Fire Administration’s Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center prepared the guide to promote critical infrastructure protection, according to DHS.

“The preparedness actions recommended are not all inclusive, nor do they reflect all the variations in local conditions, agencies, and operations,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “These guidelines however, provide a good place to start development, or enhancement, of agency-specific plans.  Agencies need to balance cost versus benefit of various proposed measures to determine the most cost effective ones.”

The Homeland Security Advisory System created by the DHS describes terrorism threat conditions using a color-coded system: green (low), blue (guarded), yellow ( elevated); orange (high), and red (severe).  The new Preparedness Guide includes general preparations as well as measures for information and planning, facility security, personnel and operations.

Since Jan. 9, the HSAS system has been set at yellow. The Preparedness Guide recommends fire/EMS leaders consider the following measures for this condition:

ELEVATED CONDITION (YELLOW)
An Elevated Condition is declared when there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks.  In addition to the preparedness measures taken in the previous Threat Conditions, fire departments and EMS agencies should consider the following general measures as well as the preparedness measures that they will develop and implement:

1. Increase scrutiny of critical agency locations.

2. Coordinate emergency plans as appropriate within the jurisdiction and with nearby jurisdictions and related private sector agencies.

3. Assess whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further refinement of preplanned preparedness measures.

4. Implement contingency and emergency response plans as appropriate.
   

Preparedness Actions

1. Continue all security measures for previous Threat Conditions.

Information/Planning

1. Contact law enforcement at least weekly to exchange and disseminate threat and intelligence information.

2. Maintain contact with the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) or its equivalent.  

3. Periodically meet to make decisions of what to do, who will do it, etc. to respond to changing conditions/requirements.

4. Review plans for, and prepare to immediately implement the High (Orange) Threat Condition measures.

5. Assess and report new found or changed vulnerabilities.
   

Facility Security

1. Limit the number of access points to facilities.

2. Enforce access control procedures (100% ID check) and consider escorting unknown visitors.

3. Implement screening practices for incoming postal and electronic mail, phone calls, deliveries, and visitors.

4. Randomly inspect the security and condition of all facilities and HVAC systems.

5. Lock all facilities and require access control.

6. Periodically test security systems, back-up power systems, and emergency communications systems.

7. Review existing threat analysis and vulnerability assessments for department critical infrastructures.  Apply new countermeasures if needed.
   

Personnel

1. Keep personnel informed in order to stop rumors and prevent unnecessary alarm.

2. Remind staff to maintain their personal and family emergency preparedness "go kits."

3. Require staff to review all pertinent special operations and terrorism related plans.
   

Operations

1. Consider placing selected emergency teams on a higher alert status based on the nature of the underlying threat.

2. Review and exercise emergency operations plans.

3. Request police assistance to periodically surveil apparatus located away from quarters.

4. Arrange with law enforcement to restrict access to the immediate area of an incident.

5. Vary response routes to avoid regular patterns.  Establish the Command Post at a different position each time.  Avoid predictability.

6. Prioritize training and investments in new resources to accomplish response plans.