Business911 International, Inc.

The DHS is monitoring social networks for security reasons, are you?

This is an interesting article about the DHS monitoring social networks during the 2010 Winter Olympics.  I believe we will see more of this activity since it gives those in public information positions a portal into what may be going on in an area of interest.

The important point here is not that the DHS is monitoring information; it is the opportunity for all of us to develop relationships and areas of interest we can monitor during an incident.  All groups could benefit from sharing information (albeit not always factual) including businesses, schools, churches, and communities.  One great way to share information as an alternate to other methods during an emergency is Twitter or Facebook.

As required by law, the DHS has published a Privacy Impact Statement about its monitoring activity--in this case monitoring social media outlets for security reasons for the Vancouver Winter Olympics.    the full article is available at: http://www.emergencymgmt.com/emergency-blogs/crisis-comm/DHS-Monitoring-Social-Media.html

NIST issues second draft on Smart Grid Cyber Security

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the second draft of its Smart Grid Cyber Security Strategy and Requirements, which now identifies more than 120 interfaces that will link diverse devices, systems, and organizations engaged in two-way flows of electricity and information and classifies these connections according to the risks posed by a potential security breach.

Domino/Lotus Notes Continuity of Operations software

Integriti(TM) software

Intel Chief: U.S. at Risk of Crippling Cyber Attack

FOXNews.com

The United States is at risk of a crippling cyber attack that could "wreak havoc" on the country because the "technological balance" makes it much easier to launch a cyber strike than defend against it, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said Tuesday. See article for details:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/03/intel-chief-risk-crippling-cyber-attack/

Hurricane Ike Buyout Program Finally Under Way - Finally some sanity!

More than a year after submitting its initial application, Galveston County has received a federal grant award to purchase properties on Bolivar Peninsula destroyed by Hurricane Ike in September 2008.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program allows the county to offer eligible homeowners 75% of the pre-Ike value of their property plus improvements, minus the benefits already paid (such as flood and windstorm insurance).  All transactions are voluntary, and purchased properties must remain undeveloped in perpetuity.  Let's hope this is a trend for the future!

Full article here:  http://www.gcoem.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=293&Itemid=145

Is social media really that big a deal?

You, or people you know are actively using social media.  I'm often asked why I believe those in infra-structure protection, IT security, and people in general should even be using the technology.  I simply respond it's just one more tool in the toobox, but you should have in the box, and ready to go.

Unless you've been living under a rock, there is no deying the power of such tools.  As we saw in Iran, and we are seeing in Haiti, the use of this technology brings critical information to the airwaves from eye witnesses on the scene.  We have heard stories of applications like Twitter being used to locate hostages, find people trapped in rubble, and we now use Twitter to provide on the ground observations of seismic activity (the USGS TED system).

I'm not saying that there aren't risks of using social media, but they are managable.  Just like I wouldn't put my utility knive back in the tool box with the blade exposed, I shouldn't take unessarry risks using social media.

Ask any Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) person the difficulty of locating people who may be trapped or injured, by "searching" with limited technology and dogs, and compare it to knowing where someone is specifically trapped and the job becomes more rescue than search.

Understanding not eveyone will have cell phones, nor will cellular/texting services always be available we should encourage our public sector agencies to adopt a means to communciate with the citizens during a mass casualty event, in order to reduce the "search" timeline and provide more time for rescue.

Here is link to a blog that describes "Social Media’s True Impact on Haiti, China, and the World"

Rescue crews from around the globe train in 'Disaster City' at Texas A&M and TEEX the world leader in disaster training

Texas Task Force 1 - located at Texas A&M University and the Texas Engineering Extension is also ground zero for the world's premier disaster/search and rescue training facility.  This video provides a brief glimpse of this state of the art, world class training facility.

 http://video.foxnews.com/v/3968289/rescue-crews-train-in-disaster-city

SCADA vulnerabilities - Sabotaging the System

Very good 60 minutes clip on Cyber Security provides insight into current threats.  Could hackers get into the computer systems that run crucial elements of the world's infrastructure, such as the power grids, water works or even a nation's military arsenal? See clip: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5578986n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel

Questionnaire to Strengthen Disaster Recovery in Our Nation - Your Comments please!

The White House has initiated a working group to Strenghten Disaster Recovery in Our Nation.  It is currently soliciting comments via a survey located at: http://www.disasterrecoveryworkinggroup.gov/questionnaire/ all disaster recovery, business continuity and homeland security professionals need to weigh in on this working group to insure that knowledgable, educated, and experienced individuals are involved in this process.  Althought the webite claims "wide array of private organizations and private non-profit organizations, will inform these efforts", there is little to substantiate that statement.

FEMA Engages Stakeholders To Discuss National Flood Insurance Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced a new avenue for the public to provide input regarding the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)—launching a 30-day public comment period. http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=49884

I would encourage anyone who believes the current program is flawed to participate in this comment period.  Repetitive claims for the similar events in the same areas, by the same people is not sustainable.