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Defending Against COVID-19 Cyber Scams

03/06/2020 01:53 PM EST

Original release date: March 6, 2020

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns individuals to remain vigilant for scams related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cyber actors may send emails with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes. Exercise caution in handling any email with a COVID-19-related subject line, attachment, or hyperlink, and be wary of social media pleas, texts, or calls related to COVID-19.

CISA encourages individuals to remain vigilant and take the following precautions.

Full article: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2020/03/06/defending-against-covid-19-cyber-scams

Dispatchers facing delays answering 911 calls in Harris County

Weeks after Harvey, the Harris County Sheriff's Office says they are facing delays answering 911 calls. In some cases, it could take minutes to speak with an operator.

The sheriff's 911 operators were relocated to the Greater Harris County 911 Emergency Center after flooding at the sheriff's emergency dispatch center.

Full article: http://abc13.com/dispatchers-facing-delays-answering-911-calls-in-harris-co/2436636/

 

Study Finds FEMA Flood Maps Missed 75% Of Houston Flood Damage Claims Between 1999 And 2009

 

 

Marcus Yam/Getty Images Flooding along Interstate 10 in Houston as a result of Harvey

A recent study found that FEMA failed to capture 75 percent of flood damages within their flood maps between 1999 and 2009. The FEMA flood maps are the primary source for how the government and insurance companies evaluate flood risk and insurance premiums. There are collectively trillions of dollars worth of property that rely on these maps being accurate.

Full article: https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2017/09/18/fema-flood-maps-missed-claims-harvey-houston/amp/

 

 

Arkema Chemical Plant media briefing

 Great example of handling the media by the HCFMO.

Statement starts at: 1:05

Response to questions starts at" 6:15 

 

Super Bowl LI is a No Drone Zone

 

FAA video:

 

NICS, A Communication Platform For First Responders, Now Available Worldwide

Release Date: 

August 8, 2016

DHS S&T Press Office, John Verrico, (202) 254-2385

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has announced the Next-Generation Incident Command System (NICS,) an information sharing tool for first responders, is now available worldwide.

NICS is a mobile, web-based communication platform that enables responders on scene at a developing incident to request and receive assistance from remote experts, such as a university researcher or topographic expert, in real time. Conversely, experts can observe an evolving situation and volunteer relevant material or resources.

After successful beta-implementation, NICS has transitioned to the open-source community for wide accessibility, freely available for any interested party.

Full article: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2016/08/08/news-release-nics-communication-platform-first-responders-now

Preparing for Widespread Power Outages: What Local First Responders Need to Know

Preparing for Widespread Power Outages: What Local First Responders Need to Know - In Public Safety

By Dennis Porter, alumnus, Homeland Security, American Military University

On April 21, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee discussed an issue that many states and local governments aren’t addressing: The possibility of a widespread grid power outages that would cause people to be out of electricity for long amounts of time.

According to an article in SC Magazine, the chairman of the committee, Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Penn.), told members that they need to start helping states and local governments prepare for such an event. During the same meeting, Craig Fugate, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said his agency was working with the Department of Energy to develop federal plans to respond to long-term power outages. Part of this operational plan, he said, would address national safety threats caused by long-lasting electrical power outages.

While congressional committee meetings on this subject demonstrate that federal authorities are starting to think about such a disaster, not enough discussion is happening at the state and local level.

 

Full article: http://inpublicsafety.com/2016/05/preparing-for-widespread-power-outages-what-local-first-responders-need-to-know/?utm_source=policemag&utm_medium=email&utm_content=power%20outage&utm_campaign=Public%20Safety%20-%20ET%20-%20AMU

2016 Texas Grid Security Summit Conference Video

2016 Texas Grid Security Summit Conference Video

Texas State Senator Bob Hall hosted a summit on electric grid security. State and national experts addressed critical security concerns from high-impact threats that could cause a nationwide critical infrastructure collapse for a month or more. The summit addressed the Texas electric grid’s vulnerability to electromagnetic pulse (EMP), geomagnetic solar storms, and the interplay of cyber-attacks; discuss emergency preparedness and emerging protective technologies; and highlighted state and federal legislative EMP protection and electric grid security efforts.

Link to conference video archives: http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist2/dist2.htm

Day 1 http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=11049

Day 2 http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=11051

Governor Of The State Of Texas Declares Disaster In Bastrop County

I, GREG ABBOTT, Govemor of the State of Texas, do hereby certify that the wildfires that started on October 13 ,2015, have caused a disaster in Bastrop County in the State of Texas.

Full article: http://gov.texas.gov/news/proclamation/21546?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=20151015_txgov-p-bastropcountydisaster_facebook&utm_content=txgov

 

Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4223)

Major Disaster Declaration declared on May 29, 2015

Full article: http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4223