After reviewing the current threat environment, the Department of
Homeland Security last week reissued its National
Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin. According to the
department, foreign terrorist organizations continue to exploit
the internet to inspire, enable and direct individuals in
the U.S. to commit terrorist acts. The department encourages
those who observe suspicious activity to report it to law
enforcement and to be prepared for security threats.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently
announced the release of a new Blast Injury mobile application to
assist in the response and clinical management of injuries
resulting from terrorist bombings and other mass casualty
explosive events. The application provides clear, concise,
up-to-date medical and healthcare systems information to assist
healthcare providers and public health professionals in the
preparation, response, and management of injuries resulting from
terrorist bombing events.
The California State Threat Assessment System is an all hazards
Information Sharing partnership of Federal, State and Local law
enforcement agencies throughout California. The System connects
Suspicious Activity Reporting and incidents that may have a
possible Terrorism or Homeland Security nexus with law
enforcement statewide through a network of interconnected
Regional Threat Assessment Centers (RTACs) in San Diego, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento.
These Regional Centers are directly connected to the FBI and the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and provide regional
analysis and assessment of events, including patterns and trends,
to deter, detect and prevent terrorism in California.
Additionally, the State Threat Assessment Center (STAC), also in
Sacramento, is a partnership of the California Highway Patrol and
the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, whose focus is
statewide analysis of incidents, trends and patterns to help
identify larger threats and protect key and critical
infrastructure.
Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) programs such as “If You See
Something, Say Something” are active across the country and help
communities deter crime, violent incidents, and in some cases
prevent terrorism. The idea is simple, but for first
responders/receivers there are particular activities to look for
depending on your sector.
The Nationwide SAR Initiative (NSI) recently released the new
online training module “Public
Health and Health Care Partners,” developed to teach workers
to recognize suspicious behavior associated with pre-incident
terrorist activities. The training also discusses civil rights,
privacy, and how and when to report suspicious activity. NSI also
offers a two-page resource,
Suspicious Activity Reporting Indicators and Behaviors.
This training module can easily be added to any in-house training
for new employees or yearly refresher training for established
personnel. The new training
module joins others disciplines such as public safety
telecommunications, fire/EMS, emergency management, maritime, and
more. Those completing the training successfully can print a
certificate.
All hospitals should know what suspicious activity is and how it
should be reported. All hospitals should also know which threat
assessment center they fall under and maintain contact
information.
This Information Bulletin contains information gained from
federal, state and local public safety sources with expertise in
explosives and response to explosives incidents. As with any
public safety issue, local agencies must determine local policies
and procedures. Note that a subsequent Information Bulletin will
be issued, to include information for use when responding to a
suspected bomber, if the call is received prior to an actual
detonation.
