Hancock County COAD

I recently finished a book by Ted Koppel titled “Lights Out!” You may know him as one of the last true journalists of our time. This is not a fear-mongering doomsday “prophet”. Very well-researched and documented review of the current status of our electric grid. Here are a few excerpts:
“On one level, cyber crime is now so commonplace that we have already absorbed it into the catalogue of daily outrages that we observe, briefly register, and ultimately ignore.”
“Ours has become a largely reactive culture. We are disinclined to anticipate disaster, let alone prepare for it. We wait for bad things to happen and then we assign blame.”
“The weakest links in this system tend to be the smaller companies with the poorest security and maintenance practices.”
“In reality, the ranks of our potential enemies have never been this deep. Our points of vulnerable access are greater than in all of previous human history, yet we have barely begun to focus on the actual danger that cyber warfare presents to our national infrastructure.”
“How does a country’s leadership draw the appropriate line between prudence and paranoia when neither the timing nor the exact nature of a threat to national security can be defined?”

A major role of the COAD during this stage of life is to prepare for a response to a list of 14 potential threats. Success won’t, can’t, be measured until we are struck by one of them.

Practicing what plans are in place (however imperfect they are)  is the only way to know where we are missing something. Watch for an upcoming training exercise.

FEMA Releases New Training for Community-Based Organizations Attention all Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)! In support of National Preparedness Month, FEMA recently released a new preparedness training to help you better prepare for disasters. Organizations Preparing for Emergency Needs (OPEN) is designed for CBOs, including small businesses and nonprofits that support their local communities. Please consider taking this new and engaging course and watch this video to learn more. You can also join FEMA on Thursday, September 17, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss the new OPEN training, and how it will help CBOs prepare for incidents and continue providing services after a disaster. To register, click here. According to the American Red Cross, 94 percent of small business owners believe a disaster could affect their business within the next two years. Disasters provide CBOs with unique challenges. For example, what happens when childcare centers and food banks are unable to reopen after a disaster occurs? With this valuable training, CBOs are empowered to prepare for disasters and continue to provide vital community services during times of need. OPEN training will help you: -Learn 10 actions you can take to keep your organization operating in the event of a disaster; -Create a path forward to develop a disaster response plan; -Ensure the safety of workers and individuals; and -Stay strong in the face of all emergencies, including a pandemic. FEMA’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan commits to training CBOs and non-profits to help them continue providing services after a disaster. These entities include, but are not limited to, faith-based organizations, food banks, childcare centers, shelters, and small businesses. They serve to strengthen their communities and provide help in “blue-sky” days and during emergencies, when need for their services may surge. FEMA realizes that when CBOs are unable to operate during a disaster or emergency, the people who rely on them are left at risk. This can cause those affected by a disaster to be even more deeply impacted. OPEN allows CBOs to prepare for emergencies and continue serving their communities.

The OPEN training offers individual and group learning. It includes a web-based, self-guided training as well as an instructor kit available for download. These tools guide participants on how to identify risks, locate resources, and take preparedness actions. With the COVID-19 pandemic still impacting our communities, the training includes information that will help organizations navigate this and future pandemics. The training teaches 10 preparedness actions that can improve an organization’s resilience. Are you the owner of a small business? Do you operate a volunteer organization or nonprofit that provides essential services to your community? Do you have a plan in place to continue working should a disaster affect your operations? How will your supply chain be affected by a disaster? Ensure you remain “OPEN” for business even after an emergency occurs.For more information on OPEN and to take the training, please visit www.ready.gov/open-training.