A Publication by the ASCE Committee on Critical Infrastructure (CCI)
Eva Lerner-Lam, M.ASCE, Editor-In-Chief

CCI Blog: http://www.ascecriticalinfrastructure.org/

To view all archived issues of the CRIB Sheet, visit: http://ciasce.asce.org/CRIBSheetArchives.html

Message from the Editor

It’s mid-February and the long political party primary season is offering up some worthy presidential candidates. The local political slates are just beginning to take shape. So there’s no more important time for civil engineers than now to get involved. The U.S. democratic system, still the envy of the world, is fundamentally rooted in the right to choose our own leaders, with ideals such as “no taxation without representation” firmly planted in our national psyche. If we truly believe in the importance of good civil engineering works--and the education, training, research, and development necessary to plan, design, build, operate, and maintain them—then it is up to us as citizens to ensure that leaders of our own choice are elected on November 4, 2008. Read up on the issues (http://www.asce.org/pressroom/news/grwk/index.cfm); get to know the candidates, on both a local and national level; correspond with their campaign offices; attend their rallies; and share your views. Make your views known so your elected officials know what it is you want and expect from them. Now is a good time to start. It won’t be too late until November 5…

-Eva Lerner-Lam, M.ASCE

elernerlam@palisadesgroup.com

National Update

Tornadoes Kill at Least 55 Across Southern U.S.

At least 55 people were killed and hundreds injured last week by dozens of tornadoes that plowed across Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. It was the nation's deadliest barrage of twisters in almost 23 years.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,328745,00.html?sPage=fnc/specialsections/naturaldisaster

FEMA guidance and applications for assistance are available online at: http://www.fema.gov/assistance/forme.shtm

DHS Announces Release of Application Guidance for Over $3B in Grant Programs

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced the release of application guidance for 14 federal grant programs whose collective purpose is to strengthen prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities at all levels of government.

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1201882070387.shtm

TSA Works with New York Transit Agencies To Increase Security
DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, accompanied by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and a host of other local and regional officials, announced more than $3 billion in Homeland Security Grants. Of particular local interest to New York, was the $153.3 million in 2008 grants for the region that will go directly to security training for front-line employees like bus and train operators, intelligence, terrorism-related exercises, public awareness campaigns, additional canine units, mobile-screening and VIPR (Visible Intermodal Protection and Response) teams.

http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/tsa_ny_transit_agencies.shtm

New GAO Report (GAO-08-44) Recommends Objective Criteria for Public-Private Partnership Deals

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that in the case of highway public-private partnerships, more rigorous up-front analysis could better secure potential benefits and protect the public interest.

http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-08-44

National Advisory Council Meets in Nation’s Capitol

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the next meeting of its National Advisory Council (NAC) will take place on February 12-13, 2008 in Washington, DC. The development of the NAC was set into motion by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006.

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=42496

Online Game Teaches Children How to Prevent Natural Hazards from Becoming Disasters

The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) has created an online game that teaches children how to build safer villages and cities against disasters. Children learn how the location and the construction materials of houses can make a difference when disasters strike and how early warning systems, evacuation plans, and education can save lives.

http://www.stopdisastersgame.org/en/home.html

RSS Feeds from DHS:
Department of Homeland Security News
Department of Homeland Security Press Releases
Department of Homeland Security Speeches
Department of Homeland Security Testimony

RSS Feeds from FirstGov.gov:
All Cyber Alert System Documents
Cyber Security Tips from US-CERT
Non-Technical Cyber Alert System Documents
Security Incidents Currently Being Reported to the US-CERT
Technical Cyber Alert System Documents

Committee News

ASCE Signs Memorandum of Cooperation with International Association of Emergency Managers

To address the need for increased coordination in all aspects of emergency management worldwide, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) recently signed a memorandum of cooperation. The new agreement establishes a relationship designed to promote awareness of the state of our nation’s critical infrastructure, and to encourage the involvement of the engineering community in supporting emergency managers.

http://ciasce.asce.org/

Preparedness Tip of the Month

Spring is around the corner, and in many parts of the nation, warmer weather will melt snow and ice in higher elevations, causing streams and rivers to rise. Is your business ready in the event of a flood? Even if your office is not directly affected, your project site or your home might be. Have a continuity of operations plan in place for each. Learn how to prepare at www.ready.gov.

Calendar of Events

February 21, 2008—TISP February 2008 Breakfast Speaker Series: James Kish, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Acting Assistant Administrator for the National Integration Center (NIC), Washington, DC

February 26-27, 2008—National Flood Risk Management: Levee Safety Summit, St. Louis, MO

March 7, 2008—Long Term Disaster Recovery Issues: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina, Part III, Public Water Supply Lessons Learned in Katrina’s Aftermath, presented by William Moody, P.E., B.C.E.E., webinar sponsored by CCI and ASCE Continuing Education

March 25-26, 2008—Security Risk Management Workshop, Applied Research Associates, Vicksburg, MS

March 27-28, 2008—Blast Design for Window Systems Workshop, Applied Research Associates, Vicksburg, MS

April 3, 2008—TISP Regional Breakfast Panel Discussion, New York, NY

April 24, 2008—TISP April 2008 Breakfast Speaker Series: Christopher T. Geldart, FEMA Director, Office of National Capital Region Coordination, Washington, DC

April 24-26 2008—First International Symposium on Transportation and Development Best Practices, sponsored by the Transportation and Development Institute of ASCE and the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, Beijing, China

June 5-7, 2008—International Association of Emergency Managers 2008 Mid-Year Meeting, National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, MD

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The CRIB Sheet, a monthly eNewsletter sponsored by the ASCE Committee on Critical Infrastructure, features updates on critical infrastructure news as well as related resources. If this eNewsletter was forwarded to you and you wish to receive future editions directly, click below to subscribe or visit http://ciasce.asce.org/MonthlyBulletin.html. If you received this eNewsletter directly from ASCE, you are already subscribed and do not need to take any further action to continue receiving the CRIB Sheet.

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Chair: Paul F. Mlakar, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Staff: Marla Dalton, P.E., CAE, M.ASCE and Catherine Tehan