The annual CCI meeting held October 3-4 in conjunction with2009 ASCE Board meetings provided fresh insight into critical infrastructure goals of the Society, both from perspectives of new committee members and the new charge to implement the Guiding Principles for Critical Infrastructure developed from post-Katrina ASCE task committees.  Incoming ASCE President Blaine Leonard, PE and ASCE Executive Director Pat Natale, PE discussed this charge with the committee and its role for ASCE to improve critical infrastructure under the ASCE Vision 2025 plan. They also reported on the role of cybersecurity to develop resilient water and energy infrastructure depicted in a new scenario exhibit featuring the ASCE 2009 Infrastructure Report Card at the International Spy Museum, which opened with James Bond fanfare October 1, to kickoff National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Meanwhile the tragic September 29 M8.0 Samoa Earthquake and Tsunami and the

September 30 M7.6 Padang Indonesia Earthquake and Landslides are stark reminders of remaining vulnerabilities after seeing great strides in global tsunami warning systems and seismic preparedness efforts following the 2004 Andaman-Sumatra earthquake and tsunami. I think often of the need to boil down and convey infrastructure resilience to both engineers and the public. How would you explain this in an elevator speech? Should resilience and systems criticality be adopted into planning requirements and building codes? Please send your suggestions (diagrams and mantras are welcome), and we’ll publish them in a future CRIB SHEET.

• DHS program highlights National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

  See also the NCSAM web page  and FBI advice for NCSAM

  Former cyber-chief Hathaway speaks out on national cyber-security program

  Recovery.org reports only 3.5% of recovery funds have reached contractors’ pockets thus far –see recent features  in New York Times , Washington Post , USA Today , and on NPR .

  Microsoft launches swine flu response site

  White House releases executive order on Green Federal Building

  CIA opens Climate change and national security center

  Railroads and the government spar over chlorine shipping by rail

  Peak demand pricing for all electricity users gains DOE advocacy

  TRB Webinar: Costing asset protection – an all-hazards guide for transportation

  TRB Release:  A guide to planning resources on transportation hazards

  TRB Release:  Congestion mitigation and CMAQ assessment ph II final report

  Natural Hazards Center offers quick-response disaster reconnaissance grants

  5 Minute Tsunami Video: Know what to do by learning from crabs, by San Diego OES

  1906 San Francisco Earthquake Aftermath Footage: a sobering 20 minute film

  Prepare for the coming winter hazard at Avalanche.org

  Confronting disasters with a disability – new website with resources for those with special needs

  USGS web site offers tips on detecting landslides, mudslides and debris flows

• Bridge collapse feared in Ocean City, MD - Route 90 Span to Be Shut Down.

• BART expansion knows the way to San Jose.

• Water dept chief steps down in Los Angeles amidst criticism of major water main breaks.

• Colorado counties explore water as a growth tool - Boulder and Douglas County have wildly different views.

• Illinois lifts veil of secrecy on bridge inspection with new  six year $2.5 B bridge rehabilitation plan Chicago Tribune 10/5.

• California Station Fire response brings debris flow and mudslide assessment including extremely large ones.  USFS accused of letting fire grow out of control while trying to save costs.

• Trans-Texas Corridor dead amidst outcry from landowners and others.

• No matter who wins as governor, experts say Virginia needs addtl $1B per year for transportation

• The Virginia Section of ASCE  release report card with a D+ overall grade.

• Four influential conservation groups abruptly resign from Mass. state waterway advisory panel

• California storm causes power outages, mudslide fears.

• La. parish tries new bio-barrier approach to fend off hurricanes

• Wood County, Texas, residents evacuate after water breaches Victory Lake dam

• EDF - Constellation nuclear plant venture in Maryland gets US nod .

• Army engineers warn that makeshift levee work could make flood risk worse.

• Massive landslide in Washington clogs Naches River and forces evacuations.

• Caltrans says new Bay Bridge will be safe in quake.

• Grenade found at Sky Harbor .

• Ground motion examined as factor in: Los Angeles  water main breaks .

• Flood watch issued: Officials suspect glacial dam burst on Snow River in Kenai Peninsula .

• VP of European Commission discusses needed critical network infrastructure protection in the EU

• Russia blamed for Polish cyber attack during visit to Poland by Russian Prime Minister.

• Water scarcity will create future global security concerns.

• UK releases Strategic Freight Network: The Longer-Term Vision

• Negligence involved in Russian hydropower plant disaster that killed 75.

• MCEER tracks Indonesia Padang EQ response.

• Collapsed Indonesian buildings not code compliant, experts say Indonesia examines how to build quake-proof buildings.

• Indonesian earthquake aftermath calls for dense soil and light materials vital for sturdier buildings.

• Crisis mapping brings X-ray style clarity to Indonesian humanitarian response.

• ITIC tracks Samoa EQ and tsunami response.

• Atlas of Tsunami Damages available for Saval´i & Upolu Islands, Samoa.

• National Geographic releases tsunami warning facts in wake of Samoa quake.

• Boating community shares Samoa tsunami information.

• A double whammy of remoteness with concurrence disasters makes more difficult response decisions, such as for Samoa and Padang.

• M5.9 aftershock hits Samoa on October 17, 2009.

• Mexico power outages may stem from fired workers

• Typhoon Melor lashes Japan.

• Typhoon Lupit headed for Philippines in aftermath of Typhoon Parma, now headed for Vietnam

  Cairo TBM metro tunnel collapses.

• 5 killed and 5 missing as Meghalaya dam overflows.

Don't miss the CCI sponsored technical sessions at the ASCE 139th Annual Civil Engineering Conference.   Engineers’ Role in Emergency Management– Bridging the Disciplines  scheduled for Thursday, October 29, 2009 from 1:45 - 3:15 PM and Infrastructure Investment and Sustainable Solutions scheduled for Thursday, october 29, 2009 from 3:45 - 5:15 PM.  View the Conference Program.

When disaster strikes, will you be prepared? As engineers, you’re often called upon to make on-the-spot evaluations and decisions regarding the continued entry, use, operation, and occupancy of damaged buildings and other facilities. Make sure you and your members are prepared schedule a workshop for your local section.

The ASCE Committee on Critical Infrastructure (CCI) is offering Post-Disaster Safety Evaluations training workshops that focus on ATC materials, including ATC-20: Procedures for Post-earthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings and ATC-45: Safety Evaluation of Buildings After Wind Storms and Floods. The procedures were developed to evaluate the safety of buildings and other infrastructure systems after earthquakes, winds, floods, and fire, and are written specifically for volunteer engineers, as well as building inspectors and municipal engineers. Click Here For More Information

The first "chapter sponsored" Post Disaster Safety Evaluations Workshop will be held September 11, 2009 in Nashville,TN.

New Podcast Series -

An Eye on Infrastructure, a CCI sponsored podcast series featuring industry experts discussing current issues relating to critical infrastructure.   Catastrophic Failures: Emerging Threats to Critical Infrastructure features an expert panel discussion given at the FEMA Higher Education Conference in Emittsburg, MD.   Listen to An Eye on Infrastructure podcast episodes.

Check out the new CCI website now, and add it to your favorites so you'll always get the newest infrastructure news.

ASCE's Executive Director Named One of Nation's Best

Executive Director Patrick J. Natale, P.E., F. ASCE, CAE won praise for his leadership in raising awareness among lawmakers and the public of the urgent need to fix aging, neglected infrastructure. This included the early release of the 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, which helped make it a funding priority in this year's federal economic stimulus package.  Read an excerpt from CEO Update

Guiding Principles for the Nation's Critical Infrastructure

ASCE President, Wayne Klotz says in his latest President's Blog entry. "We have a responsibility to include these guidelines in conversations related to funding and design standards going forward".  Read more from ASCE's president on the four "guiding principles" and share your views in the blog's comments area.

ASCE INSIGHTS INTERVIEW: Army Corps of Engineers' deputy chief discusses current threats and opportunities facing the civil engineering profession.

Take a New ASCE Survey: Recovery 'Stimulus' and You

ASCE’s Government Relations has launched a survey to gauge how our members are being affected by the legislation and other policy issues.  Tell us what you think.

Follow the Stimuls Money

Read a status report (.doc) compiled by ASCE's Government Relations that summarizes and updates ARRA funding for the Society's priority issues.

Papers Sought for New Journal on Pipelines

Your insights on any and all faces of pipeline engineering are being sought for a new quarterly journal to be launched next year by ASCE. The editor of the Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice is inviting papers on topics from planning to sustainability, hazards to hydralics and everything in between.
» For more information and submission guidelines, visit the journal page. Online submissions are also welcome via Editorial Manager.

• ASCE met with  FEMA Director Craig Fugate to discuss ASCE support of preparedness and response and  promote resilience as recommended in the 2009 Report Card though hazard resistant infrastructure and design for ease of recovery.

• National Preparedness Month draws to a close but the needs to prepare continues daily.

• TRB releases slideshow saga  of transportation security activities since 9-11

• Secretary Napolitano discusses recovery during Obama’s visit to New Orleans.
• Secretary Napolitano discusses new proposed standards for Private Sector Preparedness

• Secretary Napolitano and Governor Ritter unveil Terrorism Awareness Video

• TSA to receive $355M for airport security.

• GAO reports calls for better FEMA Public Warning and Post Disaster Housing Programs .

• 29 September memorandum by the Heritage Foundation shows recent success of information sharing, as the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) encourages hundreds more agencies who have yet to subscribe.

• DHS public websites found vulnerable.

• FEMA administrator Craig Fugate addresses National Congress of American Indians 66th Annual Convention.

• FEMA deputy lauds Center for Domestic Preparedness for Training 500,000 Students.

• FEMA contributes nearly $17M to restore New Orleans' Water Distribution System.

• FEMA to evaluate Maryland's Readiness.

• FEMA disaster recovery center  for American Samoa opened October 5, 2009.

• FEMA Continues Response Efforts in American Samoa

• Federal response to Pacific Ocean Tsunami October 1, 2009.

• Did the Georgia disaster create legal problems for you, too?

• Historic storm shows need to Manage Flood Risk.

• Federal and state agencies aim to rebuild public facilities smarter.

• FEMA Georgia flood assistance tops $40 Million After First Two Weeks .

• Georgians get free advice on weathering the next storm.

• SBA disaster loans will be key to Georgia flood recovery.

• State and federal disaster aid in Western New York Nears $6 Million.

• FEMA to release disaster ethics college course curriculum.

• FEMA offers free e-mail subscription of Higher Education notes of the day .

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

Department of Homeland Security Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report

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

ASCE tracks authorization of 2009 Surface Transportation Authorization.

ASCE's Key Vote Scorecard is now updated with all ASCE priority votes from the 111th Congress.

House committee held lesson-learned hearing Coast Guard search & rescue missions.

ASCE supporting the Dam Safety Coalition, visits House offices to seek new co-sponsors of Dam Rehabilitation and Repair Act, (H.R. 1770).

California water bill stall prompts governor to withhold action on over 700 other pending bills.

California legislative leaders inch closer to water bill overhaul.

New York State estimates need for $11.6 B federal funds for high-speed passenger service.

North Carolina requests$5.3 billion from Obama administration for high-speed rail corridor.

Senate approves $33.5 B to fund DOE, DOI and Corps of Engineers FY2010 water programs.

Indiana requests $2.8 B in federal stimulus funds to build Chicago to Cleveland high speed rail.

Hill demands FEMA quickly upgrade aging public warning system.

The US Department of Homeland Security recently requested that ASCE Committee on Critical Infrastructure (CCI) review the Draft 2010 Dams sector Specific Plan.  The Geo-Institute of ASCE Embankments, Dams, and Slopes Committee assisted CCI by thoroughly reviewing the document and providing specific comments from experts with a geotechnical engineering perspective.

Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI)

AEI is partnering with the Steel and Ornamental Institutes of New York to sponsor a symposium on the Structural Steel Frame and Glass Curtain Wall Enclosure on December 9, 2009 at the McGraw-Hill Conference Center in New York City.  Learn more about this symposium.

Environmental and Water Resouces Institute (EWRI)

Upcoming EWRI Webinars - Learn More

The Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information's (ACWI) Subcommittee on Ground Water (SOGW) announces the release of a final document A National Framework for Ground-Water Monitoring in the United States. This document is the result of efforts over the last three years toward implementation of a National Ground Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN).

This document is the first step in implementing the SECURE Water Act directive, as passed by Congress as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11), that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) develop a National Ground Water Monitoring Network in cooperation with state and local water-resource agencies. The Framework Document is available at http://acwi.gov/sogw/pubs under "Technical Reports".

Play the 'Prepare 4' Game

Use it to test your knowledge about emergency preparedness by playing our fun—and fast!—new interactive game. You’ll have 60 seconds to find the four key supplies missing from our emergency preparedness kit. Once you’re done, we’ll send you a list of all the basic supplies you’ll need in your kit.

Play Now

The interactive Ready Boston Family Preparedness Planner makes creating a plan easy, regardless of where you live.

• October 18-21, 2009 — Geological Society of America Annual Meeting with special session on Geologic Hazards Education, Portland, OR.

• October 20-21, 2009 — 2009 All-Hazards Forum & Expo,  Long Beach, CA.

• October 22-23, 2009 — All Hazards Consortium Regional Ports Resiliency Workshop, Baltimore, MD.

• October 26-28, 2009 — U.S. EPA Emergency Preparedness and Prevention & Hazmat Spill Conference,“The nation's premier all-hazards conference”, Baltimore, MD. 

• October 28, 2009 — 2nd Annual CBRNe Convergence Conference The Hague, Netherlands.

• October 28, 2009 — PIANC seminar on environment & coastal flood risk, New Orleans, LA.

• October 29-31, 2009 —   ASCE 139th Annual Civil Engineering Conference, Kansas City, MO.

• October 31- November 5, 2009 — IAEM 57th Annual Conference and EMEX 2009,  Orange, FL.

• November 2-3, 2009 — 1st International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure and Built Environment in Developing Countries (SIBE–2009), Bandung, Indonesia.

• November 4-6, 2009 — Disaster Risk Reduction for Natural Hazards, University College, London.

• November 10-15, 2009 — 5th Congress on Forensic Engineering, Washington, DC.

• November 13-15, 2009 — Shanghai International Disaster Reduction Conference & Exhibition 2009, Shanghai, China.

• November 23-25, 2009 — 4th Intl Workshop on Sumatra Tsunami Recovery. Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

• November 25-26, 2009 — 7th International Probabilistic Workshop,  Delft, The Netherlands.

• December 2-4, 2009 — Security Risk Assessment and Management (SRAM), for buildings and infrastructure. Honolulu, HI.

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 here to subscribe. 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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