AMU Emergency Management Public Safety

EDM Week in Review: April 25, 2016

Emergency and disaster management week in review, April 25, 2016

A weekly recap of handpicked emergency and disaster management news, along with analysis and interpretation from our team of experts.


Cyber Security

The Global Cyber Alliance (GCA), a counter-cyber crime alliance, recently [link url=”https://amuedge.com/new-global-cyber-alliance-identifies-phishing-as-top-cyber-security-risk/” title=”identified the four top cyber security risks“] that affect businesses and individuals across the world. The GCA [link url=”https://amuedge.com/new-global-cyber-alliance-identifies-phishing-as-top-cyber-security-risk/” title=”believes that phishing is the highest risk“] at this time, and also listed other significant cyber vulnerabilities and threats.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/new-global-cyber-alliance-identifies-phishing-as-top-cyber-security-risk/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/study-u-s-schools-failing-in-cyber-security-education/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/cisco-more-than-3-million-servers-exposed-to-serious-ransomware-threat/”]

As vehicles become more sophisticated and connected, they also become more vulnerable to cyber attacks. This fact compelled the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a thorough [link url=”https://amuedge.com/gao-urges-dot-to-address-vehicle-cyber-security/” title=”review of cyber security issues in vehicles“] that could impact passenger safety. The GAO identified current vulnerabilities in vehicles and [link url=”https://amuedge.com/gao-urges-dot-to-address-vehicle-cyber-security/” title=”recommended actions“] to mitigate the impact of the potential attacks.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/sunday-media-review-cybersecurity/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/gao-urges-dot-to-address-vehicle-cyber-security/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/report-government-organizations-rank-last-in-cyber-security/”]


Zika Virus

As of April 20, 2016, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [link url=”https://amuedge.com/zika-virus-update-what-we-now-know/” title=”reported 891 confirmed Zika cases in U.S. states and territories.“] Puerto Rico leads all U.S. states and territories with 476 confirmed Zika cases, while Florida leads all U.S. states with 84 confirmed Zika cases. The [link url=”https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/02/22/letter-president-zika-virus” title=”$1.9 billion request“] to fund the U.S. battle against the virus [link url=”https://amuedge.com/zika-virus-update-what-we-now-know/” title=”remains stalled in Congress.“]

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/zika-virus-update-what-we-now-know/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/saturday-guest-blog-zika-preparation-in-south-florida/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/the-battle-for-zika-funds-to-be-continued/”] [relink url=”https://amuedge.com/zika-and-the-threat-of-denial/”  url2=”https://amuedge.com/the-zika-virus-dont-underestimate-the-threat/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/who-mounting-evidence-of-zika-virus-microcephaly-connection/”]


Wildfires

The wildfire first reported more than 10 days ago in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is still burning and has now [link url=”http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/10376-Acres-of-Shenandoah-National-Park-are-Burning-377158351.html” title=”spread across more than 10,000 acres.“] Firefighters from 33 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico are battling the forest fire, making used of at least four helicopters, two airplanes and several ground vehicles. The fire is forcing the [link url=”http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/10376-Acres-of-Shenandoah-National-Park-are-Burning-377158351.html” title=”closure of both hiking trails and roads,“] as more than 17 miles of the Appalachian Trail remains closed, as does 22 miles of Skyline Drive — a road that winds through Shenandoah National Park.  The fire is being cited as the [link url=”http://wtop.com/virginia/2016/04/fire-in-shenandoah-national-park-grows-to-second-largest-on-record/slide/1/” title=”second-largest fire“] in the park’s history.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/wildfires-worst-ever-in-2015/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/wildfires-how-to-prepare-and-protect-homes-and-families/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/a-forthcoming-wildfire-storm/”]

In North Carolina, officials have determined the cause for a wildfire in the state that burned at least 15,000 acres over the past 10 days. It was determined that road maintenance work, specifically a [link url=”http://outerbanksvoice.com/2016/04/24/cause-of-whipping-creek-fire-determined-as-u-s-264-reopens/” title=”grass mowing operation,“] sparked the fire that has began burning near the Dare County and Hyde County line, and spread into in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and other nearby areas. As of Thursday night, the wildfire is [link url=”http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4691/” title=”78 percent contained.“]

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/a-clearer-mirror-the-billion-dollar-disasters-of-2015/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/climate-in-case-youre-not-convinced-yet/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/friday-book-reviews-wildland-fire-history/”]

Colorado state officials announced a relatively [link url=”https://www.cpr.org/news/newsbeat/officials-forecast-mild-wildfire-threat-colorado” title=”mild wildfire outlook for Colorado“] for the third straight year. Both [link url=”http://www.krdo.com/news/colorado-releases-its-2016-wildfire-outlook/39220980″ title=”2014 and 2015 were low wildfire years“] for Colorado after 2012 and 2013 were both bad years. Colorado endured more than 4,900 fires on 348 square miles in 2013, while at least 6,100 fires burned more than 660 square miles in 2012.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/nifc-releases-seasonal-wildfire-outlook/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/more-than-half-of-americans-breathe-unhealthy-polluted-air/” url3= “http://edmdigest.com/adaptation/mission-probable-the-national-interagency-fire-center-and-emergency-management/”]


Power Grid Vulnerabilities

A power company in the Midwest [link url=”http://www.techinsider.io/redteam-hackers-power-grid-company-2016-4″ title=”hired a team of hackers to test its security“] and uncover any vulnerabilities that may exist. The hackers tried to get into buildings and then hack into the power company’s network in an attempt to gain full access — and had great success. The [link url=”http://www.techinsider.io/redteam-hackers-power-grid-company-2016-4″ title=”hackers uncovered many vulnerabilities“] and even found it to be relatively easy to gain access to critical components in some instances.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/report-government-organizations-rank-last-in-cyber-security/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/dod-plan-outlines-cybersecurity-guidance/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/u-s-government-sees-rise-in-cyber-attacks/”]
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) publicly released a report from March that analyzed U.S. [link url=”https://amuedge.com/gao-power-grid-still-vulnerable-to-electromagnetic-risks/” title=”vulnerability to electromagnetic threats.“] The GAO completed the review of recent federal efforts and also provided recommendations of actions that could be taken to enhance protection. The GAO reported that while the U.S. has taken steps to protect against electromagnetic risks, the power supply remains vulnerable and [link url=”https://amuedge.com/gao-power-grid-still-vulnerable-to-electromagnetic-risks” title=”more needs to be done to safeguard the U.S. power grid.“]

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/u-s-senate-passes-bill-that-strengthens-power-grid-security/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/simulated-attack-on-power-grid-reveals-need-for-improvement-in-response/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/a-look-at-cyber-security/”]

House Representatives Billy Long (R-Mo.) and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) introduced a bill this week titled the [link url=”https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/114/20160426-HHS-Data-Protection-Act.pdf” title=”HHS Data Protection Act“] that aims to improve cyber security at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The legislation would create a [link url=”http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/277826-house-bill-would-create-cybersecurity-official-at-hhs” title=”chief information security officer position“] within HHS. The new bill comes as a response to reports that surfaced in 2015 [link url=”http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/277826-house-bill-would-create-cybersecurity-official-at-hhs” title=”detailing different data breaches“] at HHS in recent years.

Kimberly Arsenault serves as an intern at the Cleveland/Bradley County Emergency Management Agency where she works on plan revisions and special projects. Previously, Kimberly spent 15 years in commercial and business aviation. Her positions included station manager at the former Midwest Express Airlines, as well as corporate flight attendant, inflight manager, and charter flight coordinator. Kimberly currently holds a master's degree in emergency and disaster management from American Public University.

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