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General Security and Resilience

Local and Federal Authorities Investigating Unexplained Drone Activity in Colorado and Nebraska

Over the past few weeks, law enforcement agencies have been bombarded with reports of mysterious drone sightings in the night sky over Nebraska and Colorado. In addition to the large number of reports, the drones seem to be operating in coordination with one another, appearing at the same time and flying in groups. Residents in Colorado, for example, have reported seeing groups of six to ten drones with six-foot wingspans hovering or cruising through their area between 7 and 10 pm, usually flying about a couple hundred feet in the air and sometimes in grid-like patterns.

Recap of the Past Year’s Natural Disasters

An article in Scientific American reviews the natural disasters that impacted the U.S. in 2019. According to the article, the responses to these incidents demonstrated both how well and how poorly the nation is prepared to withstand natural disasters in their current and yet consistently evolving state. In its look at the California wildfires, it reminds its readers of the public safety power shutoffs initiated by electric utilities in an effort to prevent equipment from sparking blazes.

Australian Authorities Take Measures to Protect Water Infrastructure and Supplies from Bushfires and Intense Heat

Currently there are more than 100 bushfires burning across New South Wales (NSW) in southeastern Australia, which have been fueled in part by high temperatures that have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of the state. On Friday, it was reported that authorities said one of their priorities was protecting water plants, pumping stations, pipes, and other infrastructure from these intense bushfires. Some of the fires are burning near the Warragamba Dam, which helps provide water to Sydney, the country’s largest city by population with over 5 million residents.

Mass Killings in the U.S. Hit New High in 2019

The U.S. experienced more mass killings in 2019 than any year going back to the 1970s, according to information compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University. Specifically, the U.S. experienced 41 mass killings in 2019, defined as when four or more people are killed (excluding the perpetrator). The second-most killings in a year prior to 2019 was 38 in 2006. Most of the incidents in 2019 – 33 in all – were mass shootings. One of the deadliest of these incidents, the mass shooting that occurred in Virginia Beach, Virginia on May 31, claimed the lives of 12 people.

Course on Alternate Water Supply Planning for Firefighting Operations.

The U.S. Fire Administration has made available “Alternative Water Supply: Planning and Implementing Programs,” an online, self-study course that is estimated to take about six hours to complete. It is designed to assist water authorities, fire chiefs, public policy officials, and other personnel who are responsible for planning for and implementing programs that allow for the use of alternate water sources during structural firefighting operations. Access the course at the U.S.

Planning for Resilience – Business Continuity Plan Template

Being resilient means being able to withstand or quickly recover from adverse events when they occur, which can be bolstered by developing a continuity plan. The Northern Virginia Regional Intelligence Center, a WaterISAC partner, has shared a template for making such a plan that was developed by the Arlington County Department of Public Safety and Communications. The template provides a framework, guidance, and concept of operations to enable businesses to continue and/or rapidly restore their critical functions in the event of a disruption to normal operations.

Materials from NACWA/AMWA Webinar on Operationalizing Resilience in the Water Sector

The recording and presentation from “Resilience & Smart Communities,” a webinar hosted earlier this month by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), have been posted online for viewing and downloading. The webinar addressed the use of data to help utilities develop and implement resilience strategies, as well as the growing interest bond rating agencies and insurance companies have in climate change and its effects on water utilities. The webinar featured presenters from Xylem, Inc.

President’s Infrastructure Council Urges Bold Action to Prevent “Cyber 9-11”

In a draft letter to President Trump, the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) warned of serious cybersecurity threats facing critical infrastructure, threats it submits the nation is not currently prepared to counter. The NIAC calls out threats from nation states in particular and makes reference to recent activities by China, Russia, and Iran to highlight their capabilities and the types of attacks that could unfold.

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