ASIS INTERNATIONAL

Webinar

March 2013

SECURITY RESPONSE TO

INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS

Natural and Man-made Disasters are a Common Global Occurrence

INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS

“Tsunami death toll tops 118,000” “World reacts to tsunami disaster” (CNN International – Dec 2004)

“Up to 1,000 killed and more trapped by earthquake in Indonesia's Sumatra” (Telegraph Media Group – UK – Sep 2009)

“United States Mobilizes to Send Emergency Assistance to Haiti”(NY Times – January 2010)

(Associated Press) ( NCIS/FPD Indonesia

(US DOD) (Haiti)

Private Sector Security Companies

PARTICIPANTS

US and Foreign Military Assistance

Humanitarian / NGO Community

Partner Nation Security Forces

Affected State Security Forces

Affected

State

Agencies

Other US and Foreign Govt. Agencies

Private Security Companies

SECURITY CHALLENGES

Non-existent or minimal

Affected State Security Support

Non-existent or minimal

Critical Infrastructure

Cultural differences & sensitivities

Chaos; Hopelessness;

Panic

Numerous Organizations

Criminal, Subversive & Terrorist Activity

Language barriers

Prevent or contain local disruptions

Protect Persons & Assets, Ensure Mission & Business Continuity

ASIAN TSUNAMI

• + 230,000 killed• + 125,000 injured• + 45,000 missing • + 1.69 million displaced• + 15 countries affected

FPD Photo

Wikipedia

ASIAN TSUNAMI

WikipediaFPD Photo

• Initial looting• Communications issues• Language barriers • Impassable roads• Lack of transport /supplies• Lack of generators• Cultural sensitivities

US Navy Photo

ASIAN TSUNAMI

FPD Photo

Other Concerns:

- Displaced / Missing persons- Health Issues- Separatist Activities- Piracy - Graft and Corruption

FPD Photo

USN Photo

MH-53E Sea Dragon

WEST SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE

• + 1100 killed• + 2900 injured• + 279,000 buildings damaged• + 1,250,000 people affected

FPD Photo AP Photo

BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images

WEST SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE

FPD Photo

• Infrastructure Damage• Port / Airfield Damage• Congested Travel Routes • Displaced / Missing / Dead• Health and Safety Issues

FPD Photo

USAF Mobile Field Hospital

Padang Airport

FPD Photo

WEST SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE

Coordination and Sharing of Information

Interpreters / Translators

Media perceptions - HLZ

Transportation Relief and Reconstruction Cargo

Roadside monetary collections

FPD Photo

FPD Photo

USN Photo

HAITI EARTHQUAKE

• + 200,000 killed• + 250,000 injured• + 1.5 million displaced• + 10,000 buildings collapsed• Infrastructure severely impacted

LA Times Photo

Reuters Photo

HAITI EARTHQUAKE

• Infrastructure Damage• Port / Airfield Damage• Congested Travel Routes• Communications • Displaced / Missing / Dead• Health and Safety Issues• Food, Water, Shelter

LA Times Photo

AFP Getty Images

HAITI EARTHQUAKE

• Crowd Control • Food / Water Distribution• Search & Rescue Ops• Securing Sites• Mission / Business Continuity

USAID Photo

USCG Photo

LA Times Photo

JAPAN EARTHQUAKE / TSUNAMI

Reuters Photo

JAPAN EARTHQUAKE / TSUNAMI

Reuters Photo

• Account For and Take Care of Personnel / Employees• Safety and Health of Responders – both short and long term• Communications – Internet and Skype reported to be working - SAT phones registered outside of country working • Perception Management – evacuations of foreign staff

• Charity Relief Scams prevalent

Challenges / Solutions

PRIVATE SECURITY FOCUS

• Locate Missing People

• Evacuation

• Medical Support / Evacuation

• Securing Buildings, Sites and Associated Materials

• Food, Water & Shelter

• Lack of Control by Affected State Authorities

• Opportunistic Crimes (e.g. car-jackings, theft…)

Interagency Cooperation

• Coordination / cooperation is paramount

• Mutual Support / Info Sharing

• Capitalize on available dynamics

• Avoid Territorial or “Rice Bowl” Mentality

Communications

 

Equipment

Satellite phones

REACH - Remote Expeditionary Area

Communications Hub

• GRRIP – Global Rapid Response Info Package

HF Radios / Mobile Telephones

Redundant Systems !

US Navy League

MEDIA

• Refer to Public Affairs

• Turn them into allies

•Can reach people and places you can’t

• They will tell a story with you, or without your input

NY Times photo/Mills

NCIS/FPD Photo

Information Flow

• Quest for information will be insatiable

• Counter misinformation / Perception is Reality

• Centralized Control is Essential

• Maximize available Technology

• Maximize available Resources

PHASED APPROACH TO SECURITY SUPPORT

PREPARATIONPHASE

ASSESSMENTPHASE

RESPONSEPHASE

RECOVERYPHASE

RETROGRADEPHASE

SECURITY AS THE KEY COMPONENT

Prepare, Plan and Train Understand the Threat

Culture & Customs Develop Contacts

Arrive on Scene Early Coordinate -- Coordinate -- Coordinate

Monitor the Threat Continuous Flow of Info

Immediate Response Investigate / Report

KEYS TO SUCCESS

• Prepare & Train •Understand Customs & Culture•Develop & Maintain Relationships• Leverage Available Assets•Communicate / Pass Information• Share Essential Information• Flexibility is essential

RESOURCES

• ASIS International -  http://www.asisonline.org

• Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Association, International (DERA) - http://www.disasters.org

• EM-DAT - http://www.emdat.be

• LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com

• United Nations - http://www.un.org

• USAID - http://www.usaid.gov

• U.S. Department of State - http://www.state.gov

• U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - http://www.fema.gov

Contact Information

Scott M. BernatDirector of Maritime Solutions

G2-Ops, Inc.scott.bernat@G2-Ops.com

+1-757-848-8637