FEBRUARY 14, 2018 U.S. Energy Department forming cyber protection unit for power grids

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-energy-cyber/u-s-energy-department-forming-cyber-protection-unit-for-power-grids-idUSKCN1FY29C?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social

CYBER RISK

FEBRUARY 14, 2018 / 10:22 AM / 6 DAYS AGO

U.S. Energy Department forming cyber protection unit for power grids

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said on Wednesday it is establishing an office to protect the nation’s power grid and other infrastructure against cyber attacks and natural disasters.

President Donald Trump’s budget proposal unveiled this week included $96 million in funding for the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response.

Energy Secretary Rick Perry said the DOE “plays a vital role in protecting our nation’s energy infrastructure from cyber threats, physical attack and natural disaster, and as secretary, I have no higher priority.”

Last July, the DOE helped U.S. firms defend against a hacking campaign that targeted power companies including at least one nuclear plant. The agency said that the attacks did not have an impact on electricity generation or the grid, and that any impact appeared to be limited to administrative and business networks.

The previous month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation had issued an alert to industrial companies, warning that for months hackers had targeted nuclear reactors and other power industry infrastructure, using tainted emails to harvest credentials and gain access to networks.

In some cases hackers succeeded in compromising the networks of their targets, but the report did not identify specific victims.

Nuclear power experts, such as Dave Lochbaum at the Union of Concerned Scientists nonprofit group, have said reactors have a certain amount of immunity from cyber attacks because their operation systems are separate from digital business networks. But over time it would not be impossible for hackers to potentially do harm, he said.

Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe

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Nature Heals Itself. Dominica, An Island Reborn.

What is a disaster, an emergency, a crisis?

Questions that we as emergency and crisis managers must face daily, especially when asked by our future leaders, our children.  I believe in keeping it as simple as possible, or 'KISS' (keep it simple, stupid) for the average layperson.  Nothing fancy, nothing unique.

A disaster, emergency, or crisis is any event that affects or is caused by humans.

Dominica will recover from the 2017 Hurricanes.  Nature shall heal itself, humans must rebuild better shelters or homes to weather the next storm for highest hurricane category level to survive. 

Please review the short video narritve 'Dominica - An Island Reborn' at the Caribbean Today websites:  http://today.caricom.org/   

Charles D. Sharp
CEO
BEMA International

PAID Internship Opportunities (5). D.C. HSEMA. Deadline: April 29, 2018

APPLY.  DO IT!  Advise a relative or friend to ‘Just Do It’!

For other cities check for intern positions in emergency management, and resiliency offices. 

You just may make that change needed.

Charles D. Sharp.  CEO BEMA International

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

HOMELAND SECURITY & EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

The District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) manages and coordinates the District’s unified prevention, protection, response, mitigation, and recovery efforts for all disasters, whether natural or man-made, that occur in the City. The HSEMA is an industry leader having developed a flagship District Preparedness System (DPS) which serves a model across the nation. The DPS is the cornerstone of the District’s preparedness activities designed to achieve our shared goal: the safety and resilience of our City. As an intern you will have the opportunity to support the DPS by developing products and working within a dynamic environment during real world incidents and planned events.

HSEMA is looking for highly-skilled and motivated undergraduate and graduate students that are interested in the homeland security and emergency management field to learn how to apply homeland security and emergency management practices to protect life, property, and the environment. In particular, HSEMA is looking for students interested in or majoring in the following fields:

·        Emergency Management/Homeland Security

·        Applied Mathematics

·        Applied Statistics

·        Governmental Affairs

·        Information Technology/Computer Science

·        Business/Public Administration/Policy

·        Public Communication/Relations

·        Urban Planning

·        Adult Education/ Curriculum Development/ Instructional Design

1.     Information Technology Bureau

Paid Internship Opportunity – Information Technology Bureau Duration of Internship: May 21, 2018- August 10, 2018 Compensation: Stipend Position With: Information Technology (IT) Bureau Description of Opportunity The Information Technology (IT) Bureau is the technology support service of HSEMA. The agency uses a variety of technologies including computer systems, radio and telecommunications, closed circuit television, other audiovisual systems, and mobile command vehicles. Successful candidates will be part of an experienced team of IT Professionals and will provide assistance in various functions of the IT department working with the lead IT specialist on ad-hoc research requests, troubleshooting, asset management and mapping within the agency. Qualifications A) Demonstrated interest in emergency management and homeland security issues B) Excellent organizational skills C) Demonstrated problem-solving skills D) Must be a highly motivated self-starter E) Command of Microsoft Office Suite

2.    Mission Support Division

Paid Internship Opportunity – Mission Support Division Duration of Internship: May 21, 2018- August 10, 2018 Compensation: Stipend Position With: Mission Support Division Description of Opportunity A. Assist with the development of HSEMA’s Finance and Human Resources Bureaus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) B. Assist with the development of Finance and Administrative training curriculum and materials C. Assist with audits as needed Qualifications A. Demonstrated interest in budget, finance and/or human resources within the public sector B. Excellent written and oral communication skills C. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

3.    Operations Division

Paid Internship Opportunity – Operations Division Duration of Internship: May 21, 2018- August 10, 2018 Compensation: Stipend Position With: Operations Division Description of Opportunity The Operations Division maintains situational awareness, coordinates emergency response by providing logistical and resource support, disseminates emergency notifications to internal response agencies and the pubic and participates in field operations to coordinate incident response, mitigation, and recovery support for District and Federal agencies during special events. Manages the citywide Joint All-Hazards Operation Center (JAHOC). Successful candidates will be asked to complete a series of tasks over the course of their internship as defined by the Chief of Operations. Emergency Management related training will be provided as well as guidance and mentorship opportunities.” Qualifications A. Demonstrated interest in emergency management B. Strong written and oral communications skills C. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

4.    Policy and Legislative Affairs Bureau

Paid Internship Opportunity – Policy and Legislative Affairs Bureau Duration of Internship: May 21, 2018 – August 10, 2018 Compensation: Stipend Position With: Policy and Legislative Affairs Bureau Description of Opportunity The Policy and Legislative Affairs Bureau develops agency policies and procedures, provides administrative support to the Homeland Security Commission, and provides legislative guidance and expertise. Successful candidates will research laws and policies and assist with drafting policies for internal agency purposes. Additional tasks as assigned may include assisting the Bureau with research on emergency preparedness best practices, upcoming legislative issues, and other duties as required. Qualifications A. Those with prior policy writing experience are preferred; an interest in policy writing is required B. Excellent written and oral communications skills required (must be able to speak to communicate specific, sometimes complex ideas to both supervisors and District constituents) C. Close attention to detail D. Interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with a team E. Ability to take excellent meeting notes and strong editing and proofreading skills F. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint G. Demonstrated interest in emergency management and homeland security issues is preferred but not required

5.    Preparedness Division

Paid Internship Opportunity – Preparedness Division Duration of Internship: May 21, 2018- August 10, 2018 Compensation: Stipend Position: Internship with the Preparedness Division (PD) Description of Opportunity: The Preparedness Division facilitates a systematic process that promotes a “whole-community’’ approach to all-hazards preparedness planning in the District. This primarily involves instituting and maintaining standardized systems that support the actions required to develop strategic, operational, and tactical plans that address all-hazard within the prevention/ protection, response, recovery, and mitigation mission areas. Successful candidates will be part of an experienced team of homeland security and emergency management professionals who are committed to promoting resiliency in government agencies, our communities, and critical infrastructure. As part of their assigned tasks, selected interns will conduct research; collect, collate, edit, audit, and analyze data; conduct queries and generate reports; develop, review, socialize, and evaluate plans, initiatives, and the program; and perform general administrative tasks. Interns will have the opportunity to deploy to the City’s Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) during incidents, planned events, and exercises to support operations. Interns will also be required to complete a suite of industry related courses delivered by HSEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and regional partners. Qualifications A. Demonstrated interest in emergency management and homeland security issues or related field B. Excellent written and oral communications skills required C. Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint D. Demonstrated proficiency in research, analysis, and creative thinking

FOR ALL

 *Interns may be asked to work outside of normal business hours including weekends and holidays

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, one (1) writing sample (max. eight (8) pages) and one(1) letter of recommendation to hsema.internship@dc.gov indicating the particular Internship Opportunity being applied for in the email subject line by Sunday April 29,2018

NOTE: Applicants must be US citizens and are subject to a background check

Water Security. Water Recycling

Water Recycling and Reuse: The Environmental Benefits

What Is Water Recycling?

Recycle: verb

1.   a. To recover useful materials from garbage or waste
b. To extract and reuse.

While recycling is a term generally applied to aluminum cans, glass bottles, and newspapers, water can be recycled as well. Water recycling is reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes such as agricultural and landscape irrigation, industrial processes, toilet flushing, and replenishing a ground water basin (referred to as ground water recharge). Water recycling offers resource and financial savings. Wastewater treatment can be tailored to meet the water quality requirements of a planned reuse. Recycled water for landscape irrigation requires less treatment than recycled water for drinking water. No documented cases of human health problems due to contact with recycled water that has been treated to standards, criteria, and regulations have been reported.

Water is sometimes recycled and reused onsite. For example, when an industrial facility recycles water used for cooling processes. A common type of recycled water is water that has been reclaimed from municipal wastewater, or sewage. The term water recycling is generally used synonymously with water reclamation and water reuse.

Another type of recycled water is "gray water".Gray water, or gray water, is reusable wastewater from residential, commercial and industrial bathroom sinks, bath tub shower drains, and clothes washing equipment drains.  Gray water is reused onsite, typically for landscape irrigation.  Use of non toxic and low-sodium (no added sodium or substances that are naturally high in sodium) soap and personal care products is required to protect vegetation when reusing gray water for irrigation. National Science Foundation (NSF) International has established a wastewater treatment task group on onsite residential and commercial gray water treatment systems. They have developed a draft new standard – NSF 350 – Onsite Residential and Commercial Reuse Treatment Systems.  This standard encompasses residential wastewater treatment systems (similar to the scope of VSF/ANSI Standards 40 and 245) along with systems that treat only the gray water portion. For more information visit the NSF website .  EPA and CDC brought together agency and academic experts to explore the science available for addressing high-priority regional needs in the areas of: 

·        Gray water exposure risk to humans and ecosystems;

·        risk management options for gray water;

·        water scarcity,

·        and trends in water use. 

.....more.    

Read more at: https://www3.epa.gov/region9/water/recycling/

Download PDF version: Water Recycling and Reuse: The Environmental Benefits (PDF) (11 pp, 3.1MB, About PDF)