Part 6
An extremely wide variety of perspectives is
being brought to bear today on the subject of homeland security and critical
infrastructure. Indeed, the subject of infrastructure and critical
infrastructure protection is being defined in different ways, using very
different perspectives, and sometimes with different purposes in mind as
well. Is a common frame of reference possible? Could a
common frame of reference be useful in strengthening homeland security and
critical infrastructure protection efforts? The Homeland Security Impact Scale may provide
a tool that can help advance understanding of homeland security and critical
infrastructure security challenges, options, and goals while providing a
common frame of reference. The impact scale may also suggest ways of
understanding impacts and the need to take action to reverse impacts.
The impact scale may also help in assessing interdependencies of critical
infrastructure sectors and the possible consequences of cascading failures
and impacts. The idea for the Homeland Security Impact
Scale comes from a similar approach that had been used as a survey tool in
1998 by the Washington, D.C. Y2K Group (WDCY2K). WDCY2K was a
group of professionals from the public and private sectors that met on a
monthly basis in 1998 and 1999 to network, hear panels of speakers on topics
relating to Y2K efforts, and discuss ways of addressing the challenges and
threats posed by Y2K. The Y2K Impact Scale was used to survey the
membership of the group to get a sense of the different ways in which the
possible impacts of Y2K were being assessed (For the results of these
surveys, see Bruce Webster, 1999). The Homeland Security Impact Scale can be used
to describe in a very general way the impacts and lingering effects resulting
from 9/11 and the subsequent anthrax attacks. The Homeland Security
Impact Scale" could be used as a means to describe or indicate in a very
general way any or all of the following: ~ What the status of homeland security was
prior to the attacks; There are certain givens in the use of this
impact scale. To begin with all of the factors that are likely to
affect the status of homeland security cannot be foreseen. In addition,
because of the turbulent character of the current environment and the
dynamically changing and unpredictable nature of the future, there is no
tried and true way that the scale can be used to measure with any kind of
precision the impact that certain interventions, actions, or events have had
or are likely to have. Indeed, if one shares the assumptions implicit
in the scale, one realizes that there is no tool or analytic approach that
can be used in any kind of precise way to measure impacts. Just as
suffering is not amenable to microanalysis and quantification, neither are
the widely varied and multidimensional impacts, consequences, and
implications of terrorist attacks. The scale can be used, however, as an
educational tool that may help individuals consider or recognize and
acknowledge what the "general" state of homeland security is, how
it has changed or how it might change. The impact scale can be used as
a tool to suggest any or all of the following: ~ how well past impacts have been and are
being addressed; Here then is the Homeland Security Impact
Scale: Homeland Security Impact Scale 0 No real impact on national
security, economic security, or personal security
2 Significant impact in some
areas that were not directly affected
4 Economic slowdown spreads; rise
in unemployment and underemployment; accompanied by possible isolated
*disruptive incidents and acts, increase in hunger and homelessness
5 Cascading impacts including mild
recession; isolated *supply problems; isolated *infrastructure problems;
accompanied by possible increase in *disruptive incidents and acts,
continuing societal impacts
6 Moderate to strong recession or
increased market volatility; regional supply problems; regional infrastructure
problems; accompanied by possible increase in disruptive incidents
and acts, worsening societal impacts
7 Spreading *supply problems and *infrastructure
problems; accompanied by possible increase in disruptive incidents
and acts, worsening societal impacts, and major challenges posed to
elected and non-elected public officials
8 Depression; increased *supply problems;
elements of *infrastructure crippled; accompanied by likely increase
in disruptive incidents and acts; worsening societal impacts; and
national and global markets severely impacted
9 Widespread *supply problems; infrastructure
verging on collapse with both national and global consequences; worsening
economic and societal impacts, accompanied by likely widespread disruptions
10 Possible unraveling of the social fabric,
nationally and globally, jeopardizing the ability of governments to
govern and keep the peace * "Supply problems" and "infrastructure
problems may include food shortages; availability of potable water;
degradation of water purity, water distribution and/or waste management;
fuel/heating oil shortages, disruptions in utilities (power, gas,
telecommunications), disruption in the financial sector, disruptions in
transportation (airlines, trains, trucking, ports, ships); pharmaceutical
shortages; disruption of health care services or emergency medical services;
disruption of fire and public safety services; disruptions or inadequacies,
or overwhelming of public works operations and services. - "Disruptions" and "incidents"
can include anti-war and other demonstrations, work stoppages, strikes,
organized vandalism, looting, and riots. Also included are sabotage
and terrorist acts and attacks. (These notations have
been adapted in part from notations used in the Y2K Impact Scale in
1998 by WDCY2K. See also Bruce F. Webster, 1999.) Return to
Paula Gordon's Homeland Security Page or to Summation |
