Faith-Based Security Headlines
These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.
FB-ISAO’s Monthly Education Series: Standing Up Security Teams
February 5 Session: Selecting and Recruiting Your Operations Team
Security Teams are an essential component of any security program. Building a security team to safeguard people is crucial for any house of worship. The Faith-Based Information Sharing and Analysis Organization is hosting a series ofdiscussions on how to effectively create, develop, and manage a security team.
Selecting and Recruiting Your Operations Team
Not everyone is cut out to serve on a safety and security team. Good practices for vetting the team include designing and using an application, interviewing, and performing a background check to arrive at a good cadre of candidates. While there are no “ideal” candidates, each of us are human and are subject to associated frailties. During this session we will discuss screening potential team members for alignment with the organization’s mission and culture. Those traits can include the team members’ proper mindset, aptitude, character and disposition.
Date: 05 February 2025
Time: 12pm ET
To register: please visit our events page.
For more information about the program, access – Standing Up Teams – Programs Page.
CISA employees told they are exempt from federal worker resignation program
Recorded Future News reports:
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) employees were told Thursday that they are not eligible for the federal government-wide deferred resignation program, according to an email seen by Recorded Future News.
On Tuesday evening, the Office of Personnel Management sent two million government workers an email offering anyone who resigns by February 6 to retain their pay and benefits until the end of September.
…
A source familiar with the matter said CISA employees are exempt from the offer because they are considered national security staff.
The prohibition on CISA workers accepting the deferred resignation offer follows “guidance from DHS [Department of Homeland Security] management,” according to the email from CISA Executive Director Bridget Bean.
Spokespersons for DHS and CISA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CISA is housed inside DHS.
Related Article:
Analyst Comments:
The FB-ISAO’s Daily Awareness Post (DAP) regularly post products and guidance developed and published by DHS’ Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CISA provides cyber and physical security resources, many that are specifically for Houses of Worship. The above action should enable CISA to continue providing resources to Faith-Based Organizations.
Dangerous ice threat looms for Northeast, Midwest as midweek winter storm brews over US
A winter storm is expected to bring sleet and freezing rain to portions of the Midwest and Northeast on Wednesday and Thursday.
Related Item:
- NWS: WPC Winter Weather Forecasts (Includes freezing rain forecast map.)
Analyst Comments:
Ice storms are a serious threat. The National Weather Service provides recommendations on its Ice Storms website.
Ice storms often produce long-term power outages. The American Red Cross’s Power Outage Safety website provides recommendations for before, during, and after a power outage.
The American Red Cross also provides a two-page Power Outage Preparedness Checklist.
The CDC’s What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage provides recommendations on the following:
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Food, water, and medication safety
- Extreme heat and cold
- Protect yourself from other hazards
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More Faith-Based Stories
MO: Fire at vacant church leaves one dead in Kansas City
Pastor, 3 kids escape Denver church after warming fire spread to building (“incendiary – transient warming/heating fire.”)
KY: Abandoned 125-year-old church on the North Side catches fire and No one injured in church fire on West Broadway, Louisville Fire says
Texas Man Admits to Making Violent Threats Against Sikh Nonprofit Organization and Texas man admits to hate crime, threatening Sikh nonprofit (Occurred Sept 2022)
TN: Authorities seeking suspect after vandalism incidents at Montgomery County churches
CT: Suspects Charged In Connection To Alexander County Church Break-in
MI: Police investigate after antisemitic flyers distributed in Genesee County city
‘Crisis communications’: emails show how NFL’s Saints and NBA’s Pelicans helped New Orleans church spin abuse scandal and The Saints clergy-abuse emails: five takeaways from our investigation (Occurred 2018 and 2019)
Texas megachurch pastor retires after arrest for solicitation of prostitution at massage parlor (Arrested Oct 2024)
Sydney is facing a wave of antisemitic attacks – but what is behind them?, Five women targeted in potential antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach and Sydney cars, houses sprayed with antisemitic graffiti in latest attack on Australian Jews
UK: Major fire breaks out at Salford Orthodox synagogue
Select All Hazard Stories
Trump airstrikes target ‘senior IS attack planner’ in Somalia and DOD: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Statement on U.S. Africa Command Strikes in Somalia
Secretary Rubio’s Meeting with Panamanian President Mulino and Trump reiterates threat to retake Panama Canal ‘or something very powerful’ will happen
UT: Extremist group marches near Herriman City Hall to protest ‘invaders.’
Videos Show Massive Anti-ICE Protest Erupt As Demonstrators Take Over LA Highway
‘Driven to self-loathing’: Inside the extremist website believed to ‘groom’ teen attackers
New Orleans Super Bowl gets beefed up security measures
Why do arsonists set fires? The reasons are sometimes dark and surprising
Australia: White supremacist network hit with sanctions in antisemitism crackdown — as it happened
Prolonged Heavy Rain and Heavy Snow Event Continues for Northern California and into the Northern Rockies National Weather Service
Bird flu crisis enters new phase
Hoaxsters Take Advantage of D.C. Plane Crash
OUCH! Newsletter. Sweet Talk and Empty Wallet: Romance Fueled Investment Scams
Too Good to Be True: How a Crypto Investment Scam Works
How scammers are exploiting DeepSeek’s rise
Chinese Chatbot Phenom is a Disinformation Machine and DeepSeek’s Safety Guardrails Failed Every Test Researchers Threw at Its AI Chatbot
Six Takeaways From a Monumental Week for AI
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