Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 28 May 2025

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. 

NOAA Forecasts Above Average 2025 Atlantic NHurricane Season

The FEMA bulletin highlights several important updates, most notably that NOAA has forecasted an above-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2025, urging communities to prepare accordingly. NOAA statics predict that there will be 6-10 hurricanes and 3-5 of those hurricanes will be major, alongside there will be 13-19 named storms. Resulting in a 60% chance of an above-normal season, and a 30% chance of a near-normal season and 10% chance of a below-normal season.

Additional article about severe weather: America’s summers keep getting warmer

Analyst Comments:  FB-ISAO encourages the community to finalize preparations, as the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins this Saturday. Members are encouraged to review our Weekly Report on Hurricane Preparedness, published on 08 May. To join FB-ISAO and receive similar reports in the future, learn more about our membership.

‘Dozens of anti-Jewish terror plots have been foiled,’ JFNA chief warns after Washington murders

In the wake of the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside Washington, D.C.’s Capital Jewish Museum, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) CEO Eric Fingerhut revealed that numerous anti-Jewish terror plots have been thwarted across North America since the October 7 Hamas attacks. While specific details remain confidential due to ongoing investigations, these plots targeted synagogues, day schools, and public events. Fingerhut emphasized the effectiveness of the LiveSecure initiative, launched after the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, which has enabled 130 out of 140 Jewish federations to employ full-time security directors. These directors collaborate with the Secure Community Network (SCN) and the FBI to monitor threats and coordinate responses. Despite these efforts, the recent Washington attack highlighted vulnerabilities, as the assailant exploited areas outside controlled perimeters. Fingerhut advocates for a national security strategy akin to the post-9/11 Department of Homeland Security to better protect houses of worship.

Analyst Comments: The revelations from JFNA underscore the persistent and evolving threat landscape facing Jewish communities in North America. While the LiveSecure initiative and coordination with agencies like the FBI have clearly enhanced protective measures, the recent Washington attack highlights gaps in security outside controlled perimeters. Fingerhut’s call for a broader, DHS-like national strategy for houses of worship signals a shift toward institutionalizing long-term, scalable protections. This moment may drive policy conversations about federal support for faith-based security nationwide. 

After deadly shooting, Jewish organizations are again scrutinizing security

Following the deadly shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on May 21st Jewish communities across the U.S. are once again heightening security at synagogues, schools, and community centers. In response, 44 Jewish organizations have called on Congress to boost federal security funding, pointing to a rise in antisemitic incidents since the October 2023 Hamas attack. Many institutions have already adopted stricter security measures, and community leaders stress the urgent need for continued vigilance and government support to protect Jewish Americans.

Analyst Comments: This incident underscores the growing threat of antisemitic violence in the U.S., particularly in the wake of heightened global tensions. The unified call from Jewish organizations for increased federal security funding highlights both the urgency and scale of the threat. Strategically, this moment may catalyze broader bipartisan efforts to address hate-based violence and bolster the safety of religious communities nationwide.

Test, Don’t Guess: Exercising Your Response Plan

The Gate 15 blog post titled “Test, Don’t Guess: Exercising Your Response Plan” emphasizes the critical importance of regularly testing ransomware response plans to ensure organizational resilience against cyber threats.

Key Takeaways:

• Why Exercises Matter: Regularly testing your ransomware response plan helps validate essential components like backups, communication protocols, and isolation procedures. These exercises build team confidence, uncover hidden vulnerabilities, and improve coordination across departments, ensuring a swift and effective response during actual incidents.
• Real-World Examples: The blog highlights the 2021 Colonial Pipeline attack, where inadequate preparation led to significant operational disruptions and a $4.4 million ransom payment. In contrast, the city of Modesto, California, effectively mitigated a ransomware attack in 2023 due to a prior tabletop exercise that clarified roles and streamlined their response.

Analyst Comments: Gate 15’s article underscores the critical need for organizations to routinely test their ransomware response plans through realistic exercises, rather than relying on assumptions. By highlighting both failures and successes, it emphasizes that cross-functional participation and scenario-based drills are essential to building true operational resilience. FB-ISAO can help facilitate all-hazards preparedness exercises. If you are interested in learning more you can find out more here.