Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 6 January 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.

The Importance of Risk Analysis in the Safety and Security Program

FB-ISAO’s Monthly Education series Standing Up Teams will hold the third session on Wednesday, 08 January 2025.

The Importance of Risk Analysis in the Safety and Security Program

Date: 08 January 2025

Time: 12pm ET

A sound safety and security program begins with an understanding of the organization’s risk profile. To understand the risk profile, an organization could begin with conducting an in-depth risk analysis which means asking relevant questions about risk and vulnerability and developing an understanding of the different components of risk. As each organization is unique (faith tradition, congregation size, location,) gaining a thorough understanding of the unique threat and vulnerability landscape allows an organization to move forward properly.

• The security program should address the actual threat, vulnerabilities and consequence of the unique house of worship.
• A thorough risk assessment means gaining an understanding about what could be lost in case of an incident.
• A thorough threat assessment includes gaining an understanding of what the potential threat(s) is/are and who the threat is posed by and finally how the potential threat incident could be carried out.
• A vulnerability assessment includes gaining an understanding of the organizations weaknesses and how those weaknesses could be exploited.

To register, please visit our events page.

NWS Snow Storm Safety Information

The National Weather Service (NWS) provides a Snow Storm Safety website.

The site provides information on:

• Winter Weather Safety
• Winter Warning, Watch
• Before a Storm
• During a Winter Storm
  • Outside
  • In Vehicles
  • Inside
• After a Winter Storm

Related Items:

• Major Winter Storm Moves Through the Mid-Atlantic; High Winds Coming to Southern California National Weather Service
• Winter Weather Warnings in 23 States as 3 Feet of Snow to Hit
• NOAA: Prepare! Don’t Let a Winter Storm Take You by Surprise

Analyst Comments:

While the snow falls, everyone should consider reviewing the NWS’ Snow Storm Safety website.

Additionally, the 5 November 2024 Daily Awareness Post and 6 November 2024 Daily Awareness Post provided resources for winterizing Houses of Worship and winter storm safety.

New Orleans Vehicle Ramming Attack

• ‘Senseless and infuriating’: Muslims denounce New Orleans terrorist attack committed by Houston man
• Gulfport church delivers message of renewal, restoration after New Orleans terrorist attack
• Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson, ATF, Delivers Investigative Updates on the New Orleans Bourbon Street Attack
• FBI: 2 IEDs failed to detonate in New Orleans New Year’s Day ramming attack
• FBI says New Orleans attacker surveyed area using Meta smart glasses
• Could Better Security Have Stopped the New Orleans Terror Attack?
• Scrutiny of Vehicle-Ramming Prevention Methods Continues as Bourbon Street Reopens
• New Orleans attack: FBI probes suspect’s visit to Ontario in 2023
• Deadly New Orleans Attack Fuels Conspiracy Theories About Immigrants, Israel
• FBI and Partner Agencies Offer Additional Victim Assistance in Bourbon Street Attack
• Inspired by ISIS: From a Taylor Swift plot in Vienna to carnage in New Orleans
• How the Islamic State Radicalizes People Today
• Experts react: What the New Orleans attack tells us about terrorism in 2025

Las Vegas Vehicle Explosion

• Cybertruck driver left behind rant praising Trump and Musk, slamming Democrats
• Letters
• ‘TIME TO WAKE UP’: Las Vegas police share notes from Cybertruck explosion suspect
• (Name omitted) Alleged Manifesto: Read Full Email Sent to Retired Soldier
• Vegas Cybertruck Bomber Who Called for ‘Purge’ of Dems Deemed Not a ‘Risk’ to Public After He Sought VA Mental Health Help