Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 14 August 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. 

DC residents protest as White House says federal agents will be on patrol 24/7

This week, President Trump invoked the rarely used emergency powers under Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to federalize the city’s police department and deploy approximately 800 National Guard troops in D.C., claiming a public safety crisis involving crime and homelessness despite local authorities pointing to significant declines in violent crime. The control is set to last 30 days unless extended by Congress, though Trump suggested he might seek a national emergency declaration to bypass legislative hurdles.

Federal agents and the National Guard began 24/7 patrols across the city, particularly in areas like U street, Navy Yard, and Shaw, including checking for minor violations and immigration status. These actions sparked protests, with demonstrators accusing the administration of authoritarian overreach, criticizing both the scope and necessity of the deployment.

Analyst Comments: The federalization of D.C.’s police and deployment of National Guard reflects a rapid, large-scale shift in public safety governance that can have operational and community-level implications. The measures being taken when crime rates are reportedly declining can strain community trust. Alongside checkpoints can disrupt local businesses and create a climate of tension. If traveling to the area you may consider the deployment of the National Guard and turnover of police. As a reminder, there is a planned National Day of Action planned for 16 August in locations across the country and tensions could be escalated given the recent authoritarian moves by the administration.

Violent crime in border cities fell below national rate in 2024

In 2024, violent crime in several U.S. border communities fell below the national average, as the country saw violent crime rates decline to 20-year lows based on newly released FBI data analyzed by Axios. The average violent crime rate across those 11 border cities was 356.5 per 100,000, half of the U.S. average of 5 per 100,000. Notably, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Sunland Park, and Nogales reported zero homicides in 2024, while even cities with the higher rates, like El Paso and Yuma remained well below the national homicide average. Moreover, early data from 2025 indicate that violent crime continues to decline in these areas.

Analyst Comments: The data showing record-low violence crime in many U.S. border cities suggests that proximity to the international border is not inherently correlated with elevated crime risk. In fact, several of these communities are outperforming national averages on both violent crime and homicide rates. The continued decline into 2025 hints at sustained, long-term trends rather than short-term anomaly, indicating these cities may serve as useful case studies for effective crime prevention practices in other regions. 

Firefighters battle wildfire along California highway north of Los Angeles

The King Fire ignited early Thursday morning near Gorman, California, along interstate 5, approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles. As of 6 a.m., the fire had scorched around 400 acres of dry brush and was only 5% contained, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Evacuation warnings were issued for remote homes, and an RV park in the area was in-structured to shelter in place.

Analyst Comments: The King Fire shows how persistent wildfire risk in Southern California area particularly during late summer when dry brush, high temperatures, and occasional wind events create prime conditions for rapid fire spread. Evacuation by emergency management indicates proactive management and the potential vulnerabilities for residents and infrastructure.

For protection against wildfires, key strategies include:

1. Clearing brush, dead trees, and flammable vegetation around homes.
2. Maintaining evacuation plans, emergency ready-to-go kits, and communication strategies.
3. Participating in local fire mitigation programs and staying updated on alerts.
4. Implementing controlled burns in high-risk areas to reduce fuel loads.