Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 16 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. 

FEMA “not ready” for hurricane season, internal review says

An internal FEMA review obtained by CBS News reveals that the agency is unprepared for the upcoming 2025 hurricane season, set to begin on June 1. The presentation, dated May 12, indicates that FEMA’s readiness efforts have been disrupted by staffing reductions and contract changes, leading to a lack of clarity in the agency’s mission and inadequate preparation activities. The review states, “As FEMA transforms to a smaller footprint, the intent for this hurricane season is not well understood, thus FEMA is not ready.”

These findings align with broader concerns about FEMA’s capacity, as the agency has lost approximately one-third of its workforce around 2,000 full-time employees due to terminations and voluntary departures, influenced by President Trump’s efforts to downsize the federal government. These losses have led to reduced training for local emergency managers and disrupted planning and coordination with the states.

In response to the internal review, a Department of Homeland Security official stated that the document was taken out of context, emphasizing that FEMA is “fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season.” However, the internal assessment underscores significant challenges facing the agency as it approaches a potentially active hurricane season.

Analyst Comments: FEMA’s internal review signals serious concerns about federal preparedness. With the hurricane season fast approaching, if some of these issues aren’t resolved it could result in far-reaching consequences—not only damaging FEMA’s credibility, but also endangering the safety and well-being of communities that depend on timely and effective disaster response.

Senior US Officials Impersonated in Malicious Messaging Campaign

The FBI has issued a Public Service Announcement warning of an ongoing malicious messaging campaign in which cybercriminals impersonate senior U.S. officials to deceive individuals, particularly current or former federal and state government officials and their contacts.

Key Details:

• Tactics Used: The attackers employ “smishing” (malicious SMS or MMS messages) and “vishing” (voice messages, often AI-generated) to establish trust and prompt victims to click on malicious links or transition to other messaging platforms.
• Targeted Individuals: The campaign primarily targets high-level government officials and their associates, aiming to gain access to personal or official accounts.
• Risks: Compromised accounts can be used to further impersonate trusted contacts, extract sensitive information, or solicit funds.

Analyst Comments:

• Verify Identities: Always confirm the identity of individuals contacting you through independent means before responding or sharing information.
• Scrutinize Communications: Be alert to subtle discrepancies in email addresses, phone numbers, URLs, and message content that may indicate impersonation.
• Be Cautious with AI-Generated Content: Recognize that AI-generated voices and images can closely mimic real individuals; look for unnatural features or behaviors.
• Protect Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive data or contact information with unknown individuals or through unverified channels.
• Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect you’ve been targeted or have received a suspicious message, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.