Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 25 June 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. 

Military, Jewish, and Muslim communities react to rising tensions between U.S. and Iran 

Local military families in Tampa report increased anxiety after the U.S. struck Iranian targets followed swiftly by Iran’s missile attack on a U.S. base in Qatar which led spouses and loved ones deeply concerned about operational secrecy and the safety of service members overseas. At the same time, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) highlighted fears that escalating tensions could fuel domestic Islamophobia affecting American Muslims. Jewish leaders in the region similarly raised alarms about a potential rise in antisemitic incidents, urging vigilance amidst growing unease.

Analyst Comments: The ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran is rippling effects within local U.S. communitas, particularly among military families and faith-based institutions. Families in Tampa report growing anxiety over deployments, while Muslim and Jewish communities fear increase in Islamophobia and antisemitism. 

FB-ISAO is actively working to shore up resilience among faith communities and will soon be releasing an updated all-hazards threat statement. The threat statement is always a collaborative product that incorporates member feedback. If you are interested in becoming a member, you can learn more here. 

Map Shows Where Power Outages Have Spread Amid Life-Threatening Heat

A severe heat wave is sweeping a large part of the US, with temperatures soaring into the 90s and low 100s across states from Washington D.C. to Maine, while heat indices exceed 100 degrees in many areas creating life-threatening conditions. This surge in heat has overwhelmed power grids, causing thousands of outages in Michigan alone, and affecting thousands of others in states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, on multiple days during the heat wave. A lasting “heat dome” across the Central and Eastern U.S., with daily highs from the mid-90s to around 100 and overnight in the low 70s. The compounded stress of extreme heatand power outages poses major health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups, leading communities to open cooling centers and issue urgent safety guidance.

Analyst Comments: The ongoing heat wave across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions presents a serious public safety concern, particularly as power outages reduce access to air conditioning and cooling resources. With temperatures consistently in the 90s and heat indices surpassing 100 degrees, even short exposure can pose-life threatening risks, especially for the elderly, children, and individuals with preexisting health conditions. Residents are urged to stay indoors during peak heat hours, stay hydrated, and check on neighbors. Organizations like houses of worship, schools, and community centers can play a critical role by serving as trusted cooling shelters or communications hubs during high impact weather events. Coordinated efforts between public health, emergency services, and community networks are essential to mitigating the health impacts of extreme heat and infrastructure strain.

Resources:

• Extreme Heat
• Extreme Heat Safety
• Are you ready for a heatwave?

Stronger Together: The Power of Information Sharing

Gate 15’s blog post, “Stronger Together: The Power of Information Sharing,” emphasizes the value of sharing intelligence to defend against and respond to ransomware. By exchanging threat intelligence such as Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) and Tactics, Techniques, & Procedures (TTPs), organizations can improve early detection, response, and recovery efforts.

The post includes trends form Gate 15’s Weekly Ransomware Report including increased OT targeting and attacks by groups like Interlock and Night Spire. It also offers a 10 % discount on ransomware exercises booked by September 30, 2025, and invites readers to subscribe to their resilience portal, GRIP.

Nerd Out EP 59. Middle East conflict. retaliation and what’s next, plus weather planning and summer fun.

The Gate 15 Nerd Out! Security Panel Discussion, moderated by Dave Pounder, focuses on physical security topics including terrorism, extremism, hostile events, and other pertinent topics.

In this week Nerd Out Alec and Dave welcome back show regulars Joe Levy and Bridget Johnson to discuss:

• Reaction to the escalation and then de-escalation
• What this means for organizations
• The risk of sleeper cells or inspire / influenced individuals or groups
• How organizations can increase preparedness

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found here.