Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 8 October 2024

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.

Hurricane Milton

The National Hurricane Center (noaa.gov) states:

“…HURRICANE AND STORM SURGE WARNINGS ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA… …RESIDENTS IN FLORIDA ARE URGED TO USE TODAY TO PREPARE FOR MILTON’S ARRIVAL AND EVACUATE IF TOLD TO DO SO BY LOCAL OFFICIALS…”

Additional Information:

• Tampa mayor says people will die if they ignore evacuation orders
• Milton to remain “extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall” in Florida
• NOAA: #Milton one-stop page: The latest storm forecasts, maps, imagery and more
• NHC: Key Messages for Hurricane Milton (noaa.gov)
• Local info on Milton: Tallahassee, Tampa Bay, Miami, Key West, Melbourne, Jacksonville, Charleston

Hurricane Preparation and Resilience

Last-minute hurricane preparation

Church Mutual details the following last-minute actions for Faith-Based Organizations:

• Create an inventory of your facility. 
• Put your continuity plan into action.
• Install hurricane shutters.
• Remove branches and limbs.
• Secure outdoor items.
• Check your drainage system one last time.
• Close any garage doors, rollups or overhead doors all the way.
• Move furniture and valuables off the floor and, if possible, to higher floors of your building.
• Unplug small appliances, such as printers and toasters.
• Fill plastic bottles with clean water for drinking.

Church Mutual also provides links to other Church Mutual items:

• Hurricane safety and preparedness.
• Could your facility be a hurricane shelter?
• Conduct a hurricane tabletop exercise.
• Recovering after a hurricane.

Related Items:

• NOAA: Assemble Disaster Supplies (Hurricane Preparedness)
• NHC: Hurricane Preparedness – Hazards
• CDC: Preparing for Hurricanes or Other Tropical Storms
• FEMA: Hurricane Preparedness and Evacuation Planning
• FEMA: How to Prepare for a Hurricane | FEMA.gov

Analyst Comments:

When there is time, Faith-Based Organizations and their members should consider taking actions to prepare for Hurricane Milton. Once evacuation orders are given, individuals should consider evacuation to be the only action to take.  

Once the hurricane has passed, FB-ISAO’s 2 October 2024 Daily Awareness Post  can be referenced to avoid hurricane-related scams. 

October 7 Anniversary Items:

• Jewish Federation of Detroit’s offices vandalized on October 7 attack anniversary
• Several Jewish federations’ social media accounts disabled before Oct. 7
• Protests, rallies on college campuses mark anniversary of Oct. 7 attacks – The Washington Post
• October 7 anniversary marked worldwide with memorials, pro- and anti-Israel protests
• Thousands stage pro-Palestinian protests worldwide, on eve of Oct. 7 attack that triggered Gaza war
• In NYC, Jews gather together — and apart — for prayer and protest to mark one year since Oct. 7
• Pro-Palestinian protests march through NYC, as world marks 1 year since Oct. 7 attack on Israel
• Jews, Muslims in Chicago endure a wave of hate after Oct. 7
• Antisemitic flyers found at over 100 homes in Farmington Hills, West Bloomfield
• How places of worship have spent the year protecting themselves 1 year after Oct. 7 attack
• Statement from Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas Marking One Year Since the October 7th Attack

Weekly Security Sprint EP 84. Anniversary PSA, Milton, and MDM

The Gate 15 Security Sprint is a weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.

In the latest episode of the Security Sprint, Dave goes solo and talks about the following topics:

October 7th Anniversary PSA

Hurricane Milton Preparedness and looking ahead

MDM and Disaster Scams

Information on other Gate 15 podcasts can be found at Podcasts (gate15.global).