“If You See Something, Say Something®”

Resources for Faith-Based Organizations

“If You See Something, Say Something™” is a national campaign that was developed and trademarked by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NYTA). The goal of the campaign is to minimize terrorist threats and increase public awareness of indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime. To learn more about the national campaign, visit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “If You See Something, Say Something®” website here.

Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) continue to be the targets of hostile events from extremists of all kinds. FBOs are responsible for combining the openness of their facilities and safeguarding their congregants. As such, FBOs are excellent candidates for active participation in any campaign that serves to minimize risk – this   includes the “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign.

Florida’s campaign began in 2011 and was relaunched in December of 2015. To address the need for education, Florida revealed the “If You See Something, Say Something™” toolkit at a press conference in October 2016. Th toolkit offers safety information for FBOs, businesses and citizens to help in the fight against terrorism. The toolkit also contains a one-page list of potential suspicious activity indicators downloadable posters that could be used in a breakroom or on a bulletin, and other valuable materials that may be useful for threat assessments, for training purposes, or for awareness. These materials can be found on the FlSeeSay.org website. Religious facilities may download a list of potential suspicious activity indicators developed by DHS and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) here.

Indicators of suspicious activity may include things like unattended packages and bags, a suspicious person wearing bulky clothing that could conceal weapons, or damage to security devices like cameras, perimeter fencing or lighting. In the event that you suspect something, make note of suspicious statements, people, or vehicles, and notify law enforcement. After reporting suspected incidents to local law enforcement, Faith-Based Information Sharing & Analysis Organization (FB-ISAO) members are encouraged to use the Incident Reporting capability on FB-ISAO Slack to share information. FB-ISAO analysts use reported information to analyze trends and to communicate back with their members on potential threats as well as to provide resources for possible mitigation of those threats.

This year, the campaign launched the first-ever DHS partnered and NYTA-approved Florida See Say app. This app allows users to access educational materials like PSA’s, posters, and suspicious indicators for businesses, schools, and more. These materials are also available online at FLSeeSay.org. Additionally, users can report suspicious activity, like an abandoned vehicle or a suspicious person, through the app to their local law enforcement. Citizens can still report suspicious activity by calling 855-FLASAFE or by submitting a tip online.

In February 2020, FB-ISAO worked with FDLE’s Central Florida Intelligence Exchange (CFIX) to host its first workshop in Orlando, Florida. For those in the Central Florida region looking to network with likeminded individuals who prioritize their organization’s physical and cyber security and risk management, FB-ISAO has created an Information Sharing Community for Central Florida. This community helps members collaborate and share information with one another in addition to attending workshops and participating in working groups.

If you are interested in more information about the Florida “If You See Something, Say Something®” campaign, feel free to contact the campaign at [email protected].  If you haven’t joined an FB-ISAO Information Sharing Community yet, write to [email protected].

FB-ISAO is committed to working with our state and local partners, such as the FDLE, to improve the resilience of all Faith-Based Organizations.