Tag

cyberattacks

Browsing

Emergency and disaster management briefing for December 18, 2020: The preliminary report of the firefighting helicopter crash during the Hills Fire has been released; the NWS confirms two tornadoes touched down in the Tampa Bay Area on Wednesday; a strong nor’easter dumped up to four feet of snow in the interiors of New York State and Pennsylvania; Microsoft is calling for a strong and global cybersecurity response to recent nation-state hacks; reports suggest Russia is to blame for the recent hack on IT giant SolarWinds; a food recall has been issued for Trader Joe’s brand edamame; students can sign up for a free disaster preparedness course in Lake County, Oregon; and the City of Amarillo now has an alternate location for its 911 communications should an emergency or disaster impact the current facility.

  1. A preliminary report was issued for the helicopter crash that occurred near Coalinga, California,  during the Hills Fire. The crash killed the pilot, Mike Fournier, 52,  the only occupant onboard the Bell UH-1H aircraft, operated by Guardian Airways out of Van Nuys. Initial reports indicated that the pilot was attempting to land when he reported that his hydraulics were causing the problem before declaring Mayday and crashing into hillside terrain. https://twitter.com/FireAviation/status/1338469286701113344
  2. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that a total of two tornados touched down during Wednesday’s storms that ripped through the Tampa Bay Area, including an EF-1  in Polk County, with estimated winds of 112 mph, and a path that was 12.9 miles long. An EF-2 tornado touched down in Pinnellas County, Florida, had winds of about 125 mph, and left a 13.1 mile path of sporadic damage. The tornado uprooted trees, tore off roofs, damaged approximately 25 structures along Endeavour Way, and caused major damage to a boat storage facility.  https://twitter.com/abcactionnews/status/1339662956171292673
  3. The season’s first winter storm, a strong nor’easter, dumped at least four feet of snow in some interior areas of New York State and Pennsylvania. The storm is being blamed for the deaths of at least four people, and power was knocked out for thousands across the region. The storm began dumping heavy snow on Wednesday, which caused a 66-vehicle pile-up that occurred on Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania that resulted in the deaths of two people. https://twitter.com/opchow/status/1339843248425078788
  4. Microsoft is calling for a strong and global cybersecurity response following the announcement of two high-level, suspected nation-state cyberattacks that have impacted multiple government agencies and corporations in the United States and other countries. Microsoft outlined three top level threats that must be addressed: including the rise in determination and sophistication of nation-state attacks; the growing privatization of cybersecurity attacks; and finally, the intersection of nation-state attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic. The company outlines three strategies to help produce resilience against future attacks: better sharing and analysis of threat intelligence; develop clear and binding laws that effectively fill in international law gaps; and be stronger about publicly holding nation-states accountable. https://twitter.com/TheHackersNews/status/1339793429618860033
  5. According to reports, Russia is being suspected in the massive cyberattack on IT giant, SolarWinds, a company based in Austin Texas. FireEye, a cybersecurity company, which was also hacked last week, noted that they are working to assist organizations by helping them protect networks that were affected. Both hacks are alleged to have been perpetrated by nation-state actors, who IT experts believe, have had access to a “considerable number of important and sensitive networks for six to nine months” in the SolarWinds cyberattack. https://twitter.com/dnvolz/status/1339764190777667585
  6. A new recall has been issued for a plant-based product sold under the Trader Joe’s brand. Tesoro’s Trading Co., based in Las Vegas, Nevada, has issued a recall for Trader Joe’s Lightly Salted Edamame, due to its potential contamination with Listeria moncytogenes. Customers can return the recalled product to their local Trader Joe’s store for a full refund.   https://twitter.com/woutgorge1111/status/1339398326190440449
  7. A free 10-week disaster preparedness course is being offered to youth in Lake County, Oregon. The program, entitled My Preparedness Initiative (MyPI), provides the opportunity for high schools students, aged 13 and older, to learn how to respond to various disasters, including earthquakes. The program, based on CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), has added elements that include career exploration, community services, and technology during a disaster. Registration is open until December 21, and classes, which will be offered via Zoom, begin on December 29. https://twitter.com/Region10YPC/status/1334909959201419269
  8. The City of Amarillo, Texas, now has a back up facility in place to take 911 calls should the need arise. Officials in Potter County–who provided the back up location–noted that if an emergency or disaster occurs that interrupts 911 communication with the public, immediately being able to restore that service is critical. The new back up space is especially beneficial since it has an EF-5 rated facility within the space, making it likely able to withstand a very dangerous tornado, along with a substantial radio system that has already been installed. https://twitter.com/PR911ECD/status/1339221757719441411