HOMELAND SECURITY REDUCES VULNERABILITY SAY EXPERTS

Nearly 75 percent of all U.S. businesses have experienced a business interruption and 43 percent of U.S. companies never reopen after a disaster and 29 percent close after three years."

Culver City, CA — Only 45 percent of all U.S. companies, which have a disaster plan actually have tested it," said Manager Walter (Pete) Lee, Enterprise Risk Services, Deloitte & Touche, Los Angeles. After 9-11 we learned that companies had their data stored off premises from the Twin Towers tragedy, but disaster plan did not have a facility to house employees to run the computers. So what good is the disaster plan if you dont test it."

Lee was among a panel of experts at the seminar Counterterrorism 101- Beyond The Duct Tape," held at the Ramada Plaza, Culver City, CA., sponsored by Triton Institute, Deloitte Touche, LosAngeles, the FBI, Los Angeles and MAYO Communications.

The Homeland Security and Corporate Resilience seminar offered four sessions: Threat Assessments – Who needs them?" Espionage and Terrorism Deterrence," Business Continuity Management & Crisis Plans," and Security the Enterprise through People, Process and Best Practices."

   Other startling government facts: 93 percent of companies without a recovery plan go out of business within five years of experience a disaster and 25 percent of small to medium size companies suffer a major disaster every five years. I found that many HR departments had not updated their HR employee files for notification for several years, and many of the people had left the company. In a disaster plan some of the managers in the decision ladder were gone, too," said Lee.

Lee noted that there are four risks that threaten business continuity: natural threats such as floods, earthquakes and tornadoes; human or man-made such as fires, explosions, chemical or biological accidents and bombings; human and political such as riots, civil disturbances, and terrorists attacks. There are also technological business continuity risks he said such as telecommunications, computer and environmental equipment failure.

I think everyone in this room can say there is a slight bit of fear that there might be another terrorist attack," said Pete Lee. A lot of companies I go to say ‘there wont be a disaster here, because were just a small company. But they dont realize whats around them. I ask is there a federal building or a chemical plant within a mile that might produce something or maybe a defense contractor that works in the building on the ninth floor? Then they realize the risk."

Prior to Deloitte & Touche, Pete Lee spent 24 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces as an instructor and advisor, security and intelligence analyst, anti-terrorism instructor, security risk analyst and a member of a counter terrorism team. His assignments included protection of critical infrastructure protection and the United States Governments most sensitive facilities. He is a member of Homeland Security Leadership Alliance.            

Some of the questions surfacing today focused on the events in Iraq. Now that the war is nearing a climax should America be more concerned about retaliation at home? Companies and business owners should be more aware of their surroundings," said Counterterrorism Expert Elsa Lee, CEO and Founder of Advantage SCI (www.advantage-sci.com), Redondo Beach, CA, which provides security consulting, training, and e-learning to protect people and corporate assets from sabotage, espionage, cyber attacks, and terrorism.
         
Lee reminds the public that they should not take a company hiring policy for face value. You need to take a look at your hiring practices, make sure your new hires are compliant with the law and if you have a need to be concerned with their background you should be contacting the authorities. Make sure you have concrete evidence before you call. Organizations are doing more background checks, even before 9-11. So that is not a new action sparked by the terrorist attacks, because many companies recognize the value of doing background checks."

For families and schools Lee has this advice for surviving a catastrophe. I think it needs to start in the home by having some kind of an emergency plan. Knowing that youre not at home and if your home is wiped out, that you have a number you can call or you have a rendezvous point where the family will come together, and knowing where your children are during the event. I would encourage schools to contact Advantage SCI, to assess emergency plans and security."

There are four types of weapons of mass destruction; radiological, nuclear, chemical and biological," explained Lee. If there is a radiological threat then you want to protect yourself the best that you can and your best defense may be to stay in a building, close the vents and stay there until you know whats going on.

Lee says there are three critical things to remember: Look, analyze, and act, but dont be reactive." Additionally, Lee says every organization or company should make sure that their building is functional, which means that the ventilation system can be shut off if necessary, and that the filters are being changed and up to date. She says that could possibly increase the survival rate of a chemical attack.

Asked whether everyone should have gas masks in the house Lee said, I dont know that we have to go that extreme, and I dont think everyone could afford that. We need to have solutions in the absence of the gas masks. You might have a little plastic bag with a wet washcloth that might carry you through for 15 – 20 minutes to get out of a disastrous area."

Lee, who was in the Cold War in Germany, and spent 20 years in the military in counterterrorism said, Terrorists have been with us for decades. Weve monitoring their terrorism for at least 40 years, but only recently has it become a major concern for our country."

The first of a series of Homeland Security workshops included illustrated examples of security threats,
Terrorism and cyber attacks. The program materials offered a Bomb Check off list," what to ask when a suspect calls, a 12-point check list for Seizing Computers as Evidence," and Questions Each Company should Ask."

About Advantage SCI
Advantage SCI (www.advantage-sci.com), Redondo Beach, CA, which provides security consulting, training, and e-learning to protect people and corporate assets from sabotage, espionage, cyber attacks, and terrorism.

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