U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL SAO PAULO UNDERGOES CRISIS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000412 SIPDIS DIR FSINFATC for FSI/LMS/CMT, DS/IP/WHA, OBO/PE/DE/MED, POSTS FOR RSO STATE for S/ES-O/CMS AND WHA/EX SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR CASC ASEC AFSI KCOM KESS OTRA BR SUBJECT: U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL SAO PAULO UNDERGOES CRISIS MANAGEMENT TRAINING ACTIVITIES REF: A) FSINFATC 1261 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Selected staff of the U.S. Consulate General Sao Paulo participated in two-day crisis management training on March 30-31. Observations and recommendations, keyed to reftel para 2, A-H, follow in cable body. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On March 30/31, selected staff of the U.S. Consulate General participated in crisis management training and exercises led by FSI visiting trainers. ConGen thanks FSI for this opportunity to review procedures and practice emergency scenarios. After the training, participating staff members remarked on the value of the training and discussed how to implement new best practices that emerged during the discussions. ¶3. (SBU) A. The Consulate believes that the amount of time (approximately three hours on the first day for CMT Overview Training and four hours for scenario run-throughs on the second day) was sufficient and appropriate. ¶4. (SBU) B. The crime and kidnapping scenarios were particularly valuable for Sao Paulo, a critical crime post. Nevertheless, post does not recommend dropping any of the scenarios presented, as they all are possible in this very large consular district that includes five Brazilian states. ¶5. (SBU) C. Generally speaking, the trainers adopted a "hands off" attitude during the course of the day two role-play training exercise, chiming in to provide suggestions and comments towards the end of the scenarios. Post believes that this amount of intervention was appropriate, allowing the staff to do internal brainstorming and review procedures in place, but allowing trainers to give additional suggestions and "hints" when necessary. ¶6. (SBU) D. The Consulate staff would react differently in a real crisis as a result of the training. The Marine House will be activated as the Alternative Command Center (ACC). The FSN and American staff will act promptly when securing and evacuating the Consulate, as a result of stepped up emergency drills. The entire staff will have easy access to the unclassified portions of the Emergency Action Plan (EAP) at their desktops--either electronically or in paper form. ¶7. (SBU) E. Consulate staff learned many lessons from the training, which highlighted certain deficiencies that post will now work on rectifying. The Operations Center number (202-647-1512) and other emergency phone numbers will be added to the laminated mini-Emergency Action Plan (EAP)/portable telephone card. The Consulate will continue to pursue acquisition of a separate pre-fabricated mail screening facility. Post needs this facility, a key recommendation of the FSI training team, as soon as possible. Avian Flu tripwires will be updated, in coordination with Embassy Brasilia. Procedures on Tamiflu distribution will be evaluated. The newly acquired Marine House will be made ready to serve as an ACC, with the addition of sufficient food and water to wait out an emergency. The Consular Section and RSO will refine a protocol to disperse all waiting visa applicants in case of emergency. Floor Wardens will be provided with distinctive hats for easy identification during drills and actual emergencies. Participants proposed a variety of changes and improvements to the EAP. Chapter 300 will be updated, with an emphasis on "Express Kidnappings" and other crimes that frequently occur in Sao Paulo. All section heads will review Emergency Action Committee (EAC) roles with their staffs. Unclassified portions of the EAP will be placed on the intranet for viewing by all staff. The EAP as a whole will be modified to suit the specific circumstances of the Sao Paulo consular district. Post will reconvene its Avian Flu Working Group, which will coordinate with the Embassy Avian Flu Working Group. All FSNs will receive emergency training, including instructions to call Post One in any emergency and refresher training on the use of ChemBio masks. Crisis drills will be scheduled regularly, including drills for all emergency vehicles that might service the Consulate. ¶8. (U) F. While Post believes that the CMT Overview Training was valuable, the Consulate FSN staff would greatly benefit from reviewing specific crime and emergency scenarios, similar to those reviewed by the EAC. As a result of the, we will broaden participation in the next CME to include FSNs and EFMs, as appropriate. ¶9. (U) G. Post believes that the current schedule of CME training, SAO PAULO 00000412 002 OF 002 once every two years, is appropriate. Most mid- and upper-level officers serve three or four years in Sao Paulo. The current schedule allows for more recent arrivals to undergo training, building on the previous training given to officers of longer tenure. Post RSO will contact CM when new threat and crime trends develop prior to the next visit, so that new scenarios can be added to upcoming training sessions. ¶10. (U). H. Post recommends that funding be provided to send one or more consulate staff (American and FSN) to the Foreign Service Institute for advanced crisis management training. A likely candidate could be an American employee newly arrived at post assigned to a three year tour and/or an FSN of long-standing tenure (5-7 years) who has shown leadership potential. MCMULLEN