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,

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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