Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE116027
2009-11-10 19:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:  

PREPARING FOR A CRISIS

Tags:  KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5214
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHC #6027/01 3141919
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101912Z NOV 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0800
RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY PRIORITY 2278
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHRMAKS/COMFIFTHFLT PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMSIXTHFLT PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USSTRATCOM OFFUTT AFB NE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J-3:JOD// PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC//J-1//J-3:JOD// PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMSOCAFRICA STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 STATE 116027 

SIPDIS INFORM CONSULS
FOR ALL CHIEFS OF MISSION AND DEPUTY CHIEFS OF MISSION
FROM UNDER SECRETARY PATRICK F. KENNEDY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO
PREL, PINR, AMGT, MG
SUBJECT: PREPARING FOR A CRISIS

REF: A) FSINFATC 001346

STATE 00116027 001.2 OF 006



-------
SUMMARY
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 STATE 116027

SIPDIS INFORM CONSULS
FOR ALL CHIEFS OF MISSION AND DEPUTY CHIEFS OF MISSION
FROM UNDER SECRETARY PATRICK F. KENNEDY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFLU AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO TBIO KSAF KPAO
PREL, PINR, AMGT, MG
SUBJECT: PREPARING FOR A CRISIS

REF: A) FSINFATC 001346

STATE 00116027 001.2 OF 006



--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (U) Crisis situations - whether because of political
or social unrest, wars or acts of terrorism, natural
catastrophes or human accidents - represent some of the
greatest challenges facing the Department, our overseas
missions, and the broader USG. While they are typically
times of tragedy and challenge, they also present the
opportunity for Department personnel and posts to save
lives. The Department wants to remind posts of ongoing
crisis management obligations, planning resources
available to posts, and best practices for those caught
in a crisis situation. An event-specific,
operationally-detailed message will be sent to posts in
the initial stages of a crisis.

--------------
PREPARE BEFORE A CRISIS HITS
--------------


2. (U) Refresh crisis management tools.

(U) A post's crisis management documents - including
the post's Emergency Action Plan (EAP),EAP tripwires,
and F-77 reports of potential evacuees - are a vital
element to an adequate response. These tools are the
collective responsibility of the Emergency Action
Committee and need to be updated at least annually so
that they accurately reflect the situation in a country.
Please make sure post's tripwires are up-to-date.
Tripwires can be updated through the Crisis and
Emergency Planning Application (CEPA).

(U) Post should ensure that its Post Personnel System is
current, including personal safehaven information, and
that post has access to the Evacuation Management System
(EMS),which can assist in emergency planning and
tracking employees in a crisis. EMS can be used to
create and activate travel itineraries, determine
evacuee locations, and update arrival/departure status

(including medical evacuations) during a drawdown. Post
Personnel feeds data to EMS; therefore it is imperative
that posts keep employee data current in case an
evacuation is required. EMS can be accessed through HR
Online under the HR Applications tab. Posts may request
access to EMS by completing the system access form which
can be obtained online at the HR/EX HR Overseas
Applications website.


3. (U) Be familiar with resources available to you.

(U) The Operation Center's Office of Crisis Management
Support (CMS) maintains a SharePoint site with valuable
information, including emergency checklists for Chiefs
of Mission, evacuation primers, response teams available
to posts, and lessons learned from previous crises.
Encourage outgoing officers to schedule courtesy calls
with the appropriate regional CMS program officer to
discuss crisis management best practices and lessons
learned. CMS can be reached at 202-647-7640 or SES-
O_CMS@state.gov. For consular specific resources,

STATE 00116027 002.2 OF 006


please contact the Crisis Management Unit in the Bureau
of Consular Affairs at CA-Crisis-Mgt@state.gov.


4. (U) Conduct drills, review procedures, and check
supplies regularly.

(U) There is no better way to learn post-specific
lessons and to prepare for the real event than to
conduct drills. These should be open to a variety of
participants, including direct hires, colleagues from
other agencies, locally engaged staff, and private
American citizens, when appropriate. Use these
opportunities to stress-test safehaven locations, post
communications systems (e.g., radios) and Alternate
Command Centers and coordinate with schools attended by
embassy children, etc. Additionally, take seriously the
FSI-run Crisis Management Exercises conducted at post
and implement the lessons learned. FSI recently
released a distance learning course on the Emergency
Action Committee, PD543, which we strongly recommend.
For additional advice and resources on conducting
additional exercises on your own, please contact FSI's
Crisis Management Training staff at
FSI_Crisis_MgmtIdea@state.gov.


5. (U) Develop host country crisis contacts.

(U) These should include host country first responders,
including police, hospital, fire, aviation, and security
officials. Establishing solid contacts within
appropriate country ministries, and other diplomatic
missions can also facilitate information exchange and be
invaluable in providing services to private citizens.
Local media contacts can assist post in disseminating
information to the private U.S. citizen community and
aid in dispelling rumors. Additionally, learn from the
post's institutional memory: locally employed staff who
may have experienced past crises. Incorporate their
ideas and best practices into your planning.

-------------- --------------
ENGAGE AND STAY ACTIVE DURING EARLY STAGES OF A CRISIS
-------------- --------------


6. (U) Call Ops and your regional bureau early and
often.

(U) Keep the Operations Center(SES-O@state.gov;202-647-
1512) abreast of developing situations, even if
information is limited. Ops is the fastest way to
mobilize Washington support and consolidate phone and e-
mail inquiries to post, as it can help coordinate
conference calls with appropriate Department and USG
offices for you.


7. (U) Convene frequent, effective EACs.

(U) An established agenda and time limit keeps members
focused on the issues at hand. If applicable, convene
digital EACs with constituent posts and in-country
military counterparts to coordinate response. Relay via
Ops vital steps taken by the EAC or important
conclusions reached, rather than waiting for the EAC
summary cable to go through.


8. (U) Establish post-wide interagency task forces.

(U) Establish a post task force at the first hint of a
pending crisis. Creating several teams consisting of a
few members each might be advisable for 24/7 coverage,
depending on the situation. Remember to have a
representative of the Public Affairs Section on the task

STATE 00116027 003.2 OF 006


force in order to respond appropriately to any media
queries.


9. (U) Start a single, comprehensive log.

(U) The log should contain all significant developments
on the ground and actions taken by post. It should be
especially attentive to reporting and information passed
via secure and non-secure voice. It should also track
incoming and outgoing Requests for Information (RFIs).


10. (U) Keep Washington informed.

(U) Produce daily (or more frequent) situation reports
and pass these to the appropriate Washington players via
front-channel cable (and e-mail if necessary). Remember
that information (even if incomplete) gives principals
confidence that post has the situation in hand. Knowing
the rationale behind actions taken or not taken is
especially important for Washington policy-makers.
Focus particularly on the safety and security of
American citizens, any assistance requested,
political/security situation, post status and staffing
levels, and next steps. Some questions to consider:

American Citizen Community:

- Is the American community being targeted?
- Do private Americans live in a cluster, or are they
scattered?
- Are they generally affiliated with a U.S. company or
group? If so, is post in contact with the HQ of that
group or does it need Washington to reach out?
- Will that group assist in evacuation, if necessary?
- What is the estimated number of potential American
citizen evacuees? (NOTE: The F-77 should be reviewed
and updated at the first signs of a crisis.)
- Will a warden message be issued to alert Americans to
the security situation? Is a Travel Alert or Warning
warranted? (NOTE: If post's footprint changes, a
Travel Alert or Warning may be required.)
- Has post received calls from American citizens
requesting assistance? Is the volume of calls
manageable? (NOTE: Use of the Consular Task Force
software can assist post and the Department in assessing
this information.)
- What instructions are being provided to callers?
- Does post require assistance from a task force or from
the consular call center in Florida?
- Has post received media inquiries regarding the
crisis?

Political/Security Situation:

- Are there anti-American or anti-Western aspects to the
unfolding events?
- Are U.S. facilities or personnel being targeted?
- Is the security environment permissive? Can COM
employees walk around, travel? Can local citizens?
- What are the prospects for government stability and
its ability to maintain order?
- Are local government ministries and local law
enforcement working well with embassy staff to address
the crisis?
- Is there looting? If so, what are host country
security forces doing?
- What is the host government's public position? What
is the host government saying privately?
- Are major roads and airports open for commercial
travel? - Are the roads to the embassy and residences
of official AmCits open?
- Are schools open? Is it safe to travel to and from

STATE 00116027 004.2 OF 006


the schools?
- Could consular officers, if necessary, travel to the
affected area(s) to provide on-scene support to U.S.
citizens?

Post Status:

- Has post accounted for all official Americans?
- Have all official Americans reported for duty?
- Have all embassy LES reported for duty?
- Have all local guards reported for duty at the Embassy
and at residences?
- What vehicles and routes will post use to relocate
staff if necessary?
- Is the Embassy open for normal business? If not, how
long is it anticipated to be closed?
- How many days of supplies (food, water, and fuel) does
post have on hand on the compound and at residences of
official AmCits?
- Have other foreign missions in the country changed the
status of their posts? What instructions have they
given to their citizens in the country?
- Is post planning to hold an EAC? When?
- Has post reviewed lists of emergency personnel and
informed personnel early on?
- Is post preparing the official community for a
possible evacuation, including one that might involve an
interim stopover?
- Has post been in contact with transit or interim
stopover posts for potential evacuees?

Next steps:
- What can the Department do to assist post?
- Will post require any TDY support to respond to this
crisis?
- Will CONS need to provide on-scene assistance to
affected U.S. citizens?
- Does post require any additional resources, if so,
what?
- What time is the next conference call? Next SitRep?
- Should potential transit posts be looped into calls?
Cocoms?
- What are upcoming events of significance?
- What are the main problems/questions with which post
is currently struggling?


11. (U) Keep AmCits apprised of the situation.

(U) Always remember the "No Double Standard" policy,
and use the warden network to inform the American
community of any specific, credible, non-counterable
threats or of post closures. Contact the Crisis
Management division of CA/OCS/ACS - CA-Crisis-
Mgt@state.gov with any questions.


12. (U) Communicate internally.

(U) Use the method most appropriate for post (phone
trees, SMS messaging, e-mail distribution lists, social
networking sites, radio net, etc.) through the RSO and
the CLO to disseminate necessary information in a timely
way to staff and families and to limit rumors. Ensure
that the concerns of the post community are conveyed to
the EAC.


13. (U) Monitor post morale.

(U) Be cognizant of crisis-related fatigue as the
initial adrenaline of responding to a crisis burns off.
If appropriate, encourage personnel to take time off
from work. Consider inviting the RMO/P to post, if
possible. State's Office of Medical Services has

STATE 00116027 005.2 OF 006


resources and counselors ready to assist. Information
can be found on the MED website.


14. (U) Re-visit tripwires.

(U) As the situation evolves, discuss and submit via
cable to the Department reverse tripwires (e.g., events
that need to occur/actions that need to take place for
post to begin the discussion of lifting
Authorized/Ordered Departure).

--------------
REGROUPING COLLECTIVELY AFTER A CRISIS
--------------


15. (U) Lessons Learned.

(U) Conduct a town hall with mission personnel and
family members to discuss things that were done well and
those that could be improved for next time. Report on
lessons learned that could benefit other posts.


16. (U) Unwind.

(U) Social events that allow the embassy community to
gather and share stories and memories with one another
are an important way to decompress, share reactions to
the crisis experience, and begin the adjustment back to
normal life. Consider post-crisis TDY assistance.

--------------
WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?
--------------


17. (U) At the outset of the crisis, Crisis Management
Support will issue a detailed cable to post with
Washington contacts, reporting requirements, advice,
etc.


18. (U) Depending on the severity, complexity, or
sensitivity of the crisis, the Executive Secretary might
direct that a Task Force or Monitoring Group be
established in the Operations Center as the nexus of all
Departmental activity concerning the situation. If so,
a cable will be issued providing the contact
information. Additionally, CMS will establish a crisis-
specific Intellipedia portal as the hub of all crisis-
related information for the Department and the
interagency community. Note: Post personnel are
encouraged to obtain Intellipedia logons in order to
provide direct updates to the portals -
https://www.intelink.gov/passport/Welcome (accessible
from any unclassified computer) and
https://passport.csp.sgov.gov/passport/Welcom e
(ClassNet)


19. The FLO Office is responsible for supporting all
employee and family member evacuees under Chief of
Mission authority. When a crisis emerges, FLO?s Crisis
Management and Support Officer reaches out to the
Community Liaison Officer (CLO) to offer guidance and
support before, during, and after the crisis. If the
CLO position is vacant, FLO will offer this assistance
to the Management Officer.


20. Above all, remember that we are here for you.
Please call, e-mail, and cable your needs back to
Washington so that we can provide resources and
guidance.

-------------- ---
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, CONTACTS, AND USEFUL LINKS

STATE 00116027 006.2 OF 006


-------------- ---

Crisis Management Support Sharepoint Site

Emergency Planning Website -
includes DS Emergency Planning staff contact
information.

Crisis Management Training Website -
includes links to an EAC distance learning course.

Office of Medical Services Website

For general questions regarding crisis preparation and
response, and for F-77 support, please contact Crisis
Management Support Staff, 202-647-7640, SES-
O_CMS@state.gov.

For advice and resources on conducting additional
exercises, please contact the staff of Crisis Management
Training, FSI_Crisis_MgmtIdea@state.gov.

For questions regarding consular issues in a crisis,
please contact the Crisis Management division of
CA/OCS/ACS - CA-Crisis-Mgt@state.gov.

For questions regarding EAPs, please contact
DS/IP/SPC/EP, 571-345-2785, VerrierRP@state.gov.

For questions regarding EMS or to schedule training,
please contact HR/EX/SDD, 703-875-5401,
BerdeguezMR@state.gov or the HR Help Desk,
HRHelpDesk@state.gov.

For questions regarding support for evacuees, please
contact FLO, 202-647-1076, FLOAskEvacuations@state.gov.

--------------
CONCLUSION
--------------


21. (U) While the Department stands by ready to assist
posts during crisis situations, it is incumbent upon
posts to prepare for various contingencies and be aware
of best practices when responding to a crisis. Please
study this cable carefully and implement any appropriate
changes.


22. (U) Minimize considered.
CLINTON