WEST LOOP COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION: CISA Public Safety Advisory

West Loop Community Organization issued the following announcement on Jan. 13.

At the request of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), we are forwarding a public safety advisory from the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). It reads:

Following the attacks that took place on the Capitol last week, which included the discovery of several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and coupled with an evolving national threat assessment, please see below links to materials and resources from CISA’s Office of Bombing Prevention. At this time, please know the West Loop Community Organization (WLCO) has received no information that constitutes any kind of imminent threat to Chicago. 

As with any potential or actual incident, all suspicious activity or threat information should be immediately sent to local law enforcement agencies. If a suspected crime is imminent or in progress and the on-site presence of law enforcement is required, dial 911; if a suspected crime has occurred and the potential offender(s) are no longer at the scene, dial 311. Criminals and terrorists sometimes conceal improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in backpacks, suitcases, or other common items. If an item is determined to be Hidden, Obviously Suspicious, and Not Typical (aka “HOT”), use the “RAIN” process to safely determine if an item is a serious threat or just unattended. If an item is determined to be suspicious you should:

• Recognize the Indicators of a Suspected Explosive Device
• Avoid the Area
• Isolate the Suspected Item
• Notify an Appropriate Emergency Service

In addition, CISA stands ready to support our partners to address any ongoing IED security concerns. A wide range of resources are available to facilitate the sharing of threat and incident information, assist in decision-making, and enhance security capabilities. The following provide online help for seeking security assistance, as well as access to various counter-IED resources:

CISA Office for Bombing Prevention Resources:

• Suspicious vs. Unattended (HOT/RAIN) Card: Unattended vs. Suspicious Item Postcard and Poster | CISA
• Bomb Threat Guidance: DHS-DOJ Bomb Threat Guidance | CISA
• Bomb Making Materials Awareness Program: The RACK Card and Employee Card are well suited for businesses, both attached
• What To Do: Video Series: Training Video Series (dhs.gov)
• VBIED Parked Vehicles Identification Flip Card: VBIED Identification Card (dhs.gov)
• Office for Bombing Prevention: www.dhs.gov/obp | email: OBP@cisa.dhs.gov 
• TRIPwire website: www.tripwire.dhs.gov

These resources are being shared with you proactively and as part of a joint national security effort, and we will continue to update the public as needed. As always, WLCO is here to assist anyone who has questions or concerns regarding this notice — or anything else that you may need. You can call our offices at 312.666.1991 or email us at info@westloop.org and we will respond as soon as time permits.

Original source can be found here.