ASCE Responds to the I-35W Bridge Collapse

In response to the catastrophic I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis, ASCE is playing a significant and proactive role in the review and analysis of one of our nation's tragic infrastructure disasters. Shortly after the collapse occurred, ASCE immediately began to provide technical and authoritative information to the media and has developed a dedicated area on the ASCE website to providing further resources and related information. The website will continue to evolve over the coming days and should serve as an excellent resource to keep members up to date and help in answering any general questions that may be received. ASCE members can take pride in knowing that ASCE and the civil engineering profession continue to play such a key role in understanding and responding to natural and man-made disasters and in improving the resilience of our nation’s critical infrastructure.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Dealing with Sensitive Security Information

One of the most difficult challenges to providing security for critical infrastructure is the management of information about it that could fall into the wrong hands. Since the 9/11 attacks, maps and other "Sensitive Security Information" or "SSI" documents related to dams, electric power grids, nuclear power plants, transportation networks, etc. have been removed voluntarily from publicly-available websites by public agencies other owners of infrastructure. But what about documents describing the design and operation of these critical infrastructures for use by legitimate contractors and agency staff members--who should be allowed to see them, and who shouldn't? What systems can be put in place to ensure that information flows directly between those who have the information and those who seek it for the "right" reasons--and kept from those who want it for the "wrong" reasons?

FEMA: News Releases

Department of Homeland Security News

TSA.gov News & Press Releases

National Weather Service Current Advisories for the US