This outline is about the recommendations on the Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources or CIKR of the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The Philadelphia metropolitan is divided into four states. The core city of Philadelphia can be found in Pennsylvania, which is also across the Delaware Valley (Cox, 2014). This outline will show key locations on how they have to be protected and restored when potential domestic incidents happen.
CIKR covers a diverse range of sectors to protect its critical infrastructures. According to the Homeland Security website, the following sectors of CIKR are the chemical, communication, dams, emergency services, financial services, government facilities, information technology, transportation system, commercial facilities, critical manufacturing, defense industrial base, energy, food and agriculture, healthcare and public health, nuclear reactors, materials and waste and water and water systems sectors.
The recommendations in this outline are based on the risk analysis program conducted by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management. Each recommendation will embody the different CIKR,
which are found to be very important in the metropolitan area of Philadelphia.
Chemical Sector
This sector should ensure that all new buildings and businesses that are chemical in nature are not used for terrorism attacks in the future. The five main segments, which are basic chemicals, specialty chemicals, agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products should be closely monitored by individuals to easily evaluate the situation of each main segment.
Communication Sector
A very tight security must be implemented for the communication sector to avoid cyber attacks and terrorism. Back-up communications for the whole metropolitan should also be considered in case of a natural disaster.
Dams Sector
The deteriorating structures of dams should be addressed immediately, as these will cause a lot of casualties if the people are caught off guard when this happens. Dams should be re-structured so that they can be a source of hydroelectric energy for desperate times.
Emergency Services Sector
This sector should always be organized, staffed, and managed at the State, local, tribal, and territorial levels since they have the most important jobs to do after incidents of attacks or natural disasters.
Financial Services Sector
A system for the transfer of money and payments should be developed so that large scale power outages and damages that are caused by natural disasters can be easily utilized for re-structures and aids for victims of natural disasters.
Government Facilities Sector
The buildings owned and leased by the government, as well as national infrastructures and icons, should be revisited for the maintenance and check-up of their durability when natural disasters or terrorist attacks strike.
Information Technology Sector
Information technology is closely related to the communication sector; hence, the same security or even a tighter security level for the data guarded by different entities should be developed.
Transportation Sector
This sector encompasses the different types of transportation: land, water, and air, which means that a constant monitoring of vehicles, planes, and vessels should be conducted. Programs for risk reduction and accidents when natural disasters and terrorist attacks occur should be developed as well.
Energy Sector
Discovering other forms of energy will reduce problems for power outages that are caused by natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Discovering other energy sources should not be harmful to the environment.
Food and Agriculture Sector
Quick response to imminent contamination of food and other sources of food through specialized teams for infections should be practiced so that the spread of epidemic or infections will be treated immediately.
References
Cox, W. (2014). The Evolving Urban Form: Philadelphia. Retrieved from
http://www.newgeography.com/content/004294-the-evolving-urban-form-philadelphia
http://www.dhs.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors
