Product

The outcome of the conference will be a summary report identifying next steps for consideration, including recommendations and issues related to 3), above (research projects, collaboration mechanisms, and further networking).

Purpose

1) Identify and understand the interedependence of critical infrastructures that would be stressed during a natural or man-made crisis[, especially in relation to the enery sector];

2) Conduct and reflect on a tabletop exercise previously rehearsed by the City of New York to rehearse critical infrastructure telecommunications capability across sectors;

3) Offer opportunities to consider regional initiatives to promote resiliency, including 1) research and development projects; 2) collaboration mechanisms and 3) future conferences and workshops that promote resiliency (the ability to restore service after an interruption).

Terms

Resiliency is the capability of a system to maintain its functions in the face of change and to degrade gracefully when it must, whether the change is prompted by naturally occurring event (such as hurricane) or a man-made event (such as a terrorist attack or industrial accident).

Critical infrastructure refers to 17 sectors in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP):

1. agriculture/food
2. defense industrial base
3. energy
4. public health/healthcare
5. national monuments
6. banking/finance
7. drinking water/treatment systems
8. chemical facilities
9. commercial facilities
10. dams
11. emergency services
12. commercial nuclear reactors, materials, and waste
13. information technology
14. telecommunications
15. postal/shipping means
16. transportation
17. government facilities