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Daily Brief

The PSEPC Daily Brief is a compilation of summaries of publicly available and PSEPC information concerning critical infrastructure protection and emergency management.

DOB05-232 - 5 December 2005

News

Environment Canada predicts harsh winter conditions in December
According to a recent Environment Canada forecast, winter conditions in December are expected to be colder than normal along the southern part of Canada. However, the forecast also predicts that much of Canada, excluding its southern areas, will continue to be milder than normal.
(Source: GLOBEANDMAIL.COM, 5 December 2005)
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To view an Environment Canada map showing the areas expected to receive below normal and above-normal temperatures in December, click here.

In brief

U.S. TSA enhances security screening procedures at airports
On December 2, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that beginning December 22, changes to airline security screening procedures will take effect. These changes include more random screenings and fewer prohibited items.
(Source: Transportation Security Administration, 2 December 2005)
Click here for the source article

Ukraine declares state of emergency due to avian influenza outbreak
Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in the Crimean Peninsula in effort to stop the country’s first outbreak of avian influenza. Health experts investigating the death of 1,600 domestic birds in the area earlier confirmed the presence of a strain of the H5 virus. Five villages have been placed under quarantine and all poultry in the affected regions will be slaughtered.
(Source: BBC NEWS, 3 December 2005)
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Hurricane Epsilon maintaining strength over Atlantic Ocean
As of 11:00 AST on December 5, Hurricane Epsilon was located 880 kilometres west-southwest of the Azores. Its maximum sustained winds are approximately 130 km/h, but a gradual weakening is expected over the next 24 hours.
(Source: National Hurricane Center, 5 December 2005)
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To see the forecasted five-day track of Hurricane Epsilon, click here.

Cyber risk assessment

Over the course of the past 72 hours, the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre (CCIRC) has not detected any significant new threats or vulnerabilities.  No significant incidents with the potential to affect critical infrastructure have been reported.  Accordingly, based on the information available to CCIRC, the cyber risk facing Canadian critical infrastructure is assessed as low.  Personnel responsible for information, systems and network security should continue to apply appropriate security precautions and monitor their systems.

Recent cyber alerts and advisories issued by CCIRC can be viewed under “Recent analytical releases” at www.psepc.gc.ca/ccirc.

See also...

• The Weather Office
• FAC - Travel Updates

Note to readers

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC) collects information related to cyber and physical threats to, and incidents involving, Canadian critical infrastructure. This allows us to monitor and analyze threats and to issue alerts, advisories and other information products.

Any suspected criminal activity should be reported to local law enforcement organizations. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) National Operations Centre (NOC) provides a 24/7 service to receive such reports or to redirect callers to local law enforcement organizations. The NOC can be reached at (613) 993-4460. National security concerns should be reported to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) at (613) 993-9620.

Links to sites not under the control of the Government of Canada (GoC) are provided solely for the convenience of users. The GoC is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or the reliability of the content. The GoC does not offer any guarantee in that regard and is not responsible for the information found through these links, nor does it endorse the sites and their content.

Some hyperlinks in the PSEPC Daily Brief direct users to sites of organizations or other entities that are not subject to the Official Languages Act. Users should be aware that these sources are only available in the language in which they are written.