Dams Sector Security and Protection Seminar - Atlanta, GA

Dam Security and Protection Seminar (E260)

Dams, levees, and related facilities are a vital part of the Nation’s infrastructure, providing a wide range of economic, environmental, and social benefits. Those benefits include hydroelectric power, river navigation, water supply, wildlife habitats, waste management, flood control, and recreation.

The Dam Security and Protection Technical Seminar is designed to provide dam owners and operators, emergency managers, and other relevant stakeholders with information on the fundamental aspects of security and protection for dams, levees, and related facilities. It provides a solid foundation for the effective implementation of security and protection programs.

This course provides participants with basic concepts related to threat, vulnerability, and consequence as key risk variables. It overviews of threats and relevant attack vectors and describes potential suspicious activities. The course addresses common physical vulnerabilities and related protective measures, including both land-side and waterside considerations. It includes information on the basic components of effective security and crisis management programs, including the development of security plans and incident response plans. It also addresses cybersecurity risks, security compromises, and privacy incidents.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the purpose of risk assessment methodologies and results
• Describe potential threats and relevant attack vectors
• Evaluate the features of a given dam to identify potential surveillance locations and determine appropriate actions for detection and response
• Describe protective measures applicable to dams and levees
• Design and implement a security program
• Design and implement a crisis management program
• Describe the basic elements of cybersecurity

Target Audience

This course is designed for dam owners and operators; professional staff of dam safety and dam security programs; emergency managers at the Federal, State, local, , tribal, and territorial levels; and other safety, security, and incident management personnel with roles and responsibilities relevant to dams and related infrastructure.

Scope

The Dam Security and Protection Technical Seminar focuses on key security and protection concepts and their integration into risk management strategies.  

The scope of the course includes:

• Risk, risk components, and risk assessment strategies
• Threats and attack vectors
• Surveillance tactics and surveillance detection
• Suspicious activities
• Common vulnerabilities
• Security programs, including selecting protective measures and developing and implementing security plans
• Crisis management programs, including developing and implementing response plans, continuity plans, and exercises

Course Design

This course is designed for delivery in the classroom.  Lecture, discussion, and multiple hands-on activities are incorporated to enable participants to learn, practice, and demonstrate their knowledge.

Activities include a method to grade participants, when appropriate, using a checklist administered by the instructors.

Course Schedule