Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES FOR INTERDEPENDENT SYSTEMS

WADE R. TOWNSEND

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

1 INTRODUCTION

The importance of infrastructure interdependencies was first highlighted at the national level by the President’s Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection (PCCIP) [1,2]. The energy sector (both industry and government) was proactive in recognizing the need to include interdependencies into vulnerability assessments and infrastructure analyses. The National Petroleum Council report, Securing Oil and Natural Gas Infrastructures in The New Economy, identified the need to include interdependencies considerations in all aspects [3]. The new business model (e.g. globalization, increasing reliance on other infrastructures) is complex and requires a broad perspective to include interdependencies analyses. The level of dependency among all critical infrastructures continues to rise due to increasing reliance on one another (e.g. information technology, telecommunications, and electric power).

An example of increasing dependencies and interdependencies is the Northeast Blackout in 2003. Even though this event began in the electric sector, other infrastructures were quickly impacted. Cleveland, OH, and Detroit, MI, lost pressure in their water systems and had to issue boil water advisories. Both cities rely on electric power to operate their pumps and had inadequate backup power available to continue pump operations, and thus, could ...