Terrorism

Last week, we observed the 14th anniversary of 9/11 and once again we relived the then-unbelievable acts that occurred on that day in history. In 2015, the face of terrorism has changed in many ways. This week we look at some of the forms of terrorism with which we now have to deal. Have you changed your plan to take into account the changes of the past 14 years?

Terrorism threats are now more diverse, less centrally organized. (Item #1)     Cyberattacks are on the rise, but most Americans say terrorist attacks are still the biggest threat to the United States. (Item #2)     People who commit violent terror attacks, it turns out, are not identifiable by the ideas they hold, but rather by the things that they do. (Item #3)    

Here are 16 key points insurance agents and risk managers need to understand about protecting a company's bottom line against terrorism and terrorism-related risks. (Item #4)     Who's more dangerous - white supremacists or foreign terrorists? (Item #5)     Many of those so-called "go bags," medicine kits and boxes of canned food and water that Americans stockpiled after the 9/11 attacks have been lost, expired or gone bad. (Item #6)    

As always, I look forward to hearing about your concerns with regard to business continuity. If there are any topics that you'd like to see covered, email me at [email protected].

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp

1. 9/11 anniversary: How has terrorism changed in the past 14 years?

In the 14 years since the 9/11 attacks, the face of terrorism has changed out of recognition. To many experts, the threat of Islamist terror is in some ways greater and in some ways diminished. It is geographically more diverse and organizationally more divided, and leverages social media and the internet in a way impossible in 2001.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/10/us/9-11-how-has-terror-changed/

2. Cyberattacks behind Terrorism on List of Biggest Threats to U.S., Voters Say

A plurality of registered voters - 36 percent - put acts of terrorism atop a list of major security concerns, according to a new Morning Consult poll. Cyberattacks are considered the second-biggest threat at 32 percent. The poll results follow a series of hacks and data breaches at government agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management, where personal records for at least 4.2 million current, former and federal employees were compromised.
http://morningconsult.com/2015/07/cyberattacks-behind-terrorism-on-list-of-biggest-threats-to-u-s-voters-say/

3. How do you spot the next terrorist?

Until recently, there was basically one answer: You focused on those who had the backgrounds and life experiences that you think might to lead to violent terrorism and looked for those who subscribed to the sort of extreme beliefs or radical ideas that other terrorists had expressed. Could it be that terrorists are not people with extreme ideas trying to build up the courage to turn them into murder, but rather violence-prone people hunting for some excuse to turn their proclivities into deeds?
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/how-do-you-spot-the-next-terrorist/article25971277/

4. 16 keys to understanding terrorism risk insurance in 2015

While acts of terrorism and political violence are a significant threat to a company's global operations, the January authorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015 (TRIPRA) helped prevent disruption and provided greater certainty to terrorism insurance markets in the United States. The 2015 Terrorism Risk Insurance Report summarizes TRIPRA, provides benchmarking related to terrorism insurance take-up rates and pricing, and offers risk management solutions for terrorism risks that will be useful for organizations even if they purchase terrorism insurance.
http://www.beynonandco.com/16-keys-to-understanding-terrorism-risk-insurance-in-2015.html

5. White Supremacists More Dangerous to America than Foreign Terrorists, Study Says

At least 48 people have been killed stateside by right-wing extremists in the 14 years since the September 11 attacks -- almost twice as many as were killed by self-identified jihadists in that time, according to a study released Wednesday by the New America Foundation, a Washington, D.C., research center. The study found that radical anti-government groups or white supremacists were responsible for most of the terror attacks.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/24/domestic-terrorism-charleston_n_7654720.html

6. Lawmaker offers Americans tips to prepare for nuclear, terrorist attacks

Rep. Robert Pittenger, R-N.C., says it's time to pack a new emergency bag and draft updated evacuation plans in preparation for another terrorist attack. He's put together a "how to" handbook - Preparing Your Home, Family and Business from Terrorist Attacks -- to help constituents and other members of the public plan what to do.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/national-security/article24781411.html