Richard Flannery, rflannery@hrpdcva.gov

Emergency Management Administrator

Businesses and government agencies desire to reduce the risk of interruption from natural and manmade disasters, but cannot practically eliminate all risks. Working together to develop a sustainable approach to critical infrastructure protection in the Hampton Roads region will help improve continuity of operations of local business/industry and as a result improve overall community resiliency.

Hampton Roads is especially situated to take the lead in developing a workable Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources plan to meet the region’s needs as manifested in preparedness, resilience, response, and recovery. It is host to one of the largest ports in the world, home to multiple bridges and tunnels, a thriving regional economy and strong defense industrial base, including the largest variety and overall capacity for shipbuilding and repair on the East Coast. The HRPDC recognizes this unique risk landscape and is proactively taking the lead to work with private and public entities to protect the region’s critical  infrastructure. The intersection of these features enables it to raise the standard for collaboration and cooperation among critical infrastructure owners on the state as well as the national level.

The HRPDC Emergency Management staff, in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Commonwealth Preparedness, kicked off the Hampton Roads Critical Infrastructure Protection Program (HR CIPP) through a workshop with regional sector partners on July 14, 2010 at the HRPDC. The focus of the workshop was to describe existing best practices of infrastructure security around the nation and Virginia, discuss the ongoing protection and preparedness practices of our region, and set goals and milestones for the implementation of a regional infrastructure protection strategy that provides a value to the region, its businesses, and its citizens.

The workshop invited business/industry and infrastructure owners and operators, government, and academic leaders in risk analysis and business security strategy development to explore the benefits, costs, and risks of developing a regional critical infrastructure protection plan for improving regional resilience. The results from the workshop will enhance the capability of organizations to improve continuity of operations and community resilience, and to decrease the overall level of risk to critical infrastructure and the public and private sectors. Moreover, the region will be more resilient through the implementation of key objectives found within both the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and the Virginia Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resiliency Strategic Plan (known as the Virginia Plan).

The National Infrastructure Protection Plan can be obtained via the following web link: http://www.dhs.gov/nipp

The Virginia Critical Infrastructure Protection and Resiliency Strategic Plan can be obtained via web link: http://www.commonwealthpreparedness.virginia.gov/CIP/