USPS Waterway Awareness

1. USPS Waterway Awareness United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

2. Why a Program • 9/11 Changed Recreational Boating • Waterways could be a target • U.S. Coast Guard requesting support by all recreational boaters • Participate in the Program • All boaters • All waterways United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

3. Waterway Awareness Purpose • Use the “Eyes and Ears” of Waterfront Users to: • Detect and • Report suspicious activity. • You Know What Is Normal and What Is Not United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

4. Waterway Awareness Purpose We ask you to Adopt A Heightened Sense of Sensitivity Toward Unusual Events or Individuals you may encounter in or around: • PORTS, b) DOCKS, c) MARINAS, d) RIVERSIDES, e) BEACHES, or f) WATERFRONT COMMUNITIES. United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

5. Common Sense Approach To protect our waterways • Be alert • Maintain a calm, common sense approach to handling a threat Heightened awareness communicates confidence United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

6. What is Terrorism? • Terrorism is a CRIME. • It is not a crime to: • Have a strong set of beliefs that are outside mainstream ideology. • Say something radical or inflammatory. United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

7. Terrorism Might target: • National policy • Local community • Business • Ethnicity • Members of any specialty group United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

8. Terrorist Objectives Several immediate objectives terrorists groups will attempt to gain through their acts - • Fear, Panic • Disruption of services • Demoralization, Intimidation • Embarrassment of our leaders • Media attention; one of their most important goals United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

9. Who Terrorists Attack • Sometimes they choose victims they perceive as enemies • Other times they choose victims without any purpose There are no innocent bystanders United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

10. Who Terrorists Attack They always choose targets after careful surveillance. • Select targets that seem weak or unprotected • Look for targets where people are not alert • Pick the target and method of attack that will get them the greatest attention. United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

11. Staying Alert How do we recognize the difference between normal and abnormal behavior? • Know who your neighbors are • Know what boats are normally in your marina, on your waterways • Know what is appropriate in your marina United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

12. Staying Alert Staying alert is not paranoia. Staying alert is being aware of one’s surroundings! United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

13. What is Suspicious Activity? “Suspicious activity refers to, but is not limited to: • Activity which a reasonably prudent person would consider out of the ordinary or unusual • Based on the facts andcircumstances for that situation.” From a report by the Commandant of the US Coast Guard United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

14. What are some Suspicious Activities? • Unusual requests for information • Unattended vessels or vehicles in unusual places • Unusual diving activity • Unusual night operations • Operating in or passing through an area not typical for such activity United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

15. What are some Suspicious Activities? • Anchoring in an area not typically used for anchorage • Light signals between vessels • Recovering or tossing items in water • Transfer of people or things between ships or shore that seem unusual • Operating a vessel in an aggressive behavior United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

16. What are some Suspicious Activities? • Unusual interest in high risk or symbolic targets such as: • Photographing: • surveillance camera(s) • crash barriers at entrances • bridge abutments • access controls United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

17. What are some Suspicious Activities? • Drawing/sketching diagrams • Annotating maps • Excessive use of binoculars or nightvisiondevices United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

18. What are some Suspicious Activities? Unusual requests for information • For example • Asking questions regarding timing of bridge openings • Asking about security system United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

19. Sensitive Information • Before giving out sensitive information • Know the individual and know they have a need for the information United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

20. Where to look for Suspicious Activity? • Under and around bridges, tunnels or overpasses • Near commercial areas or services like a) Ports b) Security areas c) Public utility areas d) Fuel docks e) Cruise ships f) Marinas United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

21. Where to look for Suspicious Activity? • Near industrial facilities such as a) Power plants b) Oil, Chemical, or Water intake facilities • Near military bases and vessels • Government facilities or security zones. United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

22. Recognizing Suspicious Activity Not a hard science. You need to rely on judgment It comes down to: • Experience • Judgment • Common sense United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

23. Be aware of Be aware of people: • Acting furtively and suspiciously • Avoiding eye contact • Darting quickly when seen or approached • In places they do not belong • Having trouble communicating why they are in places where they do not belong • Overdressed for the weather. United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

24. Pay attention to Visitors • Arriving and leaving at unusual hours • Trying not to be noticed • Acting in a suspicious manner • Parking in an unusual distance from facility • Unusual number of unrelated people living together. United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

25. Providing an Accurate Report A) What to report B) Who to call Two key elements in giving a good report are: • Accuracy • Timeliness United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

26. Accuracy Accuracy means • What you saw, nothing more • Include the reason activity seemed suspicious; even if the reason is “It wasn’t normal” United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

27. Timeliness • After a certain period of time, the suspicious situation will change • People leave or possibly alter their appearance United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

28. Timeliness Report anything suspicious immediately after you observe it happening. VERY IMPORTANT United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

29. What to Report? Provide details, create a word picture. • Details carry weight • Changeable details such as activity are important, but may not be the same once the officer arrives. • Permanent details are very important United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

30. Reporting a Person Include: • Hair - color, length, facial hair • Race • Age • Gender • Size – height, weight • Clothing • Distinguishing marks – scars, tattoos • Disabilities United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

31. Reporting a Vessel Include • Type – Power, Sail, Cruiser, Runabout • Model • Color – paint, markings • Size – length • Visible body/hull damage • Stickers • Accessories – antennas, flags • Registration - number, State of registration United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

32. Who to call? Emergency – Call local emergency number • Usually 911 or U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 Know in advance if you need to dial an access number for an outside line Non-Emergency – call a non-emergency number. Know number in advance. Do not tie up 911. United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun

33. US Coast GuardAmerica’s Waterway Watch 24 hour number hot line number 1-877-24-WATCH (1-877-249-2824) --------------- National Response Center number 1-800-424-8802 United States Power Squadrons - dedicated to making boating safer and more fun