//The Wire//2300Z October 10, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: HURRICANE MILTON MAKES LANDFALL IN FLORIDA, EFFECTS LARGELY MITIGATED. MULTIPLE VIOLENT ATTACKS STRIKE FRANCE. GEORGIA OFFICIAL DIES FOLLOWING TESIMONY ON BIOLAB FIRE. POTENTIAL EXPLOSIVES FOUND IN KNOXVILLE PROMPT LARGE EVACUATION.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

France: Unrest has been reported in the vicinity of Cavaillon, following insurgent attacks on local authorities overnight. Several police vehicles were burned following local reports of counter-narcotics investigations in the area. AC: Local unconfirmed reporting suggests this may be more ethnic in nature, after French police shut down a few well-known drug trafficking operations in the area. However, very few details have been released regarding the identity of the assailants.

In Grenoble, similar kinetic actions were reported today following a heist on an armored car in the city center. Assailants reportedly armed with automatic weapons ambushed a cash transit van, before fleeing the scene. AC: Again, very little information has been released regarding this incident, or the status of the investigation. Photos of the burning van have circulated on social media, but the success of the thieves is unknown.

-HomeFront-

Georgia: Yesterday, one of the governmental officials that was involved with the investigation into the recent BioLab fire in Conyers died unexpectedly during a round of testimony regarding this incident. Rockdale County Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor Kenny Johnson reportedly collapsed in a hallway at the State Capitol after reporting a shortness of breath amid a break in proceedings. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

Tennessee: This afternoon local authorities in Knoxville have issued an evacuation order for many residents in the vicinity of Mynderse Avenue, due to a potential threat involving explosives. AC: This evacuation zone is centered on a local recycling facility and has a radius of one kilometer, indicating that whatever the threat is, it’s very serious and could cause significant damage. Local authorities initially claimed the response was a HAZMAT situation, but the most recent information from the Knoxville PD indicates a box possibly containing explosives was found. The investigation is currently ongoing as EOD personnel attempt to render the possible device safe.

Florida: Hurricane Milton made landfall last night as a Category 3 hurricane after rapidly losing strength. The storm narrowly missed Tampa for the most part, mostly making landfall to the south in Sarasota. Roughly 3 million people remain without power throughout western Florida, and somewhat routine flooding has been reported throughout the region.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: Though Hurricane Milton thankfully collapsed and lost much strength immediately before making landfall, the initial storm bands that arrived before the hurricane caused significant damage as many tornadoes were spawned yesterday afternoon. Initial reports suggest that well over 100 tornadoes swept through the region, causing more significant damage than the hurricane itself in some cases. This is a good reminder of the expediency of evacuations before the storm arrives; mass damage might occur even before the main body of the storm arrives, so waiting until the last minute to prepare and/or evacuate is often Ill-advised.

In Georgia, the fire at the BioLab facility has largely been forgotten in the public eye since it occurred, however the scale of this exceptionally hazardous fire has created a substantial health and environmental concern. As a reminder, for several days the fire was burning underneath the rubble, causing significant problems for firefighters trying to overhaul the fire and prevent re-ignition.

Analyst: S2A1

//END REPORT//

//The Wire//2300Z October 9, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: HURRICANE MILTON BEGINS TO MAKE LANDFALL IN FLORIDA. TERROR ATTACK ALLEGEDLY THWARTED IN OKLAHOMA.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Europe: A man attempted to physically attack Hungarian Prime Minister Orban during a press conference yesterday. The man was arrested at the scene, having been halted by security teams before getting close to PM Orban.

-HomeFront-

USA: This afternoon the Internet Archive, a well-known digital library, was allegedly the victim of a cyberattack that resulted in the website going down. No details have been provided as of yet, however the website is inaccessible.

Oklahoma: An Afghan man was arrested for allegedly planning to conduct a terror attack on election day. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi was arrested after purchasing multiple firearms, buying one-way airline tickets for his family to return to Afghanistan, financially supporting to ISIS, having an extensive online presence supporting ISIS, and communications to another insurgent were discovered by authorities.

Florida: Most of the west coast remains under a mandatory evacuation order as preparations continue. As damage from Hurricane Helene is still a factor in Florida, great efforts have been made to clean up debris that may become a hazard in high winds. Multiple tornados have been reported throughout Florida as of this morning as the outer bands of the hurricane reach central Florida. Over 50 tornado warnings have been issued as of this afternoon.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: In Oklahoma, Tawhedi likely was on the radar of authorities for some time. Mainstream media reports that he came to the US in September of 2021…which coincides with the Kabul Airlift, meaning that he probably was evacuated from Afghanistan during that crisis, and subsequently processed as a refugee. However, it would seem that he was only arrested after he presented every single indication and warning in the book. Only then was a sting operation planned and carried out, with the goal of befriending Tawhedi at a local gun range, and eventually entrapping the would-be terrorist into buying guns from an undercover agent. As such, the methods used to stop this potential terrorist (who was not concealing his intent in any way), are a very intriguing choice by which to get an arrest. Though the means by which a conviction can be obtained in the United States are sometimes nonsensical or seemingly counterproductive, there is probably a subtle ulterior message being conveyed with this case. Tawhedi could have (as with many others) been arrested (and a conviction secured) solely for providing materiel support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

Tawhedi’s own actions do not indicate that he was particularly good at concealing his behavior, with even his own plans for his family not being entirely logical. As he pledged allegiance to ISIS, him purchasing tickets for his family to return to Afghanistan was not likely to meet with success. The Taliban control Afghanistan now, and are at war with ISIS (and have been for some time, even before the United States departed the country). If his family would have returned by plane to Kabul after his attack, it’s likely that they would have been arrested and executed in short order for supporting ISIS.

Analyst: S2A1

//END REPORT//

//The Wire//2100Z October 8, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: CYBERATTACKS IMPACT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN US. HURRICANE MILTON ON COURSE FOR TAMPA.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Middle East: The war continues as before. Israeli targeting of Beirut has increased in severity and frequency over the past few days, with much destruction being reported throughout the city. The Israeli land invasion is progressing from the south and from the east, with Israel ordering the evacuation of many small towns south of the Litani River.

-HomeFront-

Texas: The investigation into the Burnet County terrorism incident has concluded with authorities revealing the incident was a hoax. The search for the alleged assailants has been called off, and the security guard who made the initial complaint has been arrested for fabricating the incident.

New Jersey: The American Water Works company reported a cyberattack on Monday, which possibly resulted in a breach of customer billing data. AC: The full scale of this cyberattack is not yet known, but water treatment operations do not appear to have been affected at this time. This company is the largest drinking water provider and wastewater treatment company in the United States, serving roughly 14 million customers nationwide.

Southeast: Hurricane Helene recovery continues as locals and responding agencies shift into long-term recovery mode. Volunteers continue to inundate the region with supplies, as road construction will take months, if not years.

Florida: Preparation for Hurricane Milton continues as weather modeling strongly indicates that the storm will directly impact Tampa. Mass evacuations, some of which are mandatory, continue throughout the region which have led to interstate highway congestion on northbound highways. Gasoline shortages are already being reported throughout Florida as residents egress to the north, increasing the demand for fuel.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: Evacuations throughout south and central Florida have been strongly urged for those in vulnerable locations, as Hurricane Milton is currently one of the largest weather systems in recorded history. This sheer scale, combined with the extremely unusual track, and the region still recovering from Hurricane Helene, is likely to cause unpredictable complications as the storm makes landfall.

Analyst: S2A1

//END REPORT//

//The Wire//2300Z October 7, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: HURRICANE MILTON STRENGTHENS TO CATEGORY 5. PROBABLE TERROR ATTACK THWARTED IN TEXAS. NEW ZEALAND WARSHIP SINKS IN PACIFIC.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

New Zealand: Last night the HMNZS Manawanui sank off the coast of the Samoan island of Upolu while conducting a reef survey. The reef was located upon the Manawanui running aground, which caused the ship to catch fire and capsize. The crew abandoned ship and were rescued from lifeboats a few hours later. No casualties were reported.

-HomeFront-

Texas: Sunday morning a potential mass shooting was thwarted by security teams at the Church at the Epicenter in Burnet County. Two men of Middle-Eastern descent wearing Islamic head coverings approached the church armed with rifles, prompting at least one security guard to engage the men, who fled from the scene in a white van. AC: Both men remain at large, and the incident remains under investigation. This attack took place one day before the October 7th anniversary of the war in the Middle East.

Gulf Coast: Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane and is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida by Wednesday. Local evacuations of areas prone to flooding have been recommended by authorities at all levels, and varying states of emergency have already been declared throughout Florida.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: The track of Hurricane Milton is unusual, with the storm moving west-to-east from the Gulf of Mexico, into the Atlantic. As such, considering the kinetic nature of this hurricane season it would be exceptionally wise for the American southeast (Florida in particular) to prepare for more devastation than normal. Hurricanes are synonymous with life in Florida, but since resources throughout the region are already spread thin and compromised, another gargantuan rescue and recovery effort will take some time if it is needed.

Analyst: S2A1

//END REPORT//

//The Wire//2300Z October 4, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: DISASTER RECOVERY CONTINUES IN AMERICAN SOUTHEAST.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-HomeFront-

Southeast: Recovery efforts continue amid growing reports of federal corruption and general malevolence. On the ground, locals and independent volunteer groups are working alongside National Guard assets to aid disaster victims and continue recovery efforts. Much of the recovery work itself is being worked by a variety of groups working independently of federal aid, which is often late or inadequate. Local authorities are beginning to organize more deliberately with volunteer groups, though what started as very limited reports of volunteers being shut out, have now begun to become more common.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: Due to these growing allegations, it would be wise for all volunteers to document any opposition they face, so that a more thorough independent investigation can be completed later on. At the moment, locals will have to do the best they can despite the barriers that are being presented in some cases. Due to the sheer scale of this disaster, it’s hard to determine how much opposition is impacting the overall effort; for every one instance of locals being shut out of volunteer operations, there could be thousands of logistical efforts being undertaken where everyone involved simply is doing whatever is needed. There’s no way to know how severe these problems are considering the context of the larger crisis response effort. Most efforts between all agencies, companies, and volunteers appear to be working as smoothly as can be expected considering the situation. Since most reports from the region come from individuals and interpersonal interactions between one person and another, individual assessments may vary. Some people have had nothing but problems and corruption, but others (even working in a similar area) have seen nothing but altruism and kindness. Tensions may temporarily flare in some situations, and minor irritations surely exist in others, but overall trends are tough to assess.

However, considering the mounting concerns of opposition to aid efforts (and erring on the side of caution) it’s important to remember that locals also know the terrain better than any federal resource or agency ever could, which provides an advantage to those seeking to clandestinely smuggle aid supplies into the region if that becomes necessary at some point.

Analyst: S2A1

//END REPORT//

//The Wire//2300Z October 3, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: ISRAEL STRIKES TARGETS IN SYRIA, CONTINUES INVASION OF LEBANON. RECOVERY CONTINUES IN AMERICAN SOUTHEAST.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Global: An Earth-facing X9.0-class solar flare has been observed overnight, continuing the heightened solar activity during this solar cycle. AC: This will likely degrade shortwave radio communications for the next few days on the sun-facing side of Earth.

Middle East: Last night, Israeli forces conducted a missile strike near a Russian military base in Syria. AC: The diplomatic situation in Syria with regards to Russia is complicated. Russia maintains several airbases in Syria. Most of these are formerly Syrian military bases, which are now manned and operated by Russians. However, immediately next to some military sites, are large ammo dumps intended for the storage of Iranian arms, and/or supplies for Hezbollah. This is likely what happened at Khmeimim Air Base last night. This facility, which is co-located with Bassel al-Assad International airport, was host to an Israeli naval bombardment via dozens of missiles which struck the facility. Details regarding exactly what was struck are unclear, however initial Syrian media reports indicate that Israel was probably targeting one of these storage facilities that was technically Russian, but really operated by Iranians, proxies, or other non-Russians. However, this is unlikely to matter much, as Russian forces did intercept some of the Israeli missiles targeting the facility.

In response, Russia has ordered all 1.5 million Russian citizens located in Israel to depart the country as soon as possible, while commercial means are still available.

Red Sea/HOA Region: Houthi targeting continues as before, with the successful strike of two western cargo vessels a few days ago. The M/T CORDELIA MOON and the M/V MARATHOPOLIS were struck by Houthi Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) and cruise missiles a few days ago. Both vessels were damaged in the attack, but the crew of both vessels have maintained command and continued to their next port of call.

-HomeFront-

United States: Panic buying has been reported around the nation due to the Longshoremen labor strike. As of this afternoon the Longshoremen have voted to pause the strike until January 15, due to the lives that are being lost due to logistical problems throughout the southeast. However the damage has largely been done, as logistical problems will remain critical for weeks, even if regular port operations recommence right now. This, in combination with the major Baxter healthcare factory being destroying in western North Carolina, has also reportedly resulted in varying shortages of medical supplies around the country. So far, shortages are random and unpredictable (as is common now due to our national just-in-time logistical doctrine).

Washington: This afternoon the Kitsap County Sheriff’s office investigated an IED attack on a vehicle in Bremerton. An unknown individual emplaced an IED underneath a parked vehicle, which detonated as the vehicle owner approached it. No further information regarding the motive for this attack has been released.

Southeast: Improvements are being made in some areas with regards to disaster response, and detrimental effects are being reported in others. Portable Cellular-on-Wheels (COW) arrays and donated Starlink dishes have been instrumental in remote areas obtaining contact with the outside world, and the work to restore electricity to the region has equally been very helpful. However, after almost a week of recovery efforts, much of the region still remains without power or cell service.

As such, FEMA efforts have largely been absent completely or unhelpful so far. FEMA has required citizens (who don’t have power or cell service) to fill out online forms to get aid. The White House has announced a one-time

//The Wire//2130Z October 2, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: IRAN STRIKES ISRAEL WITH BALLISTIC MISSILES. MASS SHOOTING REPORTED IN TEL AVIV. CONTROVERSY CONTINUES TO MOUNT IN SOUTHEASTERN DISASTER ZONE.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Middle East: Last night, multiple Iranian ballistic missiles stuck various targets in Israel. Video footage from people on the ground indicate dozens (possibly hundreds) of missiles were launched, many of which were intercepted by David’s Sling defense systems. So far, the casualty count appears to be minimal, though official numbers may change over time. Initial Israeli media reporting indicates that Iran targeted military sites, not civilian centers.

Nearly simultaneously, a mass shooting was reported in Tel Aviv, resulting in 10 fatalities and 20 wounded so far. AC: Due to the Iranian strikes, the details of this developing mass shooting event have been hard to verify with any confidence.

Far East: This morning a WWII era bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan. The bomb, which had been dropped during WWII, cratered a taxiway and caused the diversion and/or delay of dozens of flights. Local authorities have confirmed there is no further threat to aviation and normal aviation operations will commence on Thursday.

-HomeFront-

United States: Bank of America customers reported widespread issues this afternoon, resulting in either a total outage of banking systems or their accounts showing a zero balance. AC: No word has been provided regarding the cause of the outage.

Southeast: Recovery efforts continue, despite federal involvement. Reports continue to mount regarding federal agencies discouraging people from helping, or outright threatening citizens with arrest for trying to aid disaster victims. There have been some limited reports of federal aid agencies confiscating disaster supplies from volunteer groups. FEMA resources, largely unseen throughout the affected disaster zone, are allegedly being deployed at the moment. However, this afternoon DHS Secretary Mayorkas stated that while FEMA funding is adequate for now, FEMA lacks the required resources and funding to manage federal emergencies that may need management by a federal agency this hurricane season.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: With any disaster, there are always those with a good heart that try to help, but inevitably make the situation worse. These situations are quite rare, but do sometimes happen. Similar situation with those who try to volunteer but end up needing rescue themselves…the nuance of various situations on the ground inevitably results in conflict that is not exactly indicative of a top-down policy sometimes.

However, overall the atmospherics on the ground in this situation appear to be more nefarious in nature than the standard tensions that arise during any disaster. The prevailing story throughout some areas is that federal (and even some local) agencies don’t want citizens to help, because the government is in charge…but these same agencies don’t do anything at all, or at minimum are way over their heads with regards to the scale of the response needed. Roads are being closed to only “official” vehicle traffic, despite well-prepared and skilled citizens that are more than capable of providing aid more professionally and efficiently than formalized agencies. Similar situation with private pilots who can outfly any National Guard asset any day of the week, and yet are somehow held to higher standards and formalization than even the policing agencies themselves. With this disaster, the red tape has begun to entangle even private volunteer efforts, with many volunteers learning valuable lessons regarding how little the government values their efforts, and as most clearly demonstrated during the Maui crisis, are sometimes outright adversarial.

The reasons for this vary wid

//The Wire//1630Z October 1, 2024//

//PRIORITY//

//BLUF: ISRAEL BEGINS GROUND INVASION OF LEBANON. RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE IN AMERICAN SOUTHEAST. ILA LABOR STRIKE BEGINS.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Middle East: Overnight Israeli forces began their ground invasion of Lebanon. So far, it is unclear as to if this is a limited border incursion or the prelude to a much larger invasion. 

AC: Sources on either side have not entirely been reliable, and due to the remote terrain in southern Lebanon, it may be some time before an accurate picture of the advance is obtained. Western media sources have claimed that an Iranian ballistic missile strike is imminent, however it’s not clear as to how any media source could possibly know this information with any certainty. Similar rumors persist regarding the potential for Iran to send troops to Lebanon to assist in their defense against the Israeli invasion.

-HomeFront-

USA: The Longshoremen labor strike officially began at midnight, with roughly 45,000 dockworkers and other personnel shutting down logistics operations along the Eastern seaboard and Gulf Coast. As of right now, the following port facilities are most affected by the labor strike: Boston, Delaware River, New York, Baltimore, Hampton Roads, Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Miami, Port Everglades, Tampa, Mobile, New Orleans, and Houston.

Southeast: Logistical networks have begun to organize more deliberately and aid is beginning to flow into the region as best it can. Roads being impacted or simply no longer existing presents the biggest challenges for rescue and recovery. Price gouging has been reported in many sectors, from fuel to food. Though unconfirmed at this time, truckers are reporting acts of sabotage to their vehicles while parked at truck stops throughout the region. This has allegedly taken the form of slashed tires and tampering with fuel tanks, however it’s not clear as to if these incidents are more representative of routine crime or more deliberate targeting of aid shipments.

Atlantic Ocean: Tropical Depression Kirk increased to a Tropical Storm overnight, and is expected to become a major hurricane over the next few days. AC: It’s too soon to tell if this system is intended for the east coast, however if so this could be a potentially serious complication for the already compromised region.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: Though substantial aid shipments and infrastructure are allegedly on the way, most locals still have not seen many aid efforts from higher than the local level. There are also mounting allegations that higher-level government aid agencies are discouraging the work of Good Samaritans. On the ground, feelings are mixed; higher level aid is desperately called for, but most people know that federal assets will probably just mess up what’s already being worked at lower levels. As such, there’s a delicate balance at hand which is resulting in conflict: Local volunteers have stepped up where the government has not. However, much more substantial efforts are needed than can be provided by single privately owned helicopters or random citizens carrying one truckload of supplies. However, when state/federal agencies takeover operations and shut out volunteers, they often prove that they can’t do much better of a job than the volunteers paying out of pocket for recovery efforts. In short, if formal agencies could take over rescue/recovery efforts and do the job effectively, most volunteers would probably be happy to hand the reigns over to more qualified professionals. However, in most cases the professionals are either not capable of the magnitude of support needed, or are bound up in red tape that is costing lives every single day, thus the emerging conflict. This is resulting in a unique parallel society whereby locals are working independently of formal aid agencies to

//The Wire//1830Z September 30, 2024//

//PRIORITY//

//BLUF: HURRICANE DAMAGE IN SOUTHEASTERN US CATASTROPHIC. DOCKWORKER UNION STRIKE TO BEGIN TOMORROW, SHUTTING DOWN MOST EAST COAST PORTS.//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-HomeFront-

USA: A nationwide Verizon outage was reported this morning, affecting most of the United States. AC: As cellular communications have been strained due to the increased demand throughout the southeast, localized outages have been reported. The cause of this national outage has not been disclosed however, and is possibly unrelated to storm damage. The widespread telecoms issues throughout the southeast already present an exceptionally vulnerable target for malign actors, both foreign and domestic.

Throughout the East Coast, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) labor union has voted to conduct the first total port strike since 1977, starting Tuesday, October 1. Most high-risk rail freight has already been stopped as of last week, so as to avoid HAZMAT or other lootable materials being stuck on the track due to the labor strike. On the west coast, land-based freight is already overwhelmed as cargo operations shift to trucks, of which there are not enough to mitigate the impacts to freight operations. As such long lines and processing times are being reported around the country at every major logistics hub.

AC: The impact that this labor strike will have on logistics will without question be catastrophic due to the devastated American southeast. If this goes forward, the logistical problems already in play will likely result in a near-total breakdown of most cargo operations throughout the eastern United States. East coast ports being shut down, with union members picketing, combined with the apocalyptic damage reported in the southeast, presents a clear and present danger to national security.

Southeastern US: Devastation from Hurricane Helene remains at historic levels due to the sheer scale of the disaster. Potentially thousands remain missing, and NCDOT authorities continue to urge everyone to consider all roads in western NC closed until further notice, even interstates or major highways. Asheville is the largest metropolitan center that has suffered severe damage, largely due to all roads into and out of the city being blocked or unnavigable for most vehicles. Looting has also been reported throughout most of the flood damaged regions.

Florida: The city of Okeechobee is under a state of defacto martial law as the Chief of Police Donald Hagan signs a Local State of Emergency declaration nullifying the 2nd Amendment. The possession of firearms in public and the sale of ammunition has been completely banned. The display of firearms by gun stores has been banned. AC: As it stands in this municipality, this is appears to be a complete and total ban on the possession of all firearms in public. It is unknown as to if law enforcement officials are enforcing this policy or not.

Georgia: A major chlorine processing facility caught fire in Conyers over the weekend. This is one of the most significant factory fires in Georgia’s history, with plume analysis indicating hazardous debris being deposited throughout the region. Initial reports from local responders indicate that chlorine has been detected, leading to mass evacuations around the factory and a shelter-in-place order for the entirety of Rockdale county. AC: Details are unconfirmed regarding the origin of the fire. However the internal fire suppression system itself may have exacerbated the situation as chemicals have reacted with the water, resulting in either the fire starting in the first place, or at minimum the blaze being more substantial. Haze and chemical odors have been reported in Atlanta, prompting local authorities to recommend the closing of exterior ventilation systems for structures and vehicles throughout Fulton county.

Washington D.C. – The White House