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

//ROUTINE//

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

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-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.

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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

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