Homeland Security Mandated to Run Extreme Cold Weather Terror Attack Drill Under New Act

There's a new piece of legislation, the "Weatherizing Infrastructure in the North and Terrorism Emergency Readiness Act of 2025," and a key part of it, Section 2, is all about making sure we're ready if things go very wrong in very cold weather. Specifically, it tasks the Secretary of Homeland Security with developing and running a major exercise. This isn't just any drill; it's designed to simulate a terrorist attack that happens during an extreme cold snap, focusing on how such an event could mess with our essential services.

Simulating a Deep Freeze Crisis

So, what does this exercise actually involve? Imagine the worst kind of winter storm hitting, and then, on top of that, a deliberate attack aimed at crippling the systems we rely on. The bill requires the drill to cover an "extreme cold weather event impacting access to critical services." What are "critical services" or "critical infrastructure"? Think power grids, communication networks, water supplies, transportation – basically, the backbone of our daily lives, as defined in federal law (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)). The exercise must explore the "cascading effects," which is government-speak for how one problem (like a power outage) can lead to a chain reaction of other failures (no heat, then no internet, then hospitals struggling).

The goal here is to come up with solid strategies. This includes figuring out how emergency managers, state officials, and even private companies that own some of this infrastructure can work together to lessen the impact of an attack. It’s also about finding ways to make communities tougher and more able to bounce back if something like this ever happens.

All Hands on Deck: Coordination and Learning

This won't be a small affair. The legislation mandates coordination across the board – federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies all need to be involved. Plus, it specifically calls for looping in private sector partners (like your utility company) and community stakeholders. It’s about getting everyone who’d be on the front lines of such a crisis practicing together before the real thing.

And after the dust settles on this simulated disaster? The Secretary of Homeland Security has 60 days to send a report to the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees. This report will lay out what they found, what they learned, and critically, any suggestions for new laws or changes to existing ones that could help us be better prepared. Essentially, it's a proactive step to test our defenses and figure out how to strengthen them before a combined weather and security crisis hits.