The Silent Vector exercise dealt with decision-making given a very credible, but non-specific, threat against the energy sector in the northeastern U.S. Led by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and with support from the Anser Institute for Homeland Security and MIPT, this simulation involved former senior policymakers, working-level experts, and representatives from the private sector. Silent Vector allowed these role-players to consider and evaluate appropriate crisis management responses before a critical infrastructure disaster materializes. It provided a forum for frank discussions of vulnerabilities, threats, consequences, and responses within the energy sector. Key observations from Silent Vector were:

• When leaders can't say what is happening, rumors become facts.
• Ambiguous warnings pose the central dilemma for the public.
• Relaxing protective measures is more difficult than imposing them.
• Hair-trigger reactions can lead to severe economic disruptions.
• The distinction between foreign and domestic intelligence no longer holds.
• The National Alert System breaks down in the private sector, states, and localities.
• General aviation security remains a problem.
• The vulnerabilities within the chemical industry are a key concern.
• The current Federal-State government interface is insufficient.

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