Nov 28-Dec 5, 2024 | Issue 48 - NORTHCOM and Extremism
Daniela De Luca, Amelia Bell, Oliver Waters, Noah Kuttymartin
Jennifer Loy Chief Editor
University Closing[1]
Date: November 29, 2024
Location: Culiacan, Sinaloa State, Mexico
Parties involved: Mexico; Mexican national law enforcement; Culiacan law enforcement; Culiacan local and government agencies; Autonomous University of Sinaloa (UAS); Sinaloa educational institutions; Culiacan students, school staff, and teachers; mentors, counselors, and community leaders in Culiacan; Culiacan youth; Culiacan residents, business owners, and outside investors; Culiacan criminal organizations and cartel factions
The event: UAS has suspended face-to-face classes due to the ongoing escalation of violence between local cartel factions in the Culiacan area.[2]
Analysis & Implications:
The continued increase in cartel-related violence and the impact this violence is having on education environments, and the local community likely indicates the lack of successful interception by local and national law enforcement. The perceived failure of local and government agencies in combating the escalating violence will very likely reduce residents' confidence in local and national law enforcement, likely leading to education environments and local community members enforcing their protective measures. Local schools will almost certainly continue to use class suspensions to protect staff and students from this violence, and will likely focus on safeguarding policies protecting their students from the ongoing violence in their home environments during class suspension.
The disruption of education in Culiacan will very likely expose vulnerable individuals to recruitment by criminal actors, due to limited access to structured schooling environments. Without the protective framework of schools and extracurricular activities, young people will likely encounter more criminal organizations exploiting this gap and offering illicit opportunities as an alternative to education. The absence of safe spaces like schools and universities very likely limits youth access to mentors, counselors, and community leaders like teachers, who likely help them steer away from dangerous paths. The disruption of the public service will likely distort youths’ perception of risk, likely diminishing their awareness of the long-term impacts of criminal behavior by making cartel involvement seem like a viable option for survival.
Date: December 2, 2024
Location: USA
Parties involved: US; US citizens; National Weather Service (NWS); Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro; Pennsylvania State Police (PSP); New York Governor Kathy Hochul; New York state government workers; businesses in affected states; far-right conspiracy theorists; social media platforms; left-wing voters; secular “right-wingers;” Trump supporters; anti-government extremist groups; religious fundamentalist groups; religious believers; vulnerable populations; Social Security Administration (SSA);
The event: Heavy snow in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio disrupted road transportation, closing I-90 and prompting PSP to handle 200 incidents in 24 hours.[3]
Analysis & Implications:
Hazardous road conditions on the I-90 highway in New York will likely cause accidents and delays on the section between Cleveland and Buffalo in the coming days, slowing relief efforts to states dependent on the road. State emergency management Agencies in dense urban areas including New York City will likely be under increased strain due to large volumes of citizens seeking assistance, likely requiring additional federal resources and manpower to provide funding for snow removal and road maintenance operations. These storms will likely highlight vulnerabilities in infrastructure and emergency preparedness, especially during peak travel periods, likely demonstrating the need for improved coordination and resource allocation between stage agencies during extreme cold weather events.
The storm will likely highlight concerns about public health security in vulnerable populations, including the elderly, low-income individuals, and those without proper access to transportation. These groups will likely need help accessing necessary health services, such as medical care, food, or shelter during worsened road conditions. Delays in accessing critical medications and medical care will likely lead to the exacerbation of chronic illnesses and increased mental and physical health challenges. Extreme weather will likely delay the regular delivery of basic necessities to social security resources like food banks, community centers, and shelters, likely having long-term impacts on recovering from the possible delays and cancellations from the storm.
[1] Classes suspended, image generated by a third party database (created by AI and edited by Daniela De Luca)
[2] UAS suspends face-to-face classes in Culiacán after shootings and burning of businesses, Infobae, Nov 2024, https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2024/11/28/uas-suspende-clases-presenciales-en-culiacan-tras-balaceras-y-quema-de-negocios/ (Translated by Google)
[3] Major snowstorm blankets parts of U.S. over Thanksgiving weekend, CBS, December 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thanksgiving-snowstorm-2024-travel-advisories/