What is Terrorism?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines terrorism as “the unlawful use of force against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in the furtherance of political or social objectives.”

Terrorism may be perpetrated by foreign or domestic individuals or groups. While the United States has not had as many terrorist incidents as some other countries, we have had several serious attacks in the past decade including:

v The bombing of the World Trade Center (1993)

v The bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City (1995)

v The bombing at the Atlanta Olympic Games (1996)

v Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber) mail bombings (1970-1990’s)

v The destruction of the World Trade Center and a portion of the Pentagon (2001)

v The sending of anthrax through the U.S. Mail (2001)

Terrorist acts are intended to:

v Cause mass casualties & panic

v Produce a loss of critical resources

v Disrupt vital services

v Disrupt the economy

What are the most likely targets?

v Public assembly areas

v Public and government buildings

v Mass transit

v Places of high economic impact

v Telecommunications facilities

v Historic or symbolic places

v Amusement parks

v Special events

v Large structures and bridges

Visiting these places is part of our way of life. You should not avoid them, but have a heightened sense of awareness when you visit them.

How can I help local authorities?

Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Public Health officials have plans and procedures for responding to all types of hazardous situations. The most dangerous situations involve Weapons of Mass Destruction. It is critical to be well informed and remain watchful of things around you and report anything that appear suspicious or out of the ordinary.

How should I report suspicious activity?

Call 911 and provide the details. Please do not overreact. Think through the situation and try to determine if what you saw is truly out of the ordinary or just a common occurrence that you never paid attention to before. If in doubt, report it.

What protective measures should I take?

Some of the steps for preparing for a terrorist incident are the same as for natural hazards but some require special planning.

Assemble a disaster supply kit. Disaster supplies for terrorist incidents are the same as for other hazards and should definitely include a battery-powered radio with extra batteries and a cordless or cellular telephone.

Identify a safe room in the home or workplace and a meeting place outside of the home or workplace. Because the public will not know in advance whether to evacuate or shelter in place, it is necessary to plan for both. Because many chemicals are heavier than air, a safe room in the house should be on the main level or second level and should have as few doors and windows as possible. A meeting place outside of the home should be outside of the area and upwind from the incident.

Develop a family communication plan. Depending on the family members’ locations at the time of an attack, it may not be possible to get to the meeting place. Identifying an out-of-state contact or other family communication plan will facilitate the knowledge that family members are safe.

Learn shelter-in-place procedures and prepare a sheltering kit. Shelter-in-place procedures are used for a chemical or biological attack Procedures for sheltering in place during a chemical or biological attack include:

· Shutting off the ventilation system and latching all doors and windows to reduce airflow from the outside.

· Using precut plastic sheeting to cover openings where air can enter the room, including doors, windows, vents, and electrical outlets.

· Tape the plastic sheeting around all doors and windows using duct tape to ensure a good seal.

· Listen to a battery-powered radio for the all clear. Chemicals used in an attack will be carried on the wind and will dissipate over time.

Be Prepared In Your Workplace:

If there are workers who have physical disabilities, plan and practice procedures to evacuate them from the building.

Keep a small flashlight and whistle with you.

Introduce yourself to people you don’t know in your area. If they don’t belong, they will probably leave after being noticed.

Know the locations of fire exits and extinguishers.

Know procedures for reporting suspicious packages and people.

If there is an explosion:

Take cover if heavy debris is falling. Leave the building as quickly as possible. NEVER take an elevator if there is a fire or if you question the structural integrity of the building. Use fire escapes and assist individuals with physical disabilities to evacuate.

If you are trapped in debris:

Signal rescuers by tapping on pipes or walls. A whistle is also very effective. Shout as a last resort. Shouting can cause a person to inhale dangerous amounts of dust and exhaust your oxygen supply.

Personal Identification

Be careful of the type of personal information you reveal to strangers. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes. Take extra care to protect against it. At work, secure your identification. Wear it when you are there and take it off when you leave. If you lose any of your identification items, report it to security immediately. Be guarded with Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, driver’s license number and other official identification. Always report lost credit cards immediately.

Internet Security

The Internet is as public a place as you will find and you never know who is watching. Never give your password to anyone and never use your credit card unless the site has encrypted security. Be careful with the personal information you give in chat rooms and e-mails. Remember, once you send information over the Internet, you never know who will see it.

When You Travel

If you are traveling to a foreign country, check the U.S. Department of State web page at http://travel.state.gov/ for any travel advisories or procedure changes. Keep your identification papers in a secure place at all times. Cooperate with officials who are responsible for security inspections. If you see something that does not look right, report it to proper authorities.

What goes in my disaster kit?

Disaster supply kits for storms and non time-sensitive evacuations include an extensive list of comfort items covered in other areas of this guide. However, you should keep a small kit of essential life saving items at home, in the car and at work for emergencies. Some recommended life saving items include:

v Small first aid kit

v Small battery powered radio

v Small flashlight with batteries

v Whistle with a neck cord

v Small knife

Stay Informed

It is important to learn about terrorism and the weapons they employ. We can protect ourselves from many hazards if we act quickly and correctly. Knowledge is one of the most powerful weapons we, as individuals, have in this fight. For additional information or questions, contact your county Emergency Management office, http://www.dhs.gov/or http://www.ready.gov/.

The Homeland Security Advisory System

Green -Low Condition: There is a low risk of terrorist attack.

Blue - Guarded Condition: There is a general risk of terrorist attack.

Yellow - Elevated Condition: There is a significant risk of terrorist attack.

Orange - High Condition: There is a high risk of terrorist attack.

Red - Severe Condition: A Severe Condition reflects a severe risk of terrorist attack.

These five colors have changed our lives forever. The threat of terrorism is a reality in our Country. However, by taking precautions, we can carry on our life with little change. We must become better informed. Officials at all levels of government are working together to ensure that citizens are well informed and prepared to cope with this new threat.

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