In addition to the natural and
technological hazards described in this publication, Americans face threats
posed by other governments or extremist groups. these are called national
security emergencies. They include acts of terrorism and acts of war.
[Terrorist attacks against the World Trade
Center and Pentagon on September 11, 2001]
U.S. TERRORIST INCIDENTS ...
From 1983 to 1991, the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified 101 terrorist
incident in the United States.
Following is general information about national security
emergencies.
Acts of terrorism range from
assassinations, kidnappings, bomb threats, and bombings to the threat of
nuclear, biological and chemical warfare.
Terrorism in the United States
In the United States, most terrorist incidents have
involved small extremist groups who use terrorism to achieve a designated
objective. Local, State and Federal law enforcement officials monitor
suspected terrorist groups and try to prevent or protect against a suspected
attack. Additionally, the U.S. government works with other countries to limit
the sources of support for terrorism.
A terrorist attack can take several forms, depending on
the technological means available to the terrorist, the nature of the
political issue motivating the attack, and the points of weakness of the
terrorist's target. Bombings are the most frequently used terrorist method in
the United States. Other possibilities includes an attack at transportation
facilities, an attack against utilities or other public services or an
incident involving chemical or biological agents.
Terrorist incidents in this country have included bombings
of the World Trade Center in New York City, the United States Capitol Building
in Washington, D.C. and Mobil Oil corporate headquarters in New York City,
hijacking of commercial planes that were flown into the World Trade Center and
the Pentagon.
In the immediate area of a terrorist act,
you would need to rely on police, fire and other officials for guidance on how
to respond. You can, however, prepare in much the same way you would
prepare for other crisis events.
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Be aware of the surrounding areas. The very nature of
terrorism suggests that there may be little or no warning.
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Take precautions when traveling. Be aware of
conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages from strangers.
Do not leave luggage unattended.
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Learn where emergency exits are located. Think ahead
about how to evacuate a building, subway or congested public area. Note
where staircases are located.
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Notice surroundings. Be aware of heavy or breakable
objects that could move, fall or break in an explosion.
Preparing for a Building Explosion
The use of explosives by terrorists can result in
collapsed buildings and fires. People who live or work in a multi-level building
can do the following:
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Review emergency evacuation procedures. Know where fire
exits are located.
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Keep fire extinguishers in working order. Know where they
are located, and how to use them. Learn first aid. Contact the local chapter
of the American Red Cross for additional information.
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Keep the following items in a designated place on each
floor of the building.
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Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries
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Several flashlights and extra batteries
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First aid kit and manual
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Several hard hats
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Fluorescent tape to rope off dangerous areas
Bomb Threats
If you receive a bomb threat, get as much information from the caller as
possible. Keep the caller on the line and record everything that is said.
Notify the police and the building management.
After you've been notified of a bomb threat, do not touch
any suspicious packages. Clear the area around the suspicious package and
notify the police immediately. In evacuating a building, avoid standing in
front of windows or other potentially hazardous areas. Do not restrict
sidewalk or streets to be used by emergency officials.
DURING
In a building explosion, get out of the building as
quickly and calmly as possible.
If items are falling off of bookshelves or from the
ceiling, get under a sturdy table or desk. If there is a fire.
- Stay low to the floor and exit the building as quickly as possible.
- Cover nose and mouth with a wet cloth.
- When approaching a closed door, use the palm of your hand and forearm to
feel the lower, middle and upper parts of the door. If it is not hot, brace
yourself against the door and open it slowly. If it is hot to the touch, do
not open the door--seek an alternate escape route.
- Heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling. Stay
below the smoke at all times.
If you are trapped in debris.
- Use a flashlight.
- Stay in your area so that you don't kick up dust. Cover your mouth with a
handkerchief or clothing.
- Tap on a pipe or wall so that rescuers can hear where you are. Use a
whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort--shouting can cause a
person to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.
Assisting
Victims
- Untrained persons should not attempt to rescue people who are inside a
collapsed building. Wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
Where you to witness or experience an act
of terrorism, remember what you have learned about responding to other
emergencies.
Nuclear explosions produce blinding light,
intense heat and thermal radiation that causes fires, nuclear radiation and a
blast wave similar to a tidal wave of air. They also produce radioactive
particles called radioactive fallout which can be carried by the winds for
hundreds of miles.
The danger of a strategic nuclear attack
on the United States has diminished. If there were a threat of an attack,
people living near potential targets could be advised to evacuate or they could
decide on their own to evacuate to an areas not considered a likely target.
Protection from radioactive fallout would require taking shelter in an
underground area, a cave or in the middle of a large building.
Biological Agents
Biological agents are organisms or toxins that have
illness-producing effects on people, livestock and crops.
Because biological agents cannot
necessarily be detected and may take time to grow and cause a disease, it is
almost impossible to know that a biological attack has occurred. If government
officials become aware of a biological attack through an informant or warning by
terrorists, they would most likely instruct citizens to either seek shelter
where they are and seal the premises or evacuate immediately.
A person affected by a biological agent
requires the immediate attention of professional medical personnel. Some agents
are contagious, and victims may need to be quarantined. Also, some medical
facilities may not receive victims for fear of contaminating the hospital
population.
Chemical Agents
Chemical agents are poisonous gases, liquids or solids that
have toxic effects on people, animals or plants. Most chemical agents cause
serious injuries or death.
Severity of injuries depends on the type
and amount of the chemical agent used, and the duration of exposure.
Were a chemical agent attack to occur,
authorities would instruct citizens to either seek shelter where they are and
seal the premises or evacuate immediately. Exposure to chemical agents can be
fatal. Leaving the shelter to rescue or assist victims can be a deadly decision.
There is no assistance that the untrained can offer that would likely be of any
value to the victims of chemical agents.
In the event of a biological or chemical
attack, you would be instructed to either take immediate shelter where you were
and seal the premises or evacuate the area immediately. In a shelter
situation, you would need to take immediate actions to prevent a biological or
chemical agent from entering the shelter. This could be done by turning
off the ventilation system and sealing all windows, doors, chimneys, vents and
other openings with plastic film and duct tape.
More information on Bioterrorism preparedness and response is available
online from the
Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control or by
reading Bioterrorism FAQ
for the Public.
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