Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Planning and Preparation
The Emergency Manager must ensure that hazardous materials planning is part
of their overall comprehensive emergency management program. There is no place
that is not vulnerable to hazardous materials, whether it is a household chemical
accident or an industrial chemical spill. Many communities have Local Emergency
Planning Committees (LEPCs) that are formed in accordance with the Emergency
Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986. This legislation requires
LEPCs to prepare emergency plans for possible releases of hazardous materials, and
for fixed facilities to be involved in the planning process. The Emergency Manager
can contact their State Emergency Response Commission to identify active LEPCs
in their area.
Emergency Managers must also engage the public in preparing for hazardous
materials incidents in their community. This should include shelter-in-place actions,
as well as actions needed for evacuations. Citizens and organizations should also
build disaster supply kits that contain materials such as duct tape, plastic sheeting,
and towels in case a shelter-in-place order is given and “buttoning up” of residences
and businesses is required. Families should also develop a family disaster plan. The
family disaster plan should include a communications plan, as well as an evacua-
tion plan and a shelter-in-place plan. Emergency Managers must also be prepared
to deal with sheltering and mass feeding issues should an evacuation be required.
The Emergency Manager also should ensure that their organization has contracts
for environmental remediation should a hazardous material incident affect soil or a
waterway or storm drain.
Terrorism
Description and History
Terrorism is any act of force or violence (or threat of violence) used to coerce,
intimidate, or seek ransom (i.e., cause terror). Acts of terrorism are also criminal
activities. Oftentimes, politics, religious beliefs, and ideologies are the driving
forces behind terrorism. Terrorism can take many forms, and can include threats of
terrorism, kidnappings, assassinations, hijackings, cyber attacks (described in the
next section), and bombings or other threatened attacks using chemical, biologi-
cal, radiological, nuclear, or explosive weapons or devices. Terrorism can also be
aimed toward economies, where particular actions are taken to cause economic
disruption or depletion of funds. Targets of terrorist acts can include government
officials and establishments, military personnel, people serving the interest of gov-
ernments, and civilians representing some ideology that is different than that of
the person(s) committing the terrorist act. Terrorism has occurred for centuries.
However, it began receiving increased attention in the United States following the
World Trade Center bombing in New York City in February 1993, the Oklahoma
