Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
However, given the unusually intense and multifaceted nature of terrorist attacks,
a seventh phase is recommended: Thorough coordination of plans, internally and
externally.
You should carefully compare plans for the various response functions within
that agency and revise the plans, if necessary, to remove any discrepancies. This
will help prevent disconnects between vital functions that support one another and
help ensure that each does what the others expect on a timely basis. Similarly, the
various departments and agencies within a local jurisdiction should also compare
their plans, focusing on issues of consistency and coordination. Again, this review
will ensure that each organization does what the other expects, when it is expected.
Such reviews are especially important in planning for response to a major ter-
rorist incident, since local jurisdictions are likely to be aided during the response
by neighboring communities, its own and neighboring counties, and its own and
possible neighboring states.
Terrorism Hazards
The terrorism annex to your EOP should identify and discuss the nature of the ter-
rorist hazard. The hazard may be a weapon of mass destruction (WMD), including
conventional explosives; secondary devices; and combined hazards, or it may be
another means of attack, including low-tech devices; attacks on infrastructure; and
cyber terrorism.
WMD Hazard Agents
A WMD is defined as any weapon designed or intended to cause death or serious
bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous
chemicals, disease organisms, radiation or radioactivity, or explosion or fire.
Two important considerations distinguish these hazards from other types of
terrorist tools. First, in the case of chemical, biological, and radioactive agents, their
presence may not be immediately obvious, making it difficult to determine when
and where they have been released, who has been exposed, and what danger is pres-
ent for first responders and medical technicians. Second, although there is a sizable
body of research on battlefield exposures to WMD agents, there is limited scientific
understanding of how these agents affect civilian populations.
Chemical Agents
Chemical agents are intended to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate people through
physiological effects. A terrorist incident involving a chemical agent will demand
immediate reactions from emergency responders—fire, police, hazardous materials
