Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
to identify unusual symptom occurrence, and any additional cases of symptoms as
the effects spread throughout the community and beyond.
The detection of a terrorism incident involving covert biological agents, as well as
some chemical agents, will most likely occur through the recognition of similar symp-
toms or syndromes by clinicians in hospital or clinical settings. Detection of biological
agents could occur days or weeks after exposed individuals have left the site of the
release. Detection will occur at public health facilities receiving unusual numbers of
patients, the majority of whom will self-transport. Similarly, a biological attack aimed
at agricultural assets might first be detected by veterinarians or agricultural inspectors.
First responders must be protected from the hazard prior to treating victims.
Planning for response to terrorist acts must include provisions for appropriate personal
protective equipment (PPE) for emergency responders, specifically first responders. This
equipment should include protective clothing and respirators, with high-efficiency par-
ticulate air filters. Detection equipment for chemical, biological, nuclear, or explosive
materials will assist in identifying the nature of a potential hazard.
You need to determine the present availability of this protective and detection
equipment within your jurisdiction, determine if additional resources would be
needed to adequately protect your first responders, and identify the funding needs
to upgrade your resources, if needed.
Release Area
Standard models are available for estimating the effects of a nuclear, chemical,
or biological release, including the area affected and consequences to population,
resources, and infrastructure. Some of these models include databases on infra-
structure that may prove useful when developing your terrorism annex.
Analogous to the area affected by a nuclear, biological, or chemical release is the
area impacted by an explosive device. Models are also available for estimating the
blast effects at various distances for various quantities of explosive materials.
These models can be useful in preparing your terrorism annex, especially in
regard to determining minimum setback distances from a potential vehicle bomb
to a vulnerable facility or structure. If a specific minimum distance cannot be main-
tained, then the planning effort may need to consider the cost and effectiveness of
facility hardening to mitigate the effects of an assumed blast impact. You may also
want to consider the removal or modification of window areas.
Investigation and Containment of Hazards
Local first responders will provide initial assessment or scene surveillance of a hazard
caused by an act of WMD terrorism. The proper local, state, and federal authorities
capable of dealing with and containing the hazard should be alerted to a suspected WMD
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