Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The capabilities of these US&R task forces are being enhanced to operate
in a collapsed building environment contaminated with biological or chemical
agents or radioactive materials. These enhanced task forces will have additional
HazMat specialists and medical personnel and more monitoring and detection
equipment.
Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities
As with hazard-specific emergency, the organization for management of local
response will probably need to be tailored to address the special issues involved
in managing the consequences of a terrorist incident. This organization should be
defined in the terrorism annex or your EOP.
The consequences of a terrorist attack have the potential to overwhelm local
resources, which may require assistance from state or federal governments. The
response by state and local governments, as well as the types of support and assis-
tance from the federal government may be different than the response and support
received for a natural disaster. Because of this, not only must the plans be upgraded
to include response to a terrorist incident, but training and exercising must also be
expanded to ensure that the unique aspects of response to a terrorist incident can be
carried out in a coordinated, effective manner.
Training needs to be planned for local, state, and federal staff involved in the
response. You should identify their training needs, establish budgets for the train-
ing, and determine what funding resources will be required to implement the train-
ing. Periodic integrated exercises must be conducted to ensure that the emergency
response at the local, state, and federal levels can be adequately coordinated. The
following response roles should be articulated in your terrorism annex.
Local Emergency Responders
Local fire departments, law enforcement personnel, HazMat teams, and EMS
will be among the first to respond to terrorist incidents, especially those involv-
ing WMDs. In incidents associated with public transportation, workers and offi-
cials from these transportation organizations may be among the first responders.
As response efforts escalate, the local emergency management agency and health
department will help coordinate needed services.
Interjurisdictional Responsibilities
The formal arrangements and agreements for emergency response to a terrorist
incident among neighboring jurisdictions, state, local, and neighboring states (and
those jurisdiction physically located in those states) should be made prior to an
incident. When coordinating and planning the Risk Assessment and Risk Area
