TERRORISM & Anthrax
Note: The following information was gathered from
various government agencies and will be modified to fit Gallia County's
emergency plan as needed.
One of the key things you can do to try to protect yourself from terrorism is to
be prepared.
This web document will give you some ideas on how to better prepare yourself
should a terrorist attack occur. More information will be posted here as it
becomes available.
Before it happens.
Learn about the nature of terrorism.
Terrorists look for visible targets where they can avoid detection before or
after an attack such as international airports, large cities, major
international events, resorts, and high-profile landmarks.
Learn about the different types of terrorist weapons including explosives,
kidnappings, hijackings, arson, and shootings.
Prepare to deal with a terrorist incident by adapting many of the same
techniques used to prepare for other crises.
Be alert and aware of the surrounding area. The very nature of terrorism
suggests that there may be little or no warning. Take precautions when
traveling. Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages
from strangers. Do not leave luggage unattended. Learn where emergency exists
are located. Think ahead about how to evacuate a building, subway or congested
public area in a hurry. Learn where staircases are located. Notice your
immediate 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:
- Review emergency evacuation procedures. Know where fire exits are
located.
- 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.
- Keep the following items in a designated place on each floor of the
building.
- Portable, battery-operated radio and extra batteries
- Several flashlights and extra batteries
- First aid kit and manual
- Several hard hats
- 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.
AFTER
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.
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.
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.
More information on Bio-terrorism preparedness and response is available
online from the Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease
Control.
HOW TO HANDLE ANTHRAX AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL AGENT THREATS
Many facilities in communities around the country have received anthrax
threat letters. Most were empty envelopes; some have contained powdery
substances. The purpose of these guidelines is to recommend procedures for
handling such incidents.
DO NOT PANIC
1. Anthrax organisms can cause infection in the skin, gastrointestinal system,
or the lungs. To do, so the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin,
swallowed, or inhaled as a fine, aerosolized mist. Disease can be prevented
after exposure to the anthrax spores by early treatment with the appropriate
antibiotics. Anthrax is not spread from one person to another person.
2. For anthrax to be effective as a covert agent, it must be aerosolized into
very small particles. This is difficult to do, and requires a great deal of
technical skill and special equipment. If these small particles are inhaled,
life-threatening lung infection can occur, but prompt recognition and treatment
are effective.
Suspicious Unopened letter or PACKAGE MARKED WITH THREATENING MESSAGE SUCH
AS “ANTHRAX”:
1. Do not shake or empty the contents of any suspicious envelope or package.
2. PLACE the envelope or package in a plastic bag or some other type of
container to prevent leakage of contents.
3. If you do not have any container, then COVER the envelope or package
with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove this
cover.
4. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area
to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
5. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your
face.
6. What to do next…
* If you are at HOME, then call
911.
* If you are at WORK, then call
911, and notify your building security official or an available supervisor.
7. LIST all people who were in the room or area when this suspicious
letter or package was recognized. Give this list to both the local public health
authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations and
advice.
Envelope with powder and powder spills out onto surface:
1. DO NOT try to CLEAN UP the powder. COVER the spilled
contents immediately with anything (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and
do not remove this cover!
2. Then LEAVE the room and CLOSE the door, or section off the area
to prevent others from entering (i.e., keep others away).
3. WASH your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to
your face.
4. What to do next…
· If you are at HOME, then CALL 911.
· If you are at WORK, then CALL 911, and notify your building
security official or an available supervisor.
5. REMOVE heavily contaminated clothing as soon as possible and place in
a plastic bag, or some other container that can be sealed. This clothing bag
should be given to the emergency responders for proper handling.
6. SHOWER with soap and water as soon as possible. Do Not Use Bleach Or
Other Disinfectant On Your Skin.
7. If possible, list all people who were in the room or area, especially those
who had actual contact with the powder. Give this list to both the local public
health authorities so that proper instructions can be given for medical
follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further investigation.
QUESTION OF ROOM CONTAMINATION BY AEROSOLIZATION:
For example: small device triggered, warning that air handling system is
contaminated, or warning that a biological agent released in a public space.
1. Turn off local fans or ventilation units in the area.
2. LEAVE area immediately.
3. CLOSE the door, or section off the area to prevent others from
entering (i.e., keep others away).
4. What to do next…
- If you are at HOME, then CALL "911" to report the
incident to local police and the local FBI field office.
- If you are at WORK, then CALL "911" to report the
incident to local police and the local FBI field office, and notify your
building security official or an available supervisor.
5. SHUT down air handling system in the building, if possible.
6. If possible, list all people who were in the room or area. Give this list to
both the local public health authorities so that proper instructions can be
given for medical follow-up, and to law enforcement officials for further
investigation.
HOW TO IDENTIFY SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES AND LETTERS
Some characteristics of suspicious packages and letters include the
following…
· Excessive postage
· Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
· Incorrect titles
· Title, but no name
· Misspellings of common words
· Oily stains, discolorations or odor
· No return address
· Excessive weight
· Lopsided or uneven envelope
· Protruding wires or aluminum foil
· Excessive security material such as masking tape, string, etc.
· Visual distractions
· Ticking sound
· Marked with restrictive endorsements, such as “Personal” or
“Confidential”
· Shows a city or state in the postmark that does not match the return address
