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Quick Reference Guide


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National Security Emergencies

In addition to the natural and technological hazards described in this publication, Americans face threats posed by hostile governments or extremist groups. These threats to national security include acts of terrorism and acts of war. The following is general information about national security emergencies. For more information about how to prepare for them, including volunteering in a Citizen Corps program, see the “For More Information” chapter at the end of this guide.

Terrorism

Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of intimidation,coercion or ransom. Terrorists often use threats to create fear among the public, to try to convince citizens that their government is powerless to prevent terrorism, and to get immediate publicity for their causes.

Acts of terrorism range from threats of terrorism, assassinations, kidnappings,hijackings, bomb scares and bombings, cyber attacks (computer-based), to the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. High-risk targets include military and civilian government facilities, international airports, large cities and high-profile landmarks. Terrorists might also target large public gatherings, water and food supplies, utilities, and corporate centers. Further, they are capable of spreading fear by sending explosives or chemical and biological agents through the mail. In the immediate area of a terrorist event, you would need to rely on police, fire and other officials for instructions. However, you can prepare in much the same way you would prepare for other crisis events.

Preparing for terrorism

  1. Wherever you are, be aware of your surroundings. The very nature of terrorism suggests there may be little or no warning.
  2. Take precautions when traveling. Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages from strangers. Do not leaveluggage unattended. Unusual behavior, suspicious packages and strange devices should be promptly reported to the police or security personnel.
  3. Do not be afraid to move or leave if you feel uncomfortable or if something does not seem right.
  4. Learn where emergency exits are located in buildings you frequent. Notice where exits are when you enter unfamiliar buildings. Plan how to get
  5. out of a building, subway or congested public area or traffic. Note where staircases are located. Notice heavy or breakable objects that could move, fall or break in an explosion.
  6. Assemble a disaster supply kit at home and learn first aid. Separate the supplies you would take if you had to evacuate quickly, and put them in a backpack
  7. or container, ready to go.
  8. Be familiar with different types of fire extinguishers and how to locate them. Know the location and availability of hard hats in buildings in which you spend a lot of time.

Protection against cyber attacks

Cyber attacks target computer or telecommunication networks of critical infrastructures such as power systems, traffic control systems, or financial systems. Cyber attacks target information technologies (IT) in three different ways. First, is a direct attack against an information system “through the wires” alone (hacking). Second, the attack can be a physical assault against a critical IT element. Third, the attack can be from the inside as a result of compromising a trusted party with access to the system.

Be prepared to do without services you normally depend on that could be disrupted—electricity, telephone, natural gas, gasoline pumps, cash registers, ATM machines, and internet transactions.

Be prepared to respond to official instructions if a cyber attack triggers other hazards, for example, general evacuation, evacuation to shelter, or shelter-in-place, because of hazardous materials releases, nuclear power plant incident, dam or flood control system failures.

Preparing for a building explosion

Explosions can collapse buildings and cause fires. People who live or work in a multi-level building can do the following:

1. Review emergency evacuation procedures. Know where emergency exits are located.
2. Keep fire extinguishers in working order. Know where they are located, and learn how to use them.
3. Learn first aid. Contact the local chapter of the American Red Cross for information and training.
4. Building owners should 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. Then notify the police and the building management.

If you are notified of a bomb threat, do not touch any suspicious packages. Clear the area around suspicious packages and notify the police immediately. In evacuating a building, don’t stand in front of windows, glass doors or other potentially hazardous areas. Do not block sidewalk or streets to be used by emergency officials or others still exiting the building.

Suspicious parcels and letters

Be wary of
suspicious packages and letters. They can contain explosives, chemical
or biological agents. Be particularly cautious at your place of employment.

Some typical
characteristics postal inspectors have detected over the years, which
ought to trigger suspicion, include parcels that—

  • Are unexpected
    or from someone unfamiliar to you.
  • Have no
    return address, or have one that can’t be verified as legitimate.
  • Are marked
    with restrictive endorsements, such as “Personal,” “Confidential” or
    “Do not x-ray.”
  • Have protruding
    wires or aluminum foil, strange odors or stains.
  • Show a
    city or state in the postmark that doesn’t match the return address.
  • Are of
    unusual weight, given their size, or are lopsided or oddly shaped.
  • Are marked
    with any threatening language.
  • Have inappropriate
    or unusual labeling.
  • Have excessive
    postage or excessive packaging material such as masking tape and string.
  • Have misspellings
    of common words.
  • Are addressed
    to someone no longer with your organization or are otherwise outdated.
  • Have incorrect
    titles or title without a name.
  • Are not
    addressed to a specific person.
  • Have handwritten
    or poorly typed addresses.

With suspicious
envelopes and packages other than those that might contain explosives,
take these additional steps against possible biological and chemical agents.

  • Refrain
    from eating or drinking in a designated mail handling area.
  • Place
    suspicious envelopes or packages in a plastic bag or some other type
    of container to prevent leakage of contents. Never sniff or smell suspect
    mail.
  • If you
    do not have a container, then cover the envelope or package with anything
    available (e.g., clothing, paper, trash can, etc.) and do not remove
    the cover.
  • Leave
    the room and close the door, or section off the area to prevent others
    from entering.
  • Wash your
    hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face.
  • If you
    are at work, report the incident to your building security official
    or an available supervisor, who should notify police and other authorities
    without delay.
  • List all
    people who were in the room or area when this suspicious letter or package
    was recognized. Give a copy of this list to both the local public health
    authorities and law enforcement officials for follow-up investigations
    and advice.
  • If you
    are at home, report the incident to local police.

What
to do if there is an explosion

Leave the
building as quickly as possible. Do not stop to retrieve personal possessions
or make phone calls. If things are falling around you, get under a sturdy
table or desk until they stop falling. Then leave quickly, watching for
weakened floors and stairs and falling debris as you exit.

  1. If there
    is a fire:

    • Stay
      low to the floor and exit the building as quickly as possible.
    • Cover
      your nose and mouth with a wet cloth.
    • When
      approaching a closed door, use the back of your hand to feel the
      lower, middle and upper parts of the door. Never use the palm of
      your hand or fingers to test for heat: burning those areas could
      impair your ability to escape a fire (i.e., ladders and crawling).

      • If
        the door is NOT hot, open slowly and ensure fire and/or smoke
        is not blocking your escape route. If your escape route is blocked,
        shut the door immediately and use an alternate escape route,
        such as a window. If clear, leave immediately through the door.
        Be prepared to crawl. Smoke and heat rise. The air is clearer
        and cooler near the floor.
      • If
        the door is hot, do not open it. Escape through a window. If
        you cannot escape, hang a white or light-colored sheet outside
        the window, alerting fire fighters to your presence.
    • Heavy
      smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling. Stay
      below the smoke at all times.
  2. If you
    are trapped in debris:

    • Do
      not light a match.
    • Do
      not move about or kick up dust. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief
      or clothing.
    • Rhythmically
      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 when
      you hear sounds and think someone will hear you—shouting can cause
      a person to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Chemical
and Biological Weapons

In case of
a chemical or biological weapon attack near you, authorities will instruct
you on the best course of action. This may be to evacuate the area immediately,
to seek shelter at a designated location, or to take immediate shelter
where you are and seal the premises. The best way to protect yourself
is to take emergency preparedness measures ahead of time and to get medical
attention as soon as possible, if needed.

Chemical

Chemical
warfare agents are poisonous vapors, aerosols, liquids or solids that
have toxic effects on people, animals or plants. They can be released
by bombs, sprayed from aircraft, boats, or vehicles, or used as a liquid
to create a hazard to people and the environment. Some chemical agents
may be odorless and tasteless. They can have an immediate effect (a few
seconds to a few minutes) or a delayed effect (several hours to several
days). While potentially lethal, chemical agents are difficult to deliver
in lethal concentrations. Outdoors, the agents often dissipate rapidly.
Chemical agents are also difficult to produce.

There
are six types of agents:

  • Lung-damaging
    (pulmonary) agents such as phosgene,
  • Cyanide,
  • Vesicants
    or blister agents such as mustard,
  • Nerve
    agents such as GA (tabun), GB (sarin), GD (soman), GF, and VX,
  • Incapacitating
    agents such as BZ, and
  • Riot-control
    agents (similar to MACE).

Biological

Biological
agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate people, livestock
and crops. The three basic groups of biological agents which would likely
be used as weapons are bacteria, viruses, and toxins.

  1. Bacteria.
    Bacteria are small free-living organisms that reproduce by simple division
    and are easy to grow. The diseases they produce often respond to treatment
    with antibiotics.
  2. Viruses.
    Viruses are organisms which require living cells in which to reproduce
    and are intimately dependent upon the body they infect. Viruses produce
    diseases which generally do not respond to antibiotics. However, antiviral
    drugs are sometimes effective.
  3. Toxins.
    Toxins are poisonous substances found in, and extracted from, living
    plants, animals, or microorganisms; some toxins can be produced or altered
    by chemical means. Some toxins can be treated with specific antitoxins
    and selected drugs.

Most biological
agents are difficult to grow and maintain. Many break down quickly when
exposed to sunlight and other environmental factors, while others such
as anthrax spores are very long lived. They can be dispersed by spraying
them in the air, or infecting animals which carry the disease to humans
as well through food and water contamination.

  • Aerosols—Biological
    agents are dispersed into the air, forming a fine mist that may drift
    for miles. Inhaling the agent may cause disease in people or animals.
  • Animals—Some
    diseases are spread by insects and animals, such as fleas, mice, flies,
    and mosquitoes. Deliberately spreading diseases through livestock is
    also referred to as agroterrorism.
  • Food and
    water contamination—Some pathogenic organisms and toxins may persist
    in food and water supplies. Most microbes can be killed, and toxins
    deactivated, by cooking food and boiling water.

Anthrax spores
formulated as a white powder were mailed to individuals in the government
and media in the fall of 2001. Postal sorting machines and the opening
of letters dispersed the spores as aerosols. Several deaths resulted.
The effect was to disrupt mail service and to cause a widespread fear
of handling delivered mail among the public.

Person-to-person
spread of a few infectious agents is also possible. Humans have been the
source of infection for smallpox, plague, and the Lassa viruses.

What
to do to prepare for a chemical or biological attack

  • Assemble
    a disaster supply kit (see the “Emergency Planning and Disaster Supplies”
    chapter for more information) and be sure to include:
  • Battery-powered
    commercial radio with extra batteries.
  • Non-perishable
    food and drinking water.
  • Roll of
    duct tape and scissors.
  • Plastic
    for doors, windows and vents for the room in which you will shelter
    in place—this should be an internal room where you can block out air
    that may contain hazardous chemical or biological agents. To save critical
    time during an emergency, sheeting should be pre-measured and cut for
    each opening.
  • First
    aid kit.
  • Sanitation
    supplies including soap, water and bleach.

What
to do during a chemical or biological attack

  1. Listen
    to your radio for instructions from authorities such as whether to remain
    inside or to evacuate.
  2. If you
    are instructed to remain in your home, the building where you are, or
    other shelter during a chemical or biological attack:

    • Turn
      off all ventilation, including furnaces, air conditioners, vents
      and fans.
    • Seek
      shelter in an internal room, preferably one without windows. Seal
      the room with duct tape and plastic sheeting. Ten square feet of
      floor space per person will provide sufficient air to prevent carbon
      dioxide build-up for up to five hours. (See “Shelter” chapter.)
    • Remain
      in protected areas where toxic vapors are reduced or eliminated,
      and be sure to take your battery-operated radio with you.
  3. If you
    are caught in an unprotected area, you should:

    • Attempt
      to get up-wind of the contaminated area.
    • Attempt
      to find shelter as quickly as possible.
    • Listen
      to your radio for official instructions.

What
to do after a chemical attack

Immediate
symptoms of exposure to chemical agents may include blurred vision, eye
irritation, difficulty breathing and nausea. A person affected by a chemical
or biological agent requires immediate attention by professional medical
personnel. If medical help is not immediately available, decontaminate
yourself and assist in decontaminating others. Decontamination is needed
within minutes of exposure to minimize health consequences. (However,
you should not leave the safety of a shelter to go outdoors to help others
until authorities announce it is safe to do so.)

  1. Use extreme
    caution when helping others who have been exposed to chemical agents:

    • Remove
      all clothing and other items in contact with the body. Contaminated
      clothing normally removed over the head should be cut off to avoid
      contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth. Put into a plastic bag if
      possible. Decontaminate hands using soap and water. Remove eyeglasses
      or contact lenses. Put glasses in a pan of household bleach to decontaminate.
  2. Remove
    all items in contact with the body.
  3. Flush
    eyes with lots of water.
  4. Gently
    wash face and hair with soap and water; then thoroughly rinse with water.
  5. Decontaminate
    other body areas likely to have been contaminated. Blot (do not swab
    or scrape) with a cloth soaked in soapy water and rinse with clear water.
  6. Change
    into uncontaminated clothes. Clothing stored in drawers or closets is
    likely to be uncontaminated.
  7. If possible,
    proceed to a medical facility for screening.

What
to do after a biological attack

In many biological
attacks, people will not know they have been exposed to an agent. In such
situations, the first evidence of an attack may be when you notice symptoms
of the disease caused by an agent exposure, and you should seek immediate
medical attention for treatment. In some situations, like the anthrax
letters sent in 2001, people may be alerted to a potential exposure. If
this is the case, pay close attention to all official warnings and instructions
on how to proceed. The delivery of medical services for a biological event
may be handled differently to respond to increased demand. Again, it will
be important for you to pay attention to official instructions via radio,
television, and emergency alert systems. If your skin or clothing comes
in contact with a visible, potentially infectious substance, you should
remove and bag your clothes and personal items and wash yourself with
warm soapy water immediately. Put on clean clothes and seek medical assistance.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, www.bt.cdc.gov.

Nuclear
and Radiological Attack

Nuclear explosions
can cause deadly effects—blinding light, intense heat (thermal radiation),
initial nuclear radiation, blast, fires started by the heat pulse, and
secondary fires caused by the destruction. They also produce radioactive
particles called fallout that can be carried by wind for hundreds of miles.

Terrorist
use of a radiological dispersion device (RDD)—often called ”dirty nuke”
or “dirty bomb”—is considered far more likely than use of a nuclear device.
These radiological weapons are a combination of conventional explosives
and radioactive material designed to scatter dangerous and sub-lethal
amounts of radioactive material over a general area. Such radiological
weapons appeal to terrorists because they require very little technical
knowledge to build and deploy compared to that of a nuclear device. Also,
these radioactive materials, used widely in medicine, agriculture, industry
and research, are much more readily available and easy to obtain compared
to weapons grade uranium or plutonium.

Terrorist
use of a nuclear device would probably be limited to a single smaller
“suitcase” weapon. The strength of such a weapon would be in the range
of the bombs used during World War II. The nature of the effects would
be the same as a weapon delivered by an inter-continental missile, but
the area and severity of the effects would be significantly more limited.

There is
no way of knowing how much warning time there would be before an attack
by a terrorist using a nuclear or radiological weapon. A surprise attack
remains a possibility.

The danger
of a massive strategic nuclear attack on the United States involving many
weapons receded with the end of the Cold War. However, some terrorists
have been supported by nations that have nuclear weapons programs.

If there
were threat of an attack from a hostile nation, people living near potential
targets could be advised to evacuate or they could decide on their own
to evacuate to an area not considered a likely target. Protection from
radioactive fallout would require taking shelter in an underground area,
or in the middle of a large building.

In
general, potential targets include:

  • Strategic
    missile sites and military bases.
  • Centers
    of government such as Washington, D.C., and state capitals.
  • Important
    transportation and communication centers.
  • Manufacturing,
    industrial, technology and financial centers.
  • Petroleum
    refineries, electrical power plants and chemical plants.
  • Major
    ports and airfields.

Taking shelter
during a nuclear attack is absolutely necessary. There are two kinds of
shelters—blast and fallout.

Blast shelters
offer some protection against blast pressure, initial radiation, heat
and fire, but even a blast shelter could not withstand a direct hit from
a nuclear detonation.

Fallout shelters
do not need to be specially constructed for that purpose. They can be
any protected space, provided that the walls and roof are thick and dense
enough to absorb the radiation given off by fallout particles. The three
protective factors of a fallout shelter are shielding, distance, and time.

  • Shielding.
    The more heavy, dense materials—thick walls, concrete, bricks, books
    and earth—between you and the fallout particles, the better.
  • Distance.
    The more distance between you and the fallout particles, the better.
    An underground area, such as a home or office building basement, offers
    more protection than the first floor of a building. A floor near the
    middle of a high-rise may be better, depending on what is nearby at
    that level on which significant fallout particles would collect. Flat
    roofs collect fallout particles so the top floor is not a good choice,
    nor is a floor adjacent to a neighboring flat roof.
  • Time.
    Fallout radiation loses its intensity fairly rapidly. In time, you will
    be able to leave the fallout shelter. Radioactive fallout poses the
    greatest threat to people during the first two weeks, by which time
    it has declined to about 1% of its initial radiation level.

Remember
that any protection, however temporary, is better than none at all, and
the more shielding, distance and time you can take advantage of, the better.

Electromagnetic
pulse

In addition
to other effects, a nuclear weapon detonated in or above the earth’s atmosphere
can create an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), a high-density electrical field.
EMP acts like a stroke of lightning but is stronger, faster and briefer.
EMP can seriously damage electronic devices connected to power sources
or antennas. This include communication systems, computers, electrical
appliances, and automobile or aircraft ignition systems. The damage could
range from a minor interruption to actual burnout of components. Most
electronic equipment within 1,000 miles of a high-altitude nuclear detonation
could be affected. Battery powered radios with short antennas generally
would not be affected.

Although
EMP is unlikely to harm most people, it could harm those with pacemakers
or other implanted electronic devices.

What to do
before a nuclear or radiological attack

  1. Learn
    the warning signals and all sources of warning used in your community.
    Make sure you know what the signals are, what they mean, how they will
    be used, and what you should do if you hear them.
  2. Assemble
    and maintain a disaster supply kit with food, water, medications, fuel
    and personal items adequate for up to 2 weeks—the more the better. (See
    the “Emergency Planning and Disaster Supplies” chapter for more information).
  3. Find out
    what public buildings in your community may have been designated as
    fallout shelters. It may have been years ago, but start there, and learn
    which buildings are still in use and could be designated as shelters
    again.

    • Call
      your local emergency management office.
    • Look
      for yellow and black fallout shelter signs on public buildings.
      Note: With the end of the Cold War, many of the signs have been
      removed from the buildings previously designated.
    • If
      no noticeable or official designations have been made, make your
      own list of potential shelters near your home, workplace and school:
      basements, or the windowless center area of middle floors in high-rise
      buildings, as well as subways and tunnels.
    • Give
      your household clear instructions about where fallout shelters are
      located and what actions to take in case of attack.
  4. If you
    live in an apartment building or high-rise, talk to the manager about
    the safest place in the building for sheltering, and about providing
    for building occupants until it is safe to go out.
  5. There
    are few public shelters in many suburban and rural areas. If you are
    considering building a fallout shelter at home, keep the following in
    mind.

    • A
      basement, or any underground area, is the best place to shelter
      from fallout. Often, few major changes are needed, especially if
      the structure has two or more stories and its basement—or one corner
      of it—is below ground.
    • Fallout
      shelters can be used for storage during non-emergency periods, but
      only store things there that can be very quickly removed. (When
      they are removed, dense, heavy items may be used to add to the shielding.)
    • See
      the “Tornadoes” section in the “Thunderstorms” chapter for information
      on the “Wind Safe Room,” which could be used as shelter in the event
      of a nuclear detonation or for fallout protection, especially in
      a home without a basement.
    • All
      the items you will need for your stay need not be stocked inside
      the shelter itself but can be stored elsewhere, as long as you can
      move them quickly to the shelter.
  6. Learn
    about your community’s evacuation plans. Such plans may include evacuation
    routes, relocation sites, how the public will be notified and transportation
    options for people who do not own cars and those who have special needs.
    See the “Evacuation” chapter for more information.
  7. Acquire
    other emergency preparedness booklets that you may need. See the “For
    More Information” chapter at the end of this guide.

What
to do during a nuclear or radiological attack

  1. Do not
    look at the flash or fireball—it can blind you.
  2. If you
    hear an attack warning:

    • Take
      cover as quickly as you can, BELOW GROUND IF POSSIBLE, and stay
      there unless instructed to do otherwise.
    • If
      you are caught outside, unable to get inside immediately, take cover
      behind anything that might offer protection. Lie flat on the ground
      and cover your head.
    • If
      the explosion is some distance away, it could take 30 seconds or
      more for the blast wave to hit.
  3. Protect
    yourself from radioactive fallout. If you are close enough to see the
    brilliant flash of a nuclear explosion, the fallout will arrive in about
    20 minutes. Take shelter, even if you are many miles from ground zero—radioactive
    fallout can be carried by the winds for hundreds of miles. Remember
    the three protective factors: shielding, distance and time.
  4. Keep a
    battery-powered radio with you, and listen for official information.
    Follow the instructions given. Local instructions should always take
    precedence: officials on the ground know the local situation best.

What
to do after a nuclear or radiological attack

In a public
or home shelter:

  1. Do not
    leave the shelter until officials say it is safe. Follow their instructions
    when leaving.
  2. If in
    a fallout shelter, stay in your shelter until local authorities tell
    you it is permissible or advisable to leave. The length of your stay
    can range from a day or two to four weeks.

    • Contamination
      from a radiological dispersion device could affect a wide area,
      depending on the amount of conventional explosives used, the quantity
      of radioactive material and atmospheric conditions.
    • A
      “suitcase” terrorist nuclear device detonated at or near ground
      level would produce heavy fallout from the dirt and debris sucked
      up into the mushroom cloud.
    • A
      missile-delivered nuclear weapon from a hostile nation would probably
      cause an explosion many times more powerful than a suitcase bomb,
      and provide a greater cloud of radioactive fallout.
    • The
      decay rate of the radioactive fallout would be the same, making
      it necessary for those in the areas with highest radiation levels
      to remain in shelter for up to a month.
    • The
      heaviest fallout would be limited to the area at or downwind from
      the explosion, and 80% of the fallout would occur during the first
      24 hours.
    • Because
      of these facts and the very limited number of weapons terrorists
      could detonate, most of the country would not be affected by fallout.
    • People
      in most of the areas that would be affected could be allowed to
      come out of shelter and, if necessary, evacuate to unaffected areas
      within a few days.
  3. Although
    it may be difficult, make every effort to maintain sanitary conditions
    in your shelter space.
  4. Water
    and food may be scarce. Use them prudently but do not impose severe
    rationing, especially for children, the ill or elderly.
  5. Cooperate
    with shelter managers. Living with many people in confined space can
    be difficult and unpleasant.

Returning
to your home

  1. Keep listening
    to the radio for news about what to do, where to go, and places to avoid.
  2. If your
    home was within the range of a bomb’s shock wave, or you live in a high-rise
    or other apartment building that experienced a non-nuclear explosion,
    check first for any sign of collapse or damage, such as:

    • toppling
      chimneys, falling bricks, collapsing walls, plaster falling from
      ceilings.
    • fallen
      light fixtures, pictures and mirrors.
    • broken
      glass from windows.
    • overturned
      bookcases, wall units or other fixtures.
    • fires
      from broken chimneys.
    • ruptured
      gas and electric lines.
  3. Immediately
    clean up spilled medicines, drugs, flammable liquids, and other potentially
    hazardous materials.
  4. Listen
    to your battery-powered radio for instructions and information about
    community services.
  5. Monitor
    the radio and your television for information on assistance that may
    be provided. Local, state and federal governments and other organizations
    will help meet emergency needs and help you recover from damage and
    losses.
  6. The danger
    may be aggravated by broken water mains and fallen power lines.
  7. If you
    turned gas, water and electricity off at the main valves and switch
    before you went to shelter:

    • Do
      not turn the gas back on. The gas company will turn it back on for
      you or you will receive other instructions.
    • Turn
      the water back on at the main valve only after you know the water
      system is working and water is not contaminated.
    • Turn
      electricity back on at the main switch only after you know the wiring
      is undamaged in your home and the community electrical system is
      functioning.
    • Check
      to see that sewage lines are intact before using sanitary facilities.
  8. Stay away
    from damaged areas.
  9. Stay away
    from areas marked “radiation hazard” or “HAZMAT.”

For
more information relevant to terrorism consult the following chapters:

  • The “Earthquakes”
    chapter for information about protecting yourself when a building is
    shaking or unsafe and the Fire chapter for tips on fire safety.
  • The “Hazardous
    Materials Incidents” chapter for information about sealing a home.
  • The “Emergency
    Planning and Disaster Supplies” chapter for information about preparing
    a disaster supply kit.
  • The “Shelter”
    chapter for measures regarding water purification.
  • The “Evacuation”
    chapter for information about evacuation procedures.
  • The “Recovering
    from Disaster” chapter for information about crisis counseling.

Homeland
Security Advisory System

The Homeland
Security Advisory System was designed to provide a comprehensive means
to disseminate information regarding the risk of terrorist acts to federal,
state, and local authorities and to the American people. This system provides
warnings in the form of a set of graduated “Threat Conditions” that increase
as the risk of the threat increases. At each threat condition, federal
departments and agencies would implement a corresponding set of “Protective
Measures” to further reduce vulnerability or increase response capability
during a period of heightened alert.

Although
the Homeland Security Advisory System is binding on the executive branch,
it is voluntary to other levels of government and the private sector.
There are five threat conditions, each identified by a description and
corresponding color.

The greater
the risk of a terrorist attack, the higher the threat condition. Risk
includes both the probability of an attack occurring and its potential
gravity.

Threat conditions
are assigned by the Attorney General in consultation with the Assistant
to the President for Homeland Security. Threat conditions may be assigned
for the entire nation, or they may be set for a particular geographic
area or industrial sector. Assigned threat conditions will be reviewed
at regular intervals to determine whether adjustments are warranted.

Threat
Conditions and Associated Protective Measures

There is
always a risk of a terrorist threat. Each threat condition assigns a level
of alert appropriate to the increasing risk of terrorist attacks. Beneath
each threat condition are some suggested protective measures that the
government and the public can take, recognizing that the heads of federal
departments and agencies are responsible for developing and implementing
appropriate agency-specific Protective Measures:

Low Condition
(Green). This condition is declared when there is a low risk of terrorist
attacks. Federal departments and agencies will consider the following
protective measures.

  • Refine
    and exercise prearranged protective measures;
  • Ensure
    personnel receive proper training on the Homeland Security Advisory
    System and specific prearranged department or agency protective measures;
    and
  • Institute
    a process to assure that all facilities and regulated sectors are regularly
    assessed for vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks, and all reasonable
    measures are taken to mitigate these vulnerabilities.

Members of
the public can:

  • Develop
    a household disaster plan and assemble a disaster supply kit. (see “Emergency
    Planning and Disaster Supplies” chapter).

Guarded Condition
(Blue). This condition is declared when there is a general risk of terrorist
attacks. In addition to the measures taken in the previous threat condition,
federal departments and agencies will consider the following protective
measures:

  • Check
    communications with designated emergency response or command locations;
  • Review
    and update emergency response procedures; and
  • Provide
    the public with any information that would strengthen its ability to
    act appropriately.

Members of
the public, in addition to the actions taken for the previous threat condition,
can:

  • Update
    their disaster supply kit;
  • Review
    their household disaster plan;
  • Hold a
    household meeting to discuss what members would do and how they would
    communicate in the event of an incident;
  • Develop
    a more detailed household communication plan;
  • Apartment
    residents should discuss with building managers steps to be taken during
    an emergency; and
  • People
    with special needs should discuss their emergency plans with friends,
    family or employers.

Elevated
Condition (Yellow). An Elevated Condition is declared when there is a
significant risk of terrorist attacks. In addition to the measures taken
in the previous threat conditions, federal departments and agencies will
consider the following protective measures:

  • Increase
    surveillance of critical locations;
  • Coordinate
    emergency plans with nearby jurisdictions as appropriate;
  • Assess
    whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further
    refinement of prearranged protective measures; and
  • Implement,
    as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.

Members of
the public, in addition to the actions taken for the previous threat condition,
can:

  • Be observant
    of any suspicious activity and report it to authorities;
  • Contact
    neighbors to discuss their plans and needs;
  • Check
    with school officials to determine their plans for an emergency and
    procedures to reunite children with parents and caregivers; and
  • Update
    the household communication plan.

High Condition
(Orange). A High Condition is declared when there is a high risk of terrorist
attacks. In addition to the measures taken in the previous threat conditions,
federal departments and agencies will consider the following protective
measures:

  • Coordinate
    necessary security efforts with federal, state, and local law enforcement
    agencies, National Guard or other security and armed forces;
  • Take additional
    precautions at public events, possibly considering alternative venues
    or even cancellation;
  • Prepare
    to execute contingency procedures, such as moving to an alternate site
    or dispersing the workforce; and
  • Restrict
    access to a threatened facility to essential personnel only.

Members of
the public, in addition to the actions taken for the previous threat conditions,
can:

  • Review
    preparedness measures (including evacuation and sheltering) for potential
    terrorist actions including chemical, biological, and radiological attacks;
  • Avoid
    high profile or symbolic locations; and
  • Exercise
    caution when traveling.

Severe Condition
(Red). A Severe Condition reflects a severe risk of terrorist attacks.
Under most circumstances, the protective measures for a Severe Condition
are not intended to be sustained for substantial periods of time. In addition
to the protective measures in the previous threat conditions, federal
departments and agencies also will consider the following general measures:

  • Increase
    or redirect personnel to address critical emergency needs;
  • Assign
    emergency response personnel and pre-position and mobilize specially
    trained teams or resources;
  • Monitor,
    redirect, or constrain transportation systems; and
  • Close
    public and government facilities not critical for continuity of essential
    operations, especially public safety.

Members of
the public, in addition to the actions taken for the previous threat conditions,
can:

  • Avoid
    public gathering places such as sports arenas, holiday gatherings, or
    other high risk locations;
  • Follow
    official instructions about restrictions to normal activities;
  • Contact
    employer to determine status of work;
  • Listen
    to the radio and TV for possible advisories or warnings; and
  • Prepare
    to take protective actions such as sheltering-in-place or evacuation
    if instructed to do so by public officials.