Self-Storage Association Issues Terrorism Alert to Facilities

The Self Storage Association (SSA), in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week formally alerted its 6,000 membercompanies, its affiliated state associations and their thousands of member companies and thousands of individual facility managers of the potential for illegal use of self storage units in connection with terrorism.

These alerts were disseminated nationally and posted on the SSA member-only web site in the wake of recent arrests in Colorado and New York.

Investigators believe that alleged terrorists could store illegal materials or assemble them in self storage rental units as part of a domestic terrorism plot. Authorities have requested that anyone suspecting terrorist, suspicious or illegal activity contact the Joint Terrorism Task Force in their area, the FBI, and/or local law enforcement authorities immediately.

The SSA has participated on the DHS Commercial Facilities Subsector Coordinating Council of the Infrastructure Protection Task Force, along with leaders from other real estate and commercial facility industries that may also be potential terrorism targets or otherwise be in a position to recognize and thwart suspicious activity.