[Link].

gov
“Terrorism forces us to make a choice.
We can be afraid. Or we can be ready.”
—Secretary Tom Ridge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

[Link]
Preparing Potential Threats
now to prepare yourself and
your loved ones. Some of the
Terrorists are working to obtain
makes sense. biological, chemical, nuclear
things you can do to prepare
for a terrorist attack, such as
and radiological weapons and
assembling a supply kit and
The likelihood of you and the threat of an attack is very
developing a family communi-
your family surviving a real. Here at the Department of
cations plan, are the same for
house fire depends as much Homeland Security, throughout
both a natural or man-made
on having a working smoke the federal government, and at
emergency. However, as you
detector and an exit strategy, organizations across America we
will read below, there are
as on a well-trained fire are working hard to strengthen
important differences among
department. The same is our Nation’s security. Whenever
potential terrorist threats that
true for surviving a terrorist possible, we want to stop
will impact the decisions you
attack. We must have the terrorist attacks before they
make and the actions you
tools and plans in place to happen. All Americans should
take. With a little planning
make it on our own, at least begin a process of learning
and common sense, you can
for a period of time, no about potential threats so we
be better prepared for the
matter where we are when are better prepared to react
unexpected.
disaster strikes. Just like during an attack. While there
having a working smoke is no way to predict what will
detector, preparing for the happen, or what your personal
unexpected makes sense. circumstances will be, there
Get ready now. are simple things you can do

[Link] 3
Emergency Water Clean Air
Many potential terrorist attacks
Store one gallon of water per
Supplies person per day for drinking could send tiny microscopic
and sanitation in clean plastic “junk” into the air. For example,
Just like having a working containers. If you live in a an explosion may release very
smoke detector in your home, warm weather climate more fine debris that can cause lung
having emergency supply kits water may be necessary. damage. A biological attack
will put the tools you may may release germs that can
need at your fingertips. Be make you sick if inhaled or
prepared to improvise and Food absorbed through open cuts.
use what you have on hand Store food that won’t go bad Many of these agents can only
to make it on your own for and does not have to be heated hurt you if they get into your
at least three days, maybe or cooked. Choose foods that body, so think about creating a
longer. While there are many your family will eat, including barrier between yourself and
things that might make you protein or fruit bars, dry cereal any contamination.
more comfortable, think first or granola, canned foods and
about fresh water, food and juices, peanut butter, dried Be prepared to improvise with
clean air. Remember to fruit, nuts, crackers and baby what you have on hand to
include, and periodically foods. Remember to pack a protect your nose, mouth, eyes
rotate, medications you take manual can opener, cups and and cuts in your skin. Anything
every day such as insulin and eating utensils. that fits snugly over your nose
heart medicine. Plan to store and mouth, including any
items in an easy-to-carry bag, dense-weave cotton material,
such as a shopping bag, back- can help filter contaminants in
pack or duffle bag. Consider an emergency. It is very
two kits. In one, put every- important that most of the air
thing you will need to stay you breathe comes through the
where you are and make it on mask or cloth, not around it.
your own. The other should Do whatever you can to make
be a lightweight, smaller the best fit possible for chil-
version you can take with you dren. There are also a variety
if you have to get away. of face masks readily available
in hardware stores that are
rated based on how small a
particle they can filter in an
industrial setting.

Given the different types of

attacks that could occur, there
is not one solution for masking.
For instance, simple cloth face
masks can filter some of the
airborne “junk” or germs you
Photo courtesy of DAKINE
might breathe into your body,
Warmth Unique Family Needs
but will probably not protect
If you live in a cold weather
you from chemical gases. Still,
climate, you must think about
something over your nose and ❑
warmth. It is possible that the
mouth in an emergency is
power will be out and you will
better than nothing.
not have heat. Have warm
❑
clothing for each family
Have heavyweight garbage
member in your supply kit,
bags or plastic sheeting, duct
including a jacket or coat, long
tape and scissors in your kit. ❑
pants, a long sleeve shirt,
You can use these things to
sturdy shoes, a hat and gloves.
tape up windows, doors and
Have a sleeping bag or warm
air vents if you need to seal off ❑
blanket for each person.
a room from outside contami-
nation. Consider precutting
and labeling these materials. ❑
Special Items
Anything you can do in advance
Think about your family’s
will save time when it counts.
unique needs. Pack diapers,
formula, bottles, prescription ❑
medications, pet food, comfort
Basic Supplies
items, books, paper, pens, a
Store a flashlight, battery
deck of cards or other forms ❑
powered radio, extra batteries,
of entertainment.
a first aid kit, utility knife,
local map, toilet paper,
❑
feminine hygiene products,
soap, garbage bags and other
sanitation supplies, plastic
❑
sheeting, duct tape, as well as
extra cash and identification.
Periodically rotate your extra
❑
batteries to be sure they work
when you need them.

[Link] 5
 information on what is happen-
Emergency Develop a Family
Communications Plan
ing and what you should do.

Planning Your family may not be together

However, you should watch TV,
listen to the radio or check the
when disaster strikes, so plan
Internet often for information
You should plan in advance how you will contact one
or official instructions as it
what you will do in an another and review what you
becomes available. If you’re
emergency. Be prepared to will do in different situations.
specifically told to evacuate or
assess the situation, use Consider a plan where each
seek medical treatment, do so
common sense and whatever family member calls, or
immediately.
you have on hand to take e-mails, the same friend or
care of yourself and your relative in the event of an
loved ones. Think about the emergency. It may be easier to
Staying Put and
places where your family make a long-distance phone
“Shelter-in-Place”
spends time: school, work call than to call across town,
Whether you are at home,
and other places you so an out-of-state contact may
work or elsewhere, there may
frequent. Ask about their be in a better position to
be situations when it’s simply
emergency plans. Find out communicate among separated
best to stay where you are and
how they will communicate family members. Be sure each
avoid any uncertainty outside.
with families during an person knows the phone
In fact, there are some
emergency. If they do not number and has coins or a
circumstances where staying
have an emergency plan, prepaid phone card to call the
put and creating a barrier
consider helping develop one. emergency contact. You may
between yourself and potentially
have trouble getting through, or
contaminated air outside, a
the phone system may be down
process known as “shelter-in-
altogether, but be patient.
place,” is a matter of survival.
Plan in advance where you will
take shelter in this kind of an
Deciding to Stay or Go emergency. Choose an interior
Depending on your circum-
room or one with as few
stances and the nature of the
windows and doors as possible.
attack, the first important
Consider precutting plastic
decision is whether you stay
sheeting to seal windows,
put or get away. You should
doors and air vents. Each piece
understand and plan for both
should be several inches larger
possibilities. Use common
than the space you want to
sense and available informa-
cover so that it lies flat against
tion, including what you are
the wall. Label each piece with
learning here, to determine if
the location of where it fits.
there is immediate danger.
In any emergency, local
Use available information to
authorities may or may not
assess the situation. If you see
immediately be able to provide
large amounts of debris in the
air, or if local authorities say
the air is badly contaminated,
you may want to “shelter-in-
place.” Quickly bring your you if you are told to evacuate,
family and pets inside, lock however, if you are going to a
Employers
If you are an employer, make
doors, and close windows, air public shelter, keep in mind
sure your workplace has a
vents and fireplace dampers. that they may not be allowed
building evacuation plan that
Turn off air conditioning, forced inside. If you believe the air
is regularly practiced. Take a
air heating systems, exhaust may be contaminated, drive
critical look at your heating
fans and clothes dryers. Take with your windows and vents
ventilation and air-conditioning
your emergency supplies and closed and keep the air condi-
system to determine if it is
go into the room you have tioning and heater turned off.
secure or if it could be feasibly
designated. Seal all windows,
upgraded to better filter poten-
doors and vents with plastic
tial contaminants. Be sure you,
sheeting and duct tape or Working Together
and others, know how to turn
anything else you have on Schools, daycare providers,
off the system if necessary.
hand. Listen to the TV, the workplaces, neighborhoods and
Think about what to do if your
radio or check the Internet apartment buildings, like
employees can’t go home, and
for instructions. individuals and families,
make sure you have appropriate
should all have site-specific
supplies on hand.
emergency plans. Ask about
Getting Away plans at the places where your
There may be conditions under family spends time: work,
Neighborhoods and
which you will decide to get school and other places you
Apartment Buildings
A community working together
away, or there may be situa- frequent. If none exist, consider
during an emergency also
tions when you are ordered to volunteering to help develop
makes sense. Talk to your
leave. Plan in advance how you one. You will be better pre-
neighbors about how you can
will assemble your family and pared to reunite your family
work together. Find out if any-
anticipate where you will go. and loved ones safely during an
one has specialized equipment,
Choose several destinations in emergency if you think ahead,
like a power generator, or
different directions so you have and communicate with others
expertise such as medical
options in an emergency. If you in advance.
knowledge, that might help in
have a car, keep at least a half
a crisis. Decide who will check
tank of gas in it at all times.
on elderly or disabled neigh-
Become familiar with alternate Schools and Daycare
bors. Make backup plans for
routes as well as other means If you are a parent, or guardian
children in case you can’t get
of transportation out of your of an elderly or disabled adult,
home in an emergency. Sharing
area. If you do not have a car, make sure schools or daycare
plans and communicating in
plan how you will leave if you providers have emergency
advance is a good strategy.
have to. Take your emergency response plans. Ask how they
supply kit, unless you have will communicate with families
reason to believe it has been during a crisis. Do they store
contaminated, and lock the adequate food, water and other
door behind you. Take pets with emergency supplies? Find out
if they are prepared to “shelter-
in-place” if need be, and where
they plan to go if they must
get away.

[Link] 7
Specific Biological Threat
A biological attack is the delib-
can filter the air but still allow
breathing. Examples include

Terrorist erate release of germs or other

two to three layers of cotton
such as a t-shirt, handkerchief
Threats biological substances that can
make you sick. Many agents
or towel. Otherwise, several
layers of tissue or paper towels
must be inhaled, enter through
It is important to remember, may help. Wash with soap and
a cut in the skin or be eaten to
there are significant water and contact authorities.
make you sick. Some biological
differences among potential agents, such as anthrax, do not
terrorist threats that will In the event of a biological
cause contagious diseases.
influence the decisions you attack, public health officials
Others, like the smallpox virus,
make and the actions you will provide information on
can result in diseases you can
take. By beginning a process what you should do as quickly
catch from people.
of learning about these as they can. However, it can
specific threats, you are take time for them to determine
Unlike an explosion, a biologi-
preparing yourself to react. exactly what the illness is, how
cal attack may or may not be
it should be treated and who is
immediately obvious. While it
in danger. What you can do is
is possible that you will see
watch TV, listen to the radio or
signs of a biological attack, as
check the Internet for official
was sometimes the case with
news including the following:
the anthrax mailings, it is
Are you in the group or area
perhaps more likely that local
authorities consider in danger?
health care workers will report
What are the signs and symp-
a pattern of unusual illness or
toms of the disease? Are
there will be a wave of sick
medications or vaccines being
people seeking emergency
distributed? Where? Who
medical attention. You will
should get them? Where should
probably learn of the danger
you seek emergency medical
through an emergency radio or
care if you become sick?
TV broadcast or some other
signal used in your community.
At the time of a declared bio-
Perhaps you will get a phone
logical emergency, if a family
call or emergency response
member becomes sick, it is
workers may come door-to-door.
important to be suspicious.
If you become aware of an
However, do not automatically
unusual or suspicious release
assume you should go to a
of an unknown substance
hospital emergency room or
nearby, it doesn’t hurt to
that any illness is the result
protect yourself. Quickly get
of the biological attack.
away. Cover your mouth and
Symptoms of many common
nose with layers of fabric that
illnesses may overlap. Use
common sense, practice good
hygiene and cleanliness to
avoid spreading germs, and
seek medical advice.
 If your eyes are watering, your
Chemical Threat skin is stinging, you are having
Radiation Threat or
A chemical attack is the
trouble breathing or you simply
“Dirty Bomb”
deliberate release of a toxic A radiation threat or “Dirty
think you may have been
gas, liquid or solid that can Bomb” is the use of common
exposed to a chemical, imme-
poison people and the environ- explosives to spread radioactive
diately strip and wash. Look for
ment. Watch for signs of a materials over a targeted area.
a hose, fountain or any source
chemical attack such as many It is not a nuclear blast. The
of water. Wash with soap, if
people suffering from watery force of the explosion and
possible, but do not scrub the
eyes, twitching, choking, radioactive contamination will
chemical into your skin. Seek
having trouble breathing or be more localized. While the
emergency medical attention.
losing coordination. Many sick blast will be immediately
or dead birds, fish or small obvious, the presence of radia-
animals are also cause for tion may not be clearly defined
Nuclear Blast
suspicion. If you see signs of a until trained personnel with
A nuclear blast is an explosion
chemical attack, quickly try to specialized equipment are on
with intense light and heat, a
define the impacted area or the scene. As with any radia-
damaging pressure wave and
where the chemical is coming tion, you want to try to limit
widespread radioactive material
from, if possible. Take immedi- your exposure. Think about
that can contaminate the air,
ate action to get away from the shielding, distance and time.
water and ground surfaces for
affected area.
miles around. While experts
may predict at this time that a
If the chemical is inside a
nuclear attack is less likely
building where you are, try to
than others, terrorism by its
get out of the building without
nature is unpredictable. If there
passing through the contami-
is a flash or fireball, take cover
nated area. Otherwise, it may
immediately, below ground if
be better to move as far away
possible, though any shield or
from where you suspect the
shelter will help protect you
chemical release is and
from the immediate effects of
“shelter-in-place.” If you are
the blast and the pressure
outside when you see signs of
wave. In order to limit the
a chemical attack, you must
amount of radiation you are
quickly decide what is the
exposed to, think about shield-
fastest way to get away from
ing, distance and time. If you
the chemical threat. Consider if
have a thick shield between
you can get out of the area or
yourself and the radioactive
if it would be better to go
materials, it will absorb more of
inside a building and follow
the radiation and you will be
your plan to “shelter-in-place.”
exposed to less. Similarly, the
farther away you are from the
blast and the fallout, the lower
your exposure. Finally, minimiz-
ing time spent exposed will
also reduce your risk.

[Link] 9
In all Cases, This common sense framework is
Remain Calm. designed to launch a process of
Be prepared to adapt this
learning about citizen preparedness.
information to your personal
circumstances and make
For the most current information
every effort to follow instruc- and recommendations, go online to
tions received from authorities
on the scene. Above all, stay [Link] or call toll-free
calm, be patient and think
before you act. With these
1-800-BE-READY (1-800-237-3239).
simple preparations, you can
be ready for the unexpected.
If you have a working smoke
detector, you understand
that preparing makes sense.
Get ready now.
Notes

[Link] 11