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Terrorism Home • Terrorism Basics • VDEM Terrorism Toolkit
Local, state and federal emergency managers use an all-hazards approach in developing comprehensive preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery plans for manmade and natural disasters . Planners set up basic disaster functions (i.e., rescue, sheltering and medical care) and assign agencies and volunteer groups at the local, state and federal levels to carry them out.
In emergency planning, response and recovery functions start at the local level and proceed to the state and federal levels as more resources are needed to protect the lives and property of citizens. Agencies appropriate to a particular event participate in the response and recovery as needed. The list may change as circumstances warrant. In a terrorist attack, the following agencies would be considered key players:
Office of Commonwealth Preparedness
Works with others – including federal, state, and local officials, as well as the private sector – to develop a seamless, coordinated security and preparedness strategy. The Office serves as the single point of contact in Virginia for the Department of Homeland Security.
Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
Gathers, analyzes and facilitates the flow of information through the Virginia State Police and coordinates state and local responses to events. VDEM works with local government, state and federal agencies and voluntary organizations to provide resources and expertise in four major areas: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
Virginia State Police
Assesses threats through its Criminal Intelligence Center, provides added security resources to public and private facilities, investigates bomb threats, and gathers and shares classified security information.
Department of Health
Advises physicians regarding the signs of biological diseases; requests health directors pass on credible threat information, provides surveillance and monitoring; works to calm public fears, and oversees the pharmaceutical stockpile.
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Coordinates efforts to protect livestock and crops, regulates food supplies and assures consumer safety.
Virginia National Guard
Responds to state security needs and faces call-up for national defense missions.
Transportation
Oversees transportation activities and uses its remote sensing equipment to monitor infrastructure assets.
Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Provides response information as needed and is represented on the governor's Domestic Preparedness Working Group.
Virginia Department of General Services
Uses their scientific labs to analyze evidence and share bio-terrorism information through the departments of Health, Criminal Justice and Agriculture.
Department of Homeland Security
Coordinates and implements a comprehensive national anti-terrorism strategy. This new cabinet-level office is working with executive departments and agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Organizes consequence response based on state and local needs. FEMA's mission is to reduce loss of life and property and protect our nation's critical infrastructure from all types of hazards through a comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ)/Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Prosecutes criminal activities related to terrorist acts using its US Attorney's offices. The FBI oversees the initial phase of disasters involving criminal activities through the Joint Operations Center. Consequence management functions are included through the appropriate agencies.
US Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Serves as the US government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans. The CDC provides a system of health surveillance to monitor and prevent outbreak of diseases. With the assistance of states and other partners, the CDC guards against international disease transmission, maintains national health statistics and provides for immunization services and supports research into disease and injury prevention.