Threats & Emergencies

Terrorism

Terrorism Home • Terrorism Basics • VDEM Terrorism Toolkit

What's in Terrorism Toolkit

Related Info

Virginia Terrorism Hotline:
1-877-4VA-TIPS
Family Disaster Planning [in Prepare & Prevent]
Disaster Supply Kit [in Prepare & Prevent]

VDEM Terrorism Toolkit

Introduction to Terrorism > Prepare

Overview
Emergency water supply
Disaster kit
Medications
Protective gear
Community readiness

Overview

Q: If terrorists blend in with everyone else, what can I do to protect myself when I'm in public places?
A: Take the following precautions:

Be alert and aware of the surrounding area.
Take precautions when traveling. Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages from strangers. Do not leave your luggage unattended.
Learn where emergency exits are located. Think ahead about how to evacuate a building, subway or congested public area in a hurry. Learn where staircases are located.
Be aware of heavy or breakable objects nearby that could move, fall or break in an explosion.

Q: Is there anything I can do to prepare for a terrorist attack?
A: The very nature of terrorism suggests there may be little or no warning before an attack, but it is still possible to take some precautions. Many of the same techniques you use to prepare for other emergencies can be adapted for terrorist incidents. If a terrorist attack occurs, you will need to know how to take care of yourself and your family. Self-reliance is important because local officials and relief workers on the scene of a disaster won't be able to reach everyone right away.

The VDEM Web site has in-depth information about disaster planning. You can access the web site at www.vaemergency.com. If you would like more sources, I can give you additional information about some resources designed to help you plan for disasters or emergencies.

Q: How can I help my family be prepared in case of a terrorist event or other disaster?
A: You can develop an emergency plan for your household or work place. Meet with your family or coworkers and prepare for a disaster before one occurs. You should:

Discuss the types of disasters most likely to happen. Explain what to do in each case.
Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones. Teach your children how and when to call 911 or your local emergency medical services number.
Learn first aid and CPR. Have fire extinguishers on hand and know how to use them properly.
Determine the best escape routes from your home or office building. Find two ways out of each room. Find the safe spots in your home or office building for each type of disaster.
Assemble a disaster supplies kit. Stock emergency supplies.
Have a battery-operated radio on hand with extra batteries. Identify your local Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio and television stations.
Know how and when to turn off the water, gas and electricity in your home at the main switches. If tools are needed to disconnect these utilities, keep them nearby.
Pick two places for your family to meet if you are separated during a disaster:
- Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire.
- Outside your neighborhood in case, you can't return home.
Ask an out-of-state friend or relative to be your "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance.
- Your selected contact should live far enough away that they are unlikely to be directly affected by the same event as you. They will need to know they are your contact.
- Make sure all family members know your contact's telephone numbers and/or e-mail address. Your children should have these numbers at school and the numbers should be at your workplace.
- Following a disaster, family members should call their contact and tell them where they are.
Plan what to do in case of an evacuation. Know your children's schools' emergency plans.
Decide how to provide for your pets.
Meet with neighbors to develop a neighborhood plan.
Practice and maintain your plan.

Q: Explosions happen quickly, is there any way that I can prepare for an explosion?
A: You can take some basic precautions:

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.

Keep the following items in a designated place on each floor of a multi-level 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.
A small disaster supplies kit, which should contain water, small high-energy foods and a whistle. See also workplace disaster supplies kit.

Emergency water supply

Q: Who is responsible for protecting Virginia's public water supply?
A: The Virginia Health Department is responsible by law for all public water supplies. The Health Department, however, is not responsible for private water supplies or bottled water.

Q: Should I keep a supply of water on hand in case of a terrorist attack?
A: In general, emergency officials recommend that households keep a supply of water available for disasters and that they rotate the supply about every six months.

If you are concerned about the reliability of your waterworks (or of your household well) during an emergency, you may want to keep on hand an available supply of commercially bottled water.

You should plan on a three-day emergency supply of about one-gallon per person in your household. That should give health authorities enough time to secure a supply of drinking water.

Q: Why can't you let me know in advance what I should do?
A: In a normal disaster, there are standardized procedures on transporting emergency water supplies or disinfecting and using available water.

However, because of the uncertain nature of terrorist weapons of mass destruction, there is no way to know in advance what you should do for drinking water. What might work in one type of situation might not work in another.

Q: I heard an announcement that we're not supposed to drink water from the tap. What do I do now?
A: Follow the recommendations broadcast over your local Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio or television station about the availability of safe water.

Q: Will I be notified if something is wrong with my water?
A: Your local waterworks (the utility or organization that sells you your drinking water) is responsible by law to notify the public if there is an identified health problem with the drinking water. This notice must be immediate (within 24 hours) if the threat is imminent or acute.

Listen to your local Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio or television station for information about drinking water.

Q: Whom should I call if I have a concern about my drinking water?
A: If your drinking water tastes, smells or feels unusual, do not use the water until you have contacted one of the following organizations:

Your waterworks. If you buy your drinking water from a public or central water system, first contact your waterworks (the utility or organization to which you pay your water bill).
The nearest Virginia Department of Health Engineering Field Office if you can't get the information you need.
Your local health department, if you have your own household well.

Disaster kit

Q: What is a disaster supplies kit and what should I keep in it?
A: A disaster kit contains items that can help you endure an evacuation or confinement. Six basics recommended for your disaster supplies kit are: water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency supplies, and special items. You may already have these items in your household or workplace. (See also workplace disaster supplies kit.)

Keep items you would most likely need during an evacuation in a covered container such as a large, covered storage bin, camping backpack or a duffle bag.
Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members.
Keep a smaller version of the kit in the trunk of your car. Prepare a separate kit for your pets or add items for pet care in your kit.
Change stored water and food every 6 months.

Tips for assembling a disaster supplies kit:

Water – store a three-day supply. You will need enough for each person in your household. One gallon per person per day is recommended. Change stored water every 6 months.
Food – store at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water. Remember special needs foods for elderly, the ill or babies. Change stored food every 6 months.
First aid kit – assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car. Include extra eyeglasses and prescription medicines if needed.
Survival tools – include an emergency preparedness manual such as one prepared by the American Red Cross or VDEM. Also gather a flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs, and a battery-operated radio with extra batteries. Tape the call letters and frequency numbers of your Emergency Alert System (EAS) station on the radio (local contacts listed on the EAS Web site at www.jmu.edu/wmra/eas/index.html). Make sure everyone knows how to work the radio and keep fresh batteries on hand. Include tools such as wrenches for shutting off utilities.
Sanitation supplies – toilet paper, Ziploc bags, garbage bags with seals, five-gallon bucket with lid, feminine hygiene products, pre-moistened towelettes.
Clothing and bedding – include at least one complete change of clothing and sturdy footwear per person. Include two blankets or one sleeping bag per person.
Special Items – these are items for family members with special needs, such as infants, infirm, elderly or disabled persons. Some items to include are diapers and specific care items. You might also want to include a few entertainment items such as games and books.
Important papers – keep important family documents, cash, traveler's checks and a credit card in a waterproof portable container. Include an extra set of car keys.

Medications

Q: I need to take certain medicines every day. Should I make sure that I have several months worth of medicine on hand in case there is a terrorist incident?
A: Contact your physician or medical provider to determine what medicines you should have on hand.

Q: Will my pharmacist give me several months worth of medicine at one time?
A: Your medical provider and pharmacist will determine this based on need and availability.

Q: Should I have a supply of antibiotics on hand in case there is a biological terrorist attack?
A: Keeping a supply of antibiotics on hand is not recommended for several reasons:

Each organism requires a specific antibiotic. If a doctor hasn't diagnosed your condition, the antibiotic you take may not be the right one to eliminate the organism causing the infection.
Only those who have been exposed to an agent should take antibiotics and sometimes antibiotics are only prescribed once you are actually sick. Antibiotics should only be taken on the advice of health authorities.
Individuals may have adverse reactions to antibiotics.
Some organisms do not respond to antibiotics.
Some antibiotics have limited shelf life.

Protective gear

Q: Should I buy a gas mask to protect me if there's a biological or chemical attack?
A: We view the purchase of escape hoods, gas masks and similar equipment a matter of personal choice. If you wish, you may search the Internet for gas masks and escape hoods, or check the Yellow Pages under Safety Equipment and Clothing.

Escape hoods, gas masks and similar equipment are difficult to use properly and have numerous limitations. Escape hoods are made of plastic and have a special filter. They must be put on in a clean environment and taken off promptly after the wearer has gone through a contaminated area.

Gas masks must be fitted to each individual and they must contain the proper filter in order to be effective. With the large number of potential chemical agents, it is impossible to know in advance which filter should be used. With some chemicals, gas masks would be totally ineffective.

Depending on how contaminated the air is, the hood or mask could stop working in less than 20 minutes. Batteries in powered air units typically expire in a few hours.

For the general population, we recommend standard protective actions of sheltering in place or evacuation. You can find guidance about sheltering in place or evacuation on the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Web site. (That Web address is www.vaemergency.com.) Or, call your local emergency management office or the American Red Cross chapter.

Tune in to the radio or television station where you normally get your news for information on what actions to take. Where you are in relation to the site of an incident will affect how you should respond. Listen carefully.

Q: What about biological agents?
A: A common facemask - the N95 dust mask - will provide protection against such agents as anthrax. These masks are inexpensive and readily available at hardware stores.

Community readiness

Q: Does every community have an adequate emergency response system, especially one geared for a terrorist attack? How quickly can they be implemented?
A: Emergency response systems vary based on each community's needs and resources. Some local emergency system components can be implemented very quickly, while others may take longer to implement.

Q: Are hospitals prepared to handle a sudden surge in demand for health care?
A: The preparedness level in hospitals depends on the agent used in an attack. Because a sudden surge in patients could overwhelm individual hospitals resources, hospitals collaborate with other hospitals in their area to respond to terrorist attacks on a citywide or regional basis.

Hospitals are required to maintain disaster response plans and to practice applying them as part of their accreditation process. In an emergency, local medical care capacity will be supplemented with federal resources.