FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is terrorism?
What is the difference between a chemical and biological
weapon?
How should the public prepare to deal with a terrorist
incident?
What should I do if I receive a bomb threat or if there
is a building explosion?
How do I report suspicious activity in East Tennessee?
Frequently asked questions about Anthrax (CDC Resource)
What is 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.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) categorizes terrorism in the
United States as one of two types, domestic terrorism or international
terrorism.
Domestic terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities
are directed at elements of our government or population without foreign direction.
International terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist
activities are foreign-based and/or directed by countries or groups outside
the United States or whose activities transcend national boundaries.
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What is the difference between a chemical and biological weapon?
Biological agents are infectious microbes or toxins used to produce
illness or death in people, animals, or plants. Biological agents can
be dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles. Terrorists may use biological
agents to contaminate food or water because they are extremely difficult
to detect. Chemical agents kill or incapacitate people, destroy livestock
or ravage crops. Some chemical agents are odorless and tasteless and
are difficult to detect. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds
to a few minutes) or a delayed effect (several hours to several days).
Were a chemical agent attack to occur, authorities would instruct citizens
to either seek shelter where they are and seal the premises or evacuate
immediately. Exposure to chemical agents can be fatal.
Biological agents are organisms or toxins that have illness-producing
effects on people, livestock, and crops. Because biological agents cannot
necessarily be detected and may take time to grow and cause a disease,
it is almost impossible to know that a biological attack has occurred.
If government officials become aware of a biological attack through
an informant or warning by terrorists, they would most likely instruct
citizens via the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to either seek shelter
where they are and seal the premises or evacuate immediately.
A person affected by a biological agent requires the immediate attention
of professional medical personnel. Some agents are contagious, and victims
may need to be quarantined. Biological and chemical weapons have been
used primarily to terrorize an unprotected civilian population and not
as a weapon of war. This is because of fear of retaliation and the likelihood
that the agent would contaminate the battlefield for a long period. The
Persian Gulf War in 1991 and other confrontations in the Middle East
were causes for concern in the United States regarding the possibility
of chemical or biological warfare. While no incidents occurred, there
remains a concern that such weapons could be involved in an accident
or be used by terrorists.
More information on Bioterrorism preparedness and response is available
online from the Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease
Control.
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How should the public prepare to deal with a terrorist incident?
- By adapting many of the same techniques used to prepare for other
crises.
- Be alert and aware of the surrounding area. The very nature of terrorism
suggests that there may be little or no warning.
- Take precautions when traveling. Be aware of conspicuous or unusual
behavior. Do not accept packages from strangers. Do
not leave luggage unattended.
- Learn where emergency exists are located. Think ahead about how to
evacuate a building, subway, or congested public area in
a hurry. Learn where staircases are located.
- Notice your immediate surroundings. Be aware of heavy or breakable
objects that could move, fall, or break in an explosion.
- Listen to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts via radio or
television.
Most stockpiling or preparedness suggestions are commonsense preparations
for any sort of unexpected emergency. So, don't blow all your money on
a fancy gas mask. There are more useful things to get, and even die-hard
survivalists rank gas masks low on their priority list. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross have provided several
suggestions:
Food & Water
Store at least a three-day supply of nonperishable food. Select foods that
require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. If
you must heat food, pack a can of Sterno. Select food items that are compact
and lightweight.
- One gallon of water per person per day (2 quarts for drinking, 2
quarts for sanitation/food prep)
- Minimum 3-day supply of water for each person
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables
- Canned juices, milk (if powdered, store extra water), soup
- Staples - sugar, salt, pepper
- High-energy foods - peanut butter, jelly, cracker, granola bars,
trail mix
- Vitamins
- Foods for infants, elderly people or those on a special diet
- Comfort/stress foods - cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals, lollipops,
instant coffee, and tea bags
- First Aid Kit - For any accidents it's good to have a few medical
supplies. You can buy a first-aid kit, but once again it's not
difficult to put together your own. Just go into a drugstore and grab
a few things. Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each
car.
A first aid kit should include:
Sterile adhesive bandages-assorted sizes
4 to 6 2" sterile gauze pads
4 to 6 4" sterile gauze pads
Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
3 Triangular bandages
3 rolls of 2" sterile roller bandages
3 rolls of 3" sterile roller bandages
Scissors
Tweezers
Needle
Moistened towelettes
Antiseptic
Thermometer
2 Tongue blades
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
Assorted sizes of safety pins
Cleansing agent & soap
2 pairs of Latex gloves
Sunscreen
Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid (for stomach upset)
Syrup of Ipecac (to induce vomiting)
Laxative
Activated Charcoal
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What should I do if I receive a bomb threat or if there is a building
explosion?
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. Notify the police and the building management.
After you have been notified of a bomb threat, do not touch any suspicious
packages. Clear the area around the suspicious package and notify the
police immediately. In evacuating a building, avoid standing in front
of windows or other potentially hazardous areas. Do not restrict sidewalk
or streets to be used by emergency officials.
In a building explosion, get out of the building as quickly and calmly
as possible.
If items are falling off bookshelves or from the ceiling, get under a sturdy
table or desk.
If there is a fire:
- Stay low to the floor and exit the building as quickly as possible.
- Cover nose and mouth with a wet cloth.
- When approaching a closed door, use the palm of your hand and forearm
to feel the lower, middle, and upper parts of the door. If it
is not hot, brace yourself against the door and open it slowly. If
it is hot to the touch, do not open the door; seek an alternate
escape route.
- Heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.
Stay below the smoke at all times.
If you are trapped in debris:
- Use a flashlight.
- Stay in your area so that you don't kick up dust. Cover your mouth
with a handkerchief or clothing.
- 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; shouting
can cause a person to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.
- Assist other victims if you can
- Untrained persons should not attempt to rescue people who are inside
a collapsed building. Wait for emergency personnel to arrive.
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Top How do I report suspicious activity in East Tennessee?
Who Should I Call To Make A Report?
Call 9-1-1, your local police or sheriff, or the nearest Tennessee State
Highway Patrol Headquarters. Tell the operator you want to make a suspicious
activity report. Your local 9-1-1 Center or law enforcement agency will send
an officer to investigate the suspicious activity. The local officer will then
forward information to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation or the
FBI who will then assign agents to carefully check-out the iinformation.
What Is Suspicious Activity?
Residents may observe a variety of actions, statements, associations, timing
or patterns of activity that create suspicions of illegal conduct. No one has
a better perspective about what defines “normal” in East Tennessee communities,
than the people who live there. Law Enforcement has long relied upon the common
sense perceptions of Tennessee citizens who notice something or someone that
appears suspicious or out of place.
Should I Give Police My Name And Contact Number?
Yes! If you want your report to be taken seriously, you should be willing to
give your name and contact information to investigators. Law enforcement will
want to talk to you personally in order to understand the full details of your
information and take appropriate action in a timely manner.
Will My Identity Be Protected?
Yes! Reports concerning Tennessee Homeland Security are considered an important
part of America's ongoing investigation into the War on Terrorism. Investigators
will need to know your name and contact numbers in order to do their job, but
the State of Tennessee will make every effort to keep your identity confidential.
Do I Have To Talk To The News Media?
No! No one who makes a report is required to speak
with the news media. Your name will not be released to
reporters. The decision to remain anonymous to the public, or to speak with the
news media is left completely up to you.
How Should I Focus My Attention?
Everyone should be especially mindful of suspicious activity around what Homeland
Security calls “Critical Infrastructure”. These “Key Assets” are places or facilities
where damage or destruction could cause an interruption of service, or result
in serious injury or death.
What Should I Watch For?
You should immediately report people who photograph, videotape, sketch
or seek blueprints for: Dams, drinking water supplies and water treatment facilities;
Major highway intersections, bridges and tunnels; transportation hubs,
airports and shipping facilities; Electric plants and substations, nuclear facilities
and transmission towers; Pipelines and tank farms; Military installations, law
enforcement agencies, and defense contract sites; Hospitals and health research
facilities; Internet, phone, cable, and communications facilities and towers;
And capitol, court, and government buildings. Suspicious activity around historic
structures and national landmarks should also be reported.
Source: http://www.gahomelandsecurity.com
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