Section 8: Terrorism and CERT

1. 1 Terrorism and CERT

2. 2 Unit Objectives

   • Define terrorism
   • Identify potential targets in the community
   • Identify the eight signs of terrorism
   • Identify CERT operating procedures for a terrorist incident
   • Describe the actions to take following a suspected terrorist incident

3. 3 Unit Topics

   • What Is Terrorism?
   • Terrorist Targets
   • Terrorist Weapons
   • CBRNE Indicators
   • Preparing at Home, Work, and in Your Neighborhood
   • CERTs and Terrorist Incidents

4. 4 What Is Terrorism?

   The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives

5. 5 Terrorism in the Past

6. 6 Terrorist Goals

   • Mass casualties
   • Loss of critical resources
   • Disruption of vital services
   • Disruption of the economy
   • Heightened fear

7. 7 Terrorist Targets

   • Seats of government
   • Key industries
   • Bridges, subways, tunnels, and other key transportation facilities
   • Water supplies and utilities

8. 8 Terrorist Weapons

   • 1. Chemical
   • 2. Biological
   • 3. Radiological
   • 4. Nuclear
   • 5. High-yield Explosives

9. 9 Chemical Weapons

   • 1. Blister agents
   • 2. Blood agents
   • 3. Choking agents
   • 4. Nerve agents
   • 5. Riot-control agents

10. 10 Biological Weapons Routes of exposure:

    • Inhalation
    • Ingestion
    • Absorption

11. 11 Radiological Weapons

    • Considered a higher threat because components are easy to obtain

12. 12 Nuclear Weapons

    • Derives destructive force from nuclear reaction
    • Affected area is larger as contaminated objects spread
    • Potential for casualties extends beyond initial attack
    • Long-term effects difficult to monitor and track

13. 13 High-Yield Explosives

    • Weapon of choice for terrorists
      • Used in 80% of attacks
    • Military munitions: grenades, mortars, surface-to-air missiles
    • Newer explosives called improvised explosive devices or IEDs
      • Any device created in an improvised manner used to destroy, disfigure, distract, or harass

14. 14 Assessing the Risk

    • Types of terrorist weapons in order of greatest risk (least to greatest):
      • Nuclear
      • Chemical
      • Radiological
      • Biological
      • High-yield explosives

15. 15 Eight Signs of Terrorism

    • 1. Surveillance
    • 2. Elicitation
    • 3. Tests of security
    • 4. Funding
    • 5. Acquiring supplies
    • 6. Impersonation or suspicious people
    • 7. Rehearsals and dry runs
    • 8. Deployment

16. 16 Attack Has Occurred or Is Underway

    • Vapor clouds or mists
    • Unscheduled spraying
    • Materials or equipment unusual for the area
    • Unusual odors or tastes
    • Out of place and unattended packages
    • Leaking packages

17. 17 See CBRNE Indicators?

    • If you observe any indications of a terrorist incident you should:
      • Not touch it
      • Move away from object or area
      • Report it to authorities immediately

18. 18 Physical Signs of Chemical-Biological Attack

    • Sick or dead animals, fish, or birds
    • Large number of persons seeking medical attention
    • Multiple survivors exhibiting similar symptoms
    • Multiple casualties without obvious signs of trauma

19. 19 Preparing at Home, Work, Neighborhood

    • Personal and family safety is first priority!
    • CERT members are NOT equipped or trained to respond to terrorist incidents
    • Terrorism incident scenes are also crime scenes

20. 20 Prepare for Terrorist Activity

    • CBRNE events are survivable
    • Preparing for terrorist incidents similar to preparing for natural hazards
    • Review Unit 1 guidelines
    • Certain actions more relevant to CBRNE

21. 21 Shelter-in-Place Procedures

    • Shut off ventilation systems
    • Go to your shelter-in-place room
    • Use precut plastic sheeting to cover air openings
    • Tape sheeting over doors, windows, vents
    • Use duct tape to seal other areas
    • Listen to a battery-powered radio
    • Ventilate room once contaminants are gone

22. 22 Protection from Radioactive Fallout

    • Go deep inside a building (distance/shielding)
    • Stay inside (time)
    • Stay tuned

23. 23 Basic Decontamination Procedures

    • Leave the contaminated area
    • Take decontamination action
      • Remove everything
      • Wash hands
      • Flush the entire body
      • Blot dry
    • Report for decontamination
    • Food safety

24. 24 Treating Others

    • First priority for a CERT member is personal safety
      • Take self-protective measures only
      • Do not attempt to treat survivors in contaminated area
      • Tell survivors about decontamination procedures

25. 25 What Professional Responders Will Do

    • Follow sizeup steps:
      • What is going on
      • How bad the situation is and how much worse it could get
      • What measures can be taken to control the incident safely
      • What resources will be needed

26. 26 Unit Summary

    • Terrorists attack to:
      • Intimidate the government or the civilian population
      • Further their objectives
    • Their goals are to:
      • Create mass casualties
      • Disrupt critical resources, vital services, and the economy
      • Cause fear

27. 27 Unit Summary (cont’d) Terrorist Weapons

    • 1. Chemical
    • 2. Biological
    • 3. Radiological
    • 4. Nuclear
    • 5. High-yield Explosives

28. 28 Unit Summary (cont’d) CERT Protocol for Terrorist Incidents

    • Terrorist incidents are a stop sign!
    • Do not proceed if you suspect terrorist activity
    • Simple guidelines:
      • Do not touch
      • Move away from object or area
      • Report it to authorities immediately

29. 29 Homework Assignment

    • Review the materials from the previous units
    • Wear appropriate clothing for disaster simulation exercise

Course material: FEMA's CERT Basic Training (2019), in the public domain. For study only, not medical advice: in an emergency, call 911.