Emergency Plan

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Emergency Plan: Part I

Potential Risk Areas for Terrorism Emergency Planning

Introduction

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attack altered the world view towards terrorism.  The capacity to counter terrorism threats from different fronts have thus increased significantly. Terrorism is a serious threat to any city and even a city like Metropolis, Florida, is not entirely immune from a terrorist attack. Complacency cannot be afforded in the face of this sophisticated and ever mutating threat. The citizens require their government to effectively plan against terrorism threats. Therefore, evaluating potential risk areas for terrorism emergency planning through an integrated approach incorporating resiliency and reactionary planning is essential.

According to the State of Ohio Terrorism Annex (2011), the government considers several issues when planning for terrorist attacks. Since a terrorist event will generally overwhelm the resources of a local community, the involvement of the federal assistance is key in the planning. The response of the organizations to a situation should be done in a rapid, efficient and orderly manner to enable quick exchange of data and initiate proper responses. Establishing the correct chain of command is very key so that each organization role is well defined for the subsequent recovery-related activities. Other issues the government considers in planning for terrorist attack comprise in analyzing the threats, risk, capabilities and need of a particular State.

Reactionary Planning

A reactionary-based approach establishes parameters to react to the effects of a disaster. For a terrorist incident in Metropolis, the Government should adopt an all-hazards approach to emergency management. This is articulated in the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) Guide managed by the   Department of Homeland Security (2012) which    describes a four-step process comprising of:

-       Identifying the targets and hazards of concern based on a combination of various available resources to determine a list of the threats and hazards of main interest to the community.

-       Giving the threats and hazards the proper context and showing how they may affect the community.

-       Establishing capability targets identified in the National Preparedness Goal.

-       Applying the results by estimating the resourcing required achieving the capability targets by employing the use of community assets and mutual aid together with considering preparedness activities.

This Guide expounds on the factors that should be considered when selecting threats and hazards such as

●     The likelihood of an incident occurring. Terrorism, being a difficult hazard to estimate requires the communities to consider assistance in the intelligence data that is available to determine inclusion in the HIRA.

●     The significance of the threat/hazard effects to the community should be considered and threats/hazards with significant impact prioritized.

Areas Where Reactionary Planning is Necessary

Government Facilities/Centers

Metropolis, the largest city in Florida, is home to various government facilities such as the Metroport Authority, naval base and military residential area. Nuclear and explosive materials from the naval base are hazards with great potential risk.  Nuclear terrorism would pose huge environmental impact as it would comprise all utilities and wastewater systems, air quality, contamination of soil and thus would harm wildlife habitat with long-lasting effects. Being symbols of government authority, government facilities, being symbols of state authority, are prime targets of terrorist actions and emergency planning in this potential risk area is crucial.

Telecommunications and Radio Stations

With 14 Am radio stations and 16 Fm radio station, 6 commercial TV stations, 2 religious TV stations plus a host of other various networks and systems involved in the electronic transmission, vital analysis is required to establish vulnerabilities. For, instance, the religious stations can be a prime target of terrorist attack due to the controversial nature of their broadcasts. Chemical terrorism would pose a large impact both on the short-term air quality and the long-term quality of waster water systems, aquatic ecosystems and the soils. A biological attack would greatly impact the sewage and septic systems, the water ecosystems, soil usage and ultimately the plant and animal life that relies on them. A radiological attack would effect the electric, natural gas, pipelines, utilities, watercourses or creating a huge and immediate debris problem.

Research Facilities

Appropriate risk assessment is required for the research studies done at the Metropolis University in collaboration with such bodies as Centre for Disease Control on a wide range of (pathogens) viruses and diseases. Hazards with great potential risk such as chemical, biological and radiological materials require great deal of emergency planning. Potent materials falling in the wrong hands can pose an international crisis.

Transportation and infrastructure

A wide variety of infrastructure options such as the Metropolis Intercity Connector Entity (MICE) can be prime targets for terrorist activities due to the huge people traffic it attracts. The Metropolis International Airport services more than a dozen airlines with over 200 daily arrivals and departures daily. More than 20 daily international flights originate from the Metropolis International airport, making it a major connector hub for this region of the country. Risk assessment is necessary for the various extensive train and bus routes as well as water taxis on the Gator River in the downtown area that connect commuters with all parts of the city and surrounding areas.

Resiliency Planning

The ultimate goal of resiliency planning is to enable the society to withstand violent extremist ideologies whereby the society is resilient to a terrorist attack if one happens. The potential risk areas where resiliency planning is essential to comprise the elements of prevention, detection, denial and response.

Areas Where Resiliency Planning is Necessary

Prevention

The potential risk in this area is of nature whereby individuals may want to participate in, or demonstrate the potential to engage in terrorist activities either at home, abroad or both.

Detection

The necessity of this potential risk area is to identify the terrorist subjects, their supporters, and their organizations, as well as the nature of their plans and their abilities.

Denial

The necessity of emergency planning in this potential risk is to deny the terrorist the capabilities and the opportunities to carry out their plans/activities.

Response

The importance of planning the proper response to the wake of a terrorist attack is essential in mitigating the effects of terrorist activities.

Emergency Plan: Part II

Overview of Actions Planned for Terrorism Emergency Planning

Reactionary Planning using example from the Monroe County Department of Emergency Management (2003). In metropolis, the reactionary planning should be made possible and easy in order to minimize collateral damage by the terrorist attacks. Appropriate measures need to be taken so that the public may be in a position to know how to react to sirens indicating attacks

Government Facilities/Centers

Investigation by the Federal Bureau (FBI) is the best way in planning for terrorism emergency. The government facilities are the main targets by the terror attacks. The facilities in the Metropolis are the main representatives of the government. The aims of the terrorists are always to inflict fear and cause disruption to the nation. The investigation by the Federal Bureau (FBI) is therefore essential. Certain acts can indicate terror plans that are in the process. This always happens in places with high terror targets which are the civilian population or crowdie places. The most targeted places are like the government buildings, utilities, major public events and bus stations. The investigations are therefore targeted at some instances by the FBI which includes surveillance, suspicious questioning, acquiring supplies and the suspicious persons as well as the deployment of assets.

The FBI alerts the public to report any suspicious persons that may include a worker that do not appear to belong to a workplace, and is seen wandering around the facilities. The public are also advised by the FBI to report any suspicious questioning by any strange person. These are but a few steps by the FBI that are aimed at emergency planning.  When all these are investigated and addressed early, the suspected or planned attack by the terrorist may easily be thwarted.

Consequence management by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is achieved in the way in which the FEMA appoints the regional operations center director who is to convene the meetings. The agency will also be involved in the representation of the FBI. The FEMA in its mandate to organize for the tragedy planning issues and also tracks the status of the end result management measures assigned to the federal agency. The agency also establishes a primary federal operation centers. This are targeted at minimizing the results of terror attacks in places like Metropolis.

Telecommunications and radio stations

Communication is an important part in the event of terrorist attacks and planning for emergencies. Rapid and secure communication ensures prompt and coordination of responses. The emergency units need to be strengthened and they must be kept alert at all times of the day. Strengthening of communications is directed to the first respondents and the emergency rooms. Planning should also include adding of 911 as a resource when an emergency occurs and may require an extra ordinary response. It has also been identified that, terror attacks are overloading to the telephone lines that are not dedicated and also the cellular telephones.  It has also been recommended that responses organizations to come up with the internet connections with the other emergency response units. This will enable the emergency units have a fast response to an emergency.

Radio frequencies may also be used by the responders and will hinder the communications in an area. The use of 800 MHz radios lightens this predicament. Apart from these, planning should consider the importance for an incorporated backbone communication. This is meant for all the key state agencies that are related to emergencies response and planning. The agencies to be connected are the state, and also the local emergency responses organizations.

Terrorism incidents comprise the loss of radio communication capabilities, cellular telephone lines and also land lines. This is because they get overloaded in case of an emergency. They always put off. The option for this as an emergency preparedness is the use of satellite telephones. Satellite telephones can work even when there is an emergency. They do not get overloaded.

Research Facilities

Response from Local Hospitals

Local hospitals contribute in the research exercise and in the determination of potential dangers that may be used by the terror groups.  They include   research on the most targeted laboratories and pharmaceutical centers. Terrorists may target these facilities because exploding them may result in collateral damage.

Intervention by the Center for Disease Control

The centers for disease control and prevention is a federal agency which is mandated with the duty of protecting the public health by preventing and controlling diseases and also a response to the public health emergencies. The agency works with other international agencies to try to eliminate communicable diseases and those that can be prevented. The Bioterrorism preparedness and response program are assigned with the duty to oversee the efforts of the agency in preparations of the state and local governments to actively respond to incidences of bioterrorism.  The agency also has specialized personnel responsible for the response to biological, radiological and chemical terrorism. The agency has epidemiologists trained to examine and also control the outbreak or any illness. CDC preserves the National Pharmaceutical build up stocks to act in response to terrorist occurrence inside the United States.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Moving Vehicles and Objects from Buildings

The personnel and resources that pass through the shipping conduits pose numerous risks. This is to the population both civilian and military, as well as the business community. In order to make a good terrorist emergency planning, there must be a complete evaluation of the connectivity links and the latent impact on commerce and the personality mobility. The infrastructure has preparedness mechanisms of tackling terrorist attacks.  The transportation sectors contain many civilians who are the target of the terrorists. The terror groups target the most populated places like bus stations and airports. The emergency agencies must have to educate the people on how to detect a potential threat and the way to have a good response for an appropriate response

Erecting barriers and obstacles to control traffic flow is also another emergency planning. This will enable the agencies concerned with the terrorist emergency cases to easily detect and learn the direction of the attacker and have full control of the running civilians. Scene control is also enabled through the ease use of signs that indicates that the place is under attack and no civilians or unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter.

Resiliency Planning

Prevention

Motivational factors that lead individuals to participate in terrorism activities are such like extremism which is spread through the internet by the terror groups. The terrorist radicalizes the civilian sand persuade them to join in the fight. The individuals are also motivated to join in terrorist acts as a result of lucrative promises made to them by the extremists. It is a plan, therefore, to educate the individuals on the ways of avoiding such radicalization acts.

Detection

Investigation of suspicious terrorist elements is a training that the individuals are taught by the agencies so that they may easily detect the suspect planning terror attacks. This may happen in places associated with crowds and activities.

Intelligence operations are also the ways of planning the emergency response to the terror attacks and other emergencies. Analysis of intelligence reports is also essential and need to be analyzed so that mitigation measures that are proper can be made.  

Denial

Mitigating vulnerabilities like people staying in unsafe places is essential in order to reduce the chances of an attack .Intervening aggressively in terrorist planning. Prosecuting terrorism perpetrators is also a good plan that can be made so that future terror acts will be minimal. The radicalized individuals will see the prosecution process and make them learn that terror activities are illegal.

Response

Ensuring rapid transition to ordinary life is a way of preparation for emergencies. This means that the whenever there is an attack or an emergency of any nature, the civilian population may be in a position to respond appropriately and later continue with life as usual. The civilian population is taught and shown ways of responding to an attack and how to cope up with life later. Reducing the impact of terrorist activities is achieved by the agencies through fast response to the crime scene.

Emergency Plan: Part III

Step by Step Actions to Implement the Terrorism Emergency Plan

Reactionary Planning

Government Facilities

-       Investigation by the Federal Bureau (FBI) as it is the Federal Lead Agency for crisis management. An on-scene commander will be appointed to offer proper direction to manage the terrorism crisis. This is done by coordinating with the lead State and the local crisis management agencies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation further determines whether the terrorism act warrants consultation with the White House, if it does,, FBI  should advise through the Attorney General.

-       Consequence management by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by co-coordinating the management response with the lead State and local consequence management agencies. Further, it should establish the primary federal operations centers for consequence management in the field and Washington, DC.

-       Using the California Terrorism Response Plan (2001) as an example, the various jurisdictions mandated to address potential terrorist attacks comprise

                    i.            Air Resources Board (ARB): which is responsible for protecting air quality has it has the appropriate personnel for technical advice and operation of air monitoring equipment.

                  ii.            Highway Patrol (HP): which is ensures security of state buildings, traffic control and assistance in evacuation operations of a device.

                iii.            Department of Food and Agriculture (DFA): regulates the registration, sale and use of agricultural chemicals, providing technical advice on these chemicals and the laboratories can be accessed for identification purposes if the pesticides or fertilizers are suspected to be involved in a terrorist act.

                iv.            Department of Health Services (DHS): responsible for the protection of food and water supplies from contamination, the control of communicable disease and the regulation of radioactive materials.

                  v.            Department of Justice/Attorney General (DOJ/AG): provides surveillance and communications equipment and provides forensic services and also provides legal advice to state and local entities regarding both civil and criminal matters.

                vi.            Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) which is the lead agency for the handling, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes.

              vii.            Department of Transportation which in collaboration with other agencies the role of this agency is to identify and contain hazardous materials and in restoration of safe and order traffic flow on the highways.

            viii.            Emergency Medical Services Authority plans and manages the state’s medical response to disasters. This is done by arranging the emergency procurement and distribution of medical supplies, providing general guidelines for the triage and handling of contaminated patients.

                ix.            Department of Defense (DOD) for threats that involve military nuclear weapons and assists with security: device locating, deactivating and removal and site restoration.

                  x.            Department of Energy(DOE) coordinates nuclear aspects of assessment and search operation for threats involving nuclear materials and also cases involving radioactive materials

                xi.            Department of Fish and Game(DFG) which is the lead state agency for protecting fish and wildlife  and for responding to attacks involving oil spills

              xii.            Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides advice and information and determines that illness, disease or complaints attributable to chemical discharges.

            xiii.            United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) conducts environmental and water supply monitoring during events and assists in consequence assessment and protective action decisions. It can become lead federal agency during the site restoration phase of the terrorist incident.

Telecommunication and radio stations

-       Turning of electronic equipment whereby telecommunication gadgets are tools being used to perform the terrorist action. Cellular phones, radios, pagers and car alarm remotes must be turned off as radio frequency transmission by some of these devices may be used to cause detonation.

-       The California emergency plan employs the Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan (FRERP) to govern the federal technical response to the incidents that involve radiological materials.

Research Facilities

-       Response from the local hospitals who will most likely receive the casualties affected by the terrorist act from the research facilities. Medical facilities required to be prepared for decontamination and treatment of the victims. Quarantine measures need to be put into place to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. The procedures for isolation/quarantine of victims are addressed in the local Fire/Rescue department procedure manuals. The first arriving unit will perform the initial size-up and determine the approximate number of victims. Protective clothing and equipment must be utilized for proper operation.

-       Center for Disease Control should be notified in the possibility of reportable diseases and for trends surveillance or for decisions regarding long-term community quarantine for highly contagious biological agents.

Transportation and Infrastructure

-       Scene control: The assumption that responders will rush to the scene  of terrorist act  should be taken into consideration. Proper chain of command control needs to be established to eliminate the possibility of additional casualties and victims. This can be implemented by establishing a perimeter control, setting up field command posts, designating triage and decontamination areas, directing the victims to appropriate sites/facilities, determining evacuation zones, keeping the public away from the affected area and performing sweep of affected area to locate/assist disoriented victims.

Resiliency Planning

Resiliency planning draws from the belief that counterterrorism efforts require partnerships by all government levels, law enforcement agencies, the citizens and even the private sector. Partnership with the citizens is very important in fostering a deeper understanding as to why certain measures are necessary to be undertaken to combat terrorism threats. A truly resilient Metropolis can be achieved when the citizens act responsibly together with the government in forming strong and supportive local communities to fight extremist ideologies.A resiliency-based approach is not reactionary to the effects of a disaster, but establishes parameters to contain the effects and because of this, a jurisdiction can measure its resiliency by how quickly it can rebound.

Prevention

-       Motivational factors that lead individuals to participate in terrorism activities need to be identified and curbed. These factors can be diminished by actively engaging the individuals, together with the communities and through research to understand these factors and adopt the appropriate way to curb them.  Radicalization, which is a precursor to extremism need to be prevented by working closely with the local communities to foster better approaches towards stopping the radicalization process. Preventive initiative can be implemented by collaboration with the different governmental departments such as Department of Immigration, Department of Foreign Affairs, and Department of Justice. According to the Canadian emergency planning strategy, a joint collaboration with a social body experienced in social and cultural issues to engage the Government on long-term national security issue is ultimately essential.

Detection

-       Investigation of suspicious terrorism elements by listing terrorist entities that are considered a threat. For instance, several terrorist entities that are potentially a threat are ISIS, Al Qaeda,Hezbollah, Hamas, the Euskadi ta Askatasuna, et cetera.

-       Intelligence operations through the various federal organizations: The NSA (National Security Agency) offers foreign signal intelligence to the law enforcement and security intelligence agencies according to the Government’s intelligence priorities. Other federal organizations also collect information in support of their primary responsibilities, which is important in establishing a broader counter-terrorism intelligence picture. For these organizations the exchange of information with domestic and international partners is crucial.

-       Analysis of the information gathered from the intelligence sources is the next important step. The key organization should properly analyze the information to offer the right assessment of any terrorism potential.

Denial

Denying the terrorists means and opportunities to carry out their plans by:

-       Mitigating vulnerabilities due to globalization, telecommunication trends and rapid developing technology calls for fast adaptation with the changing cyber environment.

-       Intervening aggressively in terrorist planning by denying the terrorist access to capacity abroad and also by assisting in stabilizing international hot spots. In addition, disrupting the movement of money (such as money laundering). This can be done by monitoring charity courses that directly or indirectly fund terrorism activities by revoking their registrations. Also disrupting the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive weapons). One way to minimize acquisition of such weapons is imposing adequate security measures at facilities where such materials are stored. Further, this can be enhanced by seizure of goods that are non-compliant with the export laws and regulations.

-       Prosecuting terrorism perpetrators whereby federal statutes establish a legal regime that prosecutes terrorists for their activities. Terrorist cases can be complex and long, therefore, the effectiveness of the government dealing with such cases can be improved by developing guidelines for the prosecution of terrorism offences which demonstrate the best practices.

Response

-       Ensuring rapid transition to ordinary life by involving strong coordination of effort between federal departments and agencies and could also include provincial, territorial and municipal authorities, as well as private businesses, critical infrastructure owners and operators and the general public, depending on where the incident occurs and the extent of the impacts.

-       Reducing the impact of terrorist activities by involving the local law enforcement and emergency management authorities.

References

California Terrorism Response Plan.(February, 2001). An annex to the state emergency plan. Retrieved from http://www.lhc.ca.gov/lhc/disaster/StateTerrorismPlan.pdf

Department of Homeland Security. (April, 2012).Threat and Hazard Identification  and Risk Assessment Guide. Retrieved from  http://wyohomelandsecurity.state.wy.us/grants/thira/THIRA_Guide_Toolkit.pdf

Monroe County Department of Emergency Planning(Novemeber, 2003). Terrorism Preparedness Plan. Retrieved from http://www.monroecountyem.com/DocumentCenter/Home/View/10

State of Ohio Terrorism Annex. ( January, 2011).State of Ohio Hazard Identification and Risk Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=state+of+ohio+terrorism+anex