Terrorism

Contingency Planning and Risk Management for Terrorist Attacks

The large-scale loss of life, widespread illness and injury, displacement of large numbers of people, and devastating economic loss inflicted on unsuspecting men, women and children around the world every year makes terrorism one of the most fearful threats out there. And chillingly, it seems to be a risk on the rise – the 2008 Report on Terrorism by the National Counterterrorism Center shows the number of fatalities caused by terrorist attacks, excluding those from Iraq, rising each year from 6,318 in 2005 to 10,749 in 2008. The fact that terrorism is intentionally performed by fellow human beings, unlike other threats that are natural or accidental, can heighten the emotional trauma after a terrorist attack, as well as make it more difficult to understand your risk.

When a terrorist event happens, it is imperative to follow the instructions of police, fire, and other officials. However, you can prepare in much the same way you would prepare for other types of threats.

Contingency planning for a terrorist attack:

• Have an emergency number for employees to call into to report their safety and receive instructions. This could be the hotline or the number of someone at another branch chosen for this position.
• Establish emergency meeting locations both close to the workplace for smaller incidents and further from the workplace for incidents such as a terrorist attack.
• Provide employees with wallet cards containing the emergency number and meeting location.
• Make sure your company's emergency response team or individuals have a battery-powered radio at their desk and a way of communicating information to the rest of the company. This could be a loudspeaker, a call list, etc. You may want to consider investing in an emergency notification system for your company.
• Keep emergency contact lists up-to-date.
• Keep information about employee medical conditions up-to-date; have a plan to evacuate employees who may have difficulty leaving the building.
• Establish a relationship with a mental health professional that could provide counseling to employees after the incident.
• Have a disaster kit ready on each floor of the building.

Other ways to be prepared for a terrorist threat:

• Practice situational awareness; be aware of your surroundings and notice emergency exits in buildings you frequent.
• Trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right, move or leave.
• Never hold packages or luggage for strangers; report any unattended suspicious items to authorities.
• Have a family emergency plan. Know the emergency numbers for your children's schools and family member's workplaces. Have an out-of-town contact for all family members to report their safety to.
• Know the response actions to fires, explosions, hazmat incidents and other emergencies.

Buses parked near a terminal in central Baghdad were destroyed by two car bombs at 7:50 a.m. August 17, 2005. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army.

Terrorism Links:

Federal Emergency Management Agency provides general information about terrorism, explosions, biological and chemical threats, nuclear blast, radiological dispersion device (RDD), and Homeland Security Advisory System.

The National Counterterrorism Center features statistical reports and informs the Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, which tracks terrorist incidents worldwide by country and description.

The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) – information on the UN's counterterrorism efforts in the Terrorism Prevention Branch.

Continuity Central tracks the latest news and articles on terrorism.

Project on Defense Alternatives offers specific information on terrorism & counter-terrorism, and homeland security.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides up-to-date information on U.S. counterterrorist policies and actions.

National Terror Alert is a leading source for homeland security news and information.

The Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT) offers training, professional development and education under the MIPT's Homeland Security National Training Program Cooperative Agreement.

Ready.gov provides guidelines on mail safety and what to do with suspect letters or packages.

The Terrorism Research Center studies terrorism, information warfare and security, critical infrastructure protection, homeland security, and other issues of low-intensity political violence and gray-area phenomena.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has advice on protecting employees and first responders from terrorism.

The Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program's site run by the Department of Defense

The Center for Disease Control's Bioterrorism page provides information for both the public and professionals.