Be Aware of Potential Threats

Make sure your security officers can detect threats and help avert disasters through increased vigilance and awareness.

• Do they know what to do if there is a bomb threat or suspicious package?
• Do they know what a “dirty bomb” is?
• Do they know what to do in the event of a chemical or biological threat?

A "dirty bomb" is the type of weapon a terrorist would build if he/she could not construct a conventional nuclear device. Experts say that such a weapon could be locally devastating as well as causing fear and panic nationally. It would consist of a bomb made of conventional explosives such as TNT, salted with radioactive material. Such a bomb would be straightforward to construct if terrorists had access to radioactive material and were able to transport it without detection. The obvious place to obtain radioactive material would be from a nuclear weapon. It is not unknown for criminals to illegally sell such material. The dispersal of radioactive material in an urban area could have severe consequences for anyone who was contaminated with radioactive material, though depending upon how much nuclear material was present, the conventional explosive could cause the most damage. Theoretically, a "dirty bomb" could make a region uninhabitable for years. To most experts' knowledge, no such dirty bomb has actually been built. (Source: Dr. David Whitehouse BBC News Online science editor)

Be Prepared

During times of emergency, security staff should remain calm and follow post orders as well as instructions provided by building management or the local authorities. Knowing exactly what to do is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count. Security staff should:

• Know and follow their post orders.
• Know their building's emergency response plan.

Security staff should be informed about what might happen. There are important differences among potential terrorist threats that may impact the decisions made and the actions taken. Being familiar with what to do during certain emergency situations is an important part of being both aware and prepared and could very well be extremely critical when time matters most.

Evacuation & Shelter-in-Place

Security staff should know a building's evacuation plan and if there are instructions to evacuate or to “shelter-in-place.” They should follow their post orders and emergency response plans, and the directions of building management, for immediate and orderly evacuation.

Be Pro-Active

More information about how to respond and prepare for potential threats can be obtained from these agencies:

U.S Department of Homeland Security: www.ready.gov; www.dhs.gov; 1-800-BE-READY

American Red Cross National Preparedness Information Hotline: 1-866-GET-INFO; www.redcross.org

Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov