Additional Protective Measures are taken as in the previous Threat Conditions, Federal departments and agencies should consider the following general measures in addition to the Protective Measures that they will develop and implement:

Coordinating emergency plans as appropriate with nearby jurisdictions;

Assessing whether the precise characteristics of the threat require the further refinement of preplanned Protective Measures; and

Implementing, as appropriate, contingency and emergency response plans.

Recent intelligence reports, corroborated, suggest an increased likelihood that al Qaeda terrorist network may attempt to attack Americans in the U.S. or abroad. More information on the Homeland Security Advisory System can be obtain by visiting www.dhs/gov.(Threats & Protection /Advisory System)

Based on information obtained from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the following information is being provided to inform, aid, and guide the residents of Mantua Township in planning for natural, technological, and threats posed by hostile governments or extremist groups. More detailed information can be obtained at http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

        Preparing for terrorism:

·    Be aware of your surroundings. The very nature of terrorism suggests there may be little or no warning.

·    Take precautions when traveling. Be alert and aware of suspicious or unusual behavior. Do not accept packages from strangers, do not leave luggage unattended. Report any such behavior promptly to police or security personnel.

·    Do not be afraid to move or leave a location if you feel uncomfortable or if something does not seem right.

·    Learn where emergency exits are located in buildings you frequent. Plan quick exits from locations you visit. Again, be aware of your surroundings.

·    Assemble a disaster supply kit at home and learn first aid. Separate the supplies you would take if you had to evacuate quickly, and put them in a backpack or similar container, ready to go.

·    Know where fire extinguishers and other safety devices are in both your home and place of work. Again, be aware of your surroundings.

Chemical and Biological Weapons:

In case of a chemical or biological weapon attack near you, authorities will instruct you on the best course of action. This may be to evacuate the area immediately, to seek shelter at a designated location, or to take immediate shelter where you are and to seal the premises.

Chemical warfare agents are poisonous vapors, aerosols, liquids or solids that have toxic effects on people, animals or plants. They can be released by bombs, sprayed from aircraft, boats, vehicles, or used as a liquid to create a hazard to people and the environment. Some may be tasteless and odorless. They can have an immediate effect or a delayed effect. While potentially lethal, chemical agents are difficult to deliver in lethal concentrations.  Outdoors, the agents often dissipate rapidly and they are difficult to produce.

Biological agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate. Most biological agents are difficult to grow and maintain. They break down quickly when exposed to sunlight and other environmental factors. They can de dispersed by spraying them into the air, or infecting animals, which carry the disease to humans as well as through food and water contamination. Biological agents are dispersed into the air, forming a fine mist that may drift for miles. Person to person spread of a few infectious agents is also possible. Humans have been the source of infection for smallpox, plague, and Lassa virus.

What to do to prepare: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

·       Assemble a disaster supply kit (as recommended above.)

·       Battery powered commercial radio with extra batteries.

·       Non-perishable food and drinking water.

·       Roll of duct tape and scissors.

·       Plastic for doors, windows, vents for room in which you will shelter in place-this should be an internal room where you can block out air that may contain hazardous chemical or biological agents. To save time, sheeting should be pre-measured and cut for each opening.

·       First aid kit.

·       Sanitation supplies, such as soap, water and bleach.

What to do during an attack: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

·    Listen to your radio for instructions as to whether to remain inside or to evacuate.

·     If you are instructed to remain in your home, the building where you are, or other shelter during a chemical or biological attack:

1.     Turn off all ventilation, including furnaces, air conditions, vents and fans.

2.      Seek shelter in an internal room, preferably one without windows. Seal the room with duct tape and plastic sheeting. Ten square feet of floor space per person will provide sufficient air to prevent carbon dioxide build-up for up to five hours.

3.     Remain in protected areas where toxic vapors are reduced or eliminated, and be sure to take your battery-operated radio with you.

If you are caught in an unprotected area, you should:

1.        Attempt to get up-wind of the contaminated area.

2.        Attempt to find shelter as quickly as possible.

3.        Listen to your radio for official assistance.

What to do after attack: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/

Immediate symptoms of exposure to chemical agents may include blurred vision, eye irritation, difficulty breathing and nausea. Medical assistance is need as quickly as possible and safe. Do not leave the safety of a shelter until instructed to do so. In some cases, medical assistance will come to you to prevent contamination of a medical facility. The following guidelines are provided:

·       Use extreme caution when helping others who have been exposed to chemical agents.

·       Remove all items in contact with the body.

·       Flush eyes with lots of water.

·       Gently wash face and hair with soap and water, and thoroughly rinse.

·       Decontaminate other body areas likely to have been contaminated.

·       Change into uncontaminated clothes. Clothing stored in drawers or closets is likely to be uncontaminated.

In many biological attacks, people will not know they have been exposed to an agent. In some situations, people may be alerted to potential exposure. It is important that everyone pay close attention to all official warnings and instructions. The delivery of medical services for a biological event may be handled differently to respond to increased demand. Again, it is important for you to pay attention to official instructions via radio, television, and the emergency alert systems.

Nuclear and radiological attack:

Terrorists use of a radiological dispersion device (RDD)-often called “dirty nuke” or “dirty bomb”- is considered far more likely than use of a nuclear device. For information dealing with this type of threat, see http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/