Homeland Security and You University of Virginia Police Brian Del Vecchio Brian Del Vecchio Emergency Planning Coordinator

Homeland Security and Homeland Security and YouYou

University of Virginia PoliceUniversity of Virginia Police

Brian Del VecchioBrian Del VecchioEmergency Planning CoordinatorEmergency Planning Coordinator

Answers to these questions:Answers to these questions:

What is terrorism and who are its targets?What is terrorism and who are its targets?

What weapons do terrorists use?What weapons do terrorists use?


What is Homeland Security?What is Homeland Security?

What do the Homeland Security Alert What do the Homeland Security Alert System symbols mean?System symbols mean?


What can I do to protect myself What can I do to protect myself and others?and others?

What are the University Police What are the University Police doing to safeguard the Grounds?doing to safeguard the Grounds?

What is terrorism?What is terrorism?

The unlawful use or threatened use The unlawful use or threatened use

of force or violence by a person or of force or violence by a person or

organized group against people or organized group against people or

property with the intention of property with the intention of

intimidating or coercing societies or intimidating or coercing societies or

governments, often for ideological governments, often for ideological

or political reasons.or political reasons.

What is terrorism?What is terrorism?

Terrorists often use threats Terrorists often use threats

to:to: Create fear among the Create fear among the

public.public.

Try to convince citizens Try to convince citizens

that their government that their government

is powerless to prevent is powerless to prevent

terrorism.terrorism.

Get immediate publicity Get immediate publicity

for their cause.for their cause.

Current trends in terrorismCurrent trends in terrorism

Increasing lethality Increasing lethality and focus on weapons and focus on weapons of mass destruction.of mass destruction.

Targeting general Targeting general population, not population, not specific objectives.specific objectives.

Use of secondary Use of secondary devices to attack devices to attack emergency personnel.emergency personnel.

Potential targets of Potential targets of terrorismterrorism

Business and industrial facilities and Business and industrial facilities and personnelpersonnel

Special events and public gatheringsSpecial events and public gatherings

Educational institutionsEducational institutions

Houses of worshipHouses of worship

Critical infrastructureCritical infrastructure

Potential forms of terrorismPotential forms of terrorism

Weapons of Mass Weapons of Mass Destruction Destruction (B-NICE)(B-NICE)

BBiologicaliological

NNuclearuclear

IIncendiaryncendiary

CChemicalhemical

EExplosivexplosive

Other forms of terrorismOther forms of terrorism

ArsonArson

HijackingHijacking

HomicideHomicide

Cyber-terrorismCyber-terrorism Hate-motivated Hate-motivated

attacksattacks

Nuclear agentsNuclear agents Types: Types:

Nuclear weaponsNuclear weapons Radiological wasteRadiological waste Dirty bombsDirty bombs

Least likely of all forms of attackLeast likely of all forms of attack Only instruments can detect radiationOnly instruments can detect radiation

Biological agentsBiological agents

Classes of potential biological agents:Classes of potential biological agents: BacteriaBacteria

Anthrax and the plagueAnthrax and the plague

VirusesViruses

Smallpox and EbolaSmallpox and Ebola

ToxinsToxins

Botulism and RicinBotulism and Ricin


Dispersal of biological agents Dispersal of biological agents (bacteria, viruses, toxins):(bacteria, viruses, toxins):

Mail delivery

Aerial spraying

Explosive devices

Injection

Food source contamination


Delayed effects make identifying the attack more difficult.

Signs and symptoms of many biological attacks first manifest as flu-like.

Only a few biological agents are contagious:

- Smallpox

- Plague

- Viral hemorrhagic fever (Ebola)

Chemical agentsChemical agents

Extremely toxic

Quick acting

Many are readily available or easy to make

Nuclear-Biological-Chemical Nuclear-Biological-Chemical agentsagents

Limitations of NBC agents:Limitations of NBC agents:

Effective dissemination difficult.Effective dissemination difficult.

Delayed effects can detract from Delayed effects can detract from

impact.impact.

Counterproductive to terrorists’ Counterproductive to terrorists’

support.support.

Potentially hazardous to the Potentially hazardous to the

terrorist.terrorist.

Development and use require skill.Development and use require skill.

Incendiary agentsIncendiary agents

Fire bombs

Arson

Time-delayed devices

Explosive agentsExplosive agents

Pipe bombs

Letter bombs

AMFO (ammonium nitrate and fuel oil)

TNT, dynamite

Military ordinance

Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, 22 previously disparate domestic agencies were coordinated into the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/




http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp

Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

The new department's first priority is to protect the U.S. against further terrorist attacks. Component agencies: Analyze threats and intelligence

Guard borders and airports

Protect critical infrastructure

Coordinate the response for future emergencies

Homeland Security Advisory Homeland Security Advisory SystemSystem

The world has changed since Sept. 11, 2001. We remain a nation at risk to terrorist attacks and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Five “Threat Conditions” represent levels of risk of terrorist attack.


1. Exercise preplanned protective measures.

2. Provide training on this Advisory System and on specific preplanned department or agency protective measures.

3. Regularly assess facilities for vulnerabilities and mitigate these as possible.

Low Risk(Green)


1. Check communications with designated emergency response or command locations.

2. Review and update emergency response procedures.

3. Provide the public with any information that would strengthen people’s ability to act appropriately.

Guarded Risk

(Blue)


1. Increase surveillance of critical locations.

2. Coordinate emergency plans as appropriate with local jurisdictions.

3. Assess whether the threat requires further refinement of preplanned protective measures.

4. Implement, as needed, contingency and emergency response plans.

Elevated Risk

(Yellow)(Yellow)


1. Coordinate with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies or national guard, other armed forces organizations.

2. Take additional precautions at public events; consider alternate venues or even cancellations.

3. Prepare to execute contingency pro-cedures such as moving to an alternate site or dispersing the workforce.

4. Restrict threatened facility access to essential personnel only.

High Risk(Orange)(Orange)


Severe Risk(Red)

Under most circumstances, the protective measures for a Severe Condition are not intended to be sustained for substantial periods of time.


1. Increase or redirect personnel to address critical emergency needs.

2. Assign emergency response personnel and pre-position and mobilize specially trained teams or resources.

3. Monitor, redirect, or constrain transportation systems.

4. Close public and government facilities.Severe Risk

(Red)

Protect yourself and othersProtect yourself and others

In general:

Be alert and aware of your surroundings:

Conspicuous or unusual behavior

Threatening or suspicious remarks

Unattended objects: backpack, briefcase, luggage

If you suspect it, report it!


What is wrong with this picture?

Unclaimed luggage

Protect yourself and othersProtect yourself and othersWhen calling 9-1-1,When calling 9-1-1, provide the following provide the following

details:details: What happenedWhat happened

Where it happenedWhere it happened

Is anyone injured? How many? Nature of Is anyone injured? How many? Nature of injuries?injuries?

Suspect / vehicle descriptionSuspect / vehicle description

Where you will meet the responder(s)Where you will meet the responder(s)


Prepare in advance. The very nature of terrorism suggests there may be little or no warning.

Rehearse emergency plans with family.

Keep an emergency kit at home, at work, and in your car.

Know how to turn off your utilities.


Mail delivery:

Each day, the U.S. Postal Service delivers nearly 680 million pieces of mail to 136 million business and residential addresses.

208 billion pieces annually – almost half the world’s mail.

UVA handles millions of pieces annually.


Characteristics of suspicious mail:

Letters with oily stains.

Envelopes that are lopsided, rigid, bulky, discolored or have a strange odor.

Unexpected envelopes from foreign countries.

No postage, excessive postage, and non- cancelled postage.


What to do with suspicious mail:

Do not touch.

Do not open the envelope or package. If already open, reseal to limit additional exposure. If powder is present, do not attempt clean-up. Keep others away. Immediately close doors to contain the area; evacuate. Call 9-1-1.


What to do with suspicious mail:What to do with suspicious mail:

If you have made contact with suspicious If you have made contact with suspicious material,material,- Do not touch your eyes, nose or any other Do not touch your eyes, nose or any other

part of your body.part of your body.- Wash hands and body thoroughly with soap Wash hands and body thoroughly with soap

and water.and water.- Change clothing immediately.Change clothing immediately.- Do not contaminate others or adjacent Do not contaminate others or adjacent

areas. areas. - Call 9-1-1.Call 9-1-1.


At work:

Report suspicious people or activities, packages or vehicles.

Report abandoned or unattended vehicles.

Check physical security arrangements.

Check security cameras to ensure they are working properly.


At work:

Have you been requested to provide an unusual service or task?

Have you had a request for information that is proprietary in nature?

Maintain secure areas, restrict access.

Allow only authorized cleaning personnel into

the facility.


At work:

Know your emergency evacuation assembly point vs. shelter in place.

Keep an emergency kit in your office along with a change of clothing & comfortable shoes.

Have an emergency communication plan so you can contact family.


When traveling: Do not leave bags unattended, even for a minute. Do not accept packages from strangers. Minimize the time spent in public areas at airports. Move quickly from check-in to secured areas. Remain aware of your surroundings.


When traveling abroad:

Consult the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs site at http://www.travel.state.gov for

Travel warnings

Information sheets

Regional travel brochures

http://www.travel.state.gov/

http://www.travel.state.gov/

What is UVA doing?What is UVA doing?

Crisis Incident Management Team

City/County/University Emergency Operations Plan

Evacuation drills / tabletop and field exercises

UVA Emergency Critical Incident web site at http://www.virginia.edu/emergency/plan.html

Training such as CERT/Medical Reserve Corp

Liaison with local, state, federal agencies is ongoing

Fallacies and mythsFallacies and myths

It can’t happen here.It can’t happen here.

B-NICE agents are so deadly, the B-NICE agents are so deadly, the victims will all die anyway.victims will all die anyway.

There is nothing we can do.There is nothing we can do.

Summary of tips for your Summary of tips for your safetysafety

Know your neighbors and your environment.Know your neighbors and your environment.

Have personal emergency kits and plans in Have personal emergency kits and plans in place.place.

Immediately report anything suspicious. Call 9-Immediately report anything suspicious. Call 9-1-1.1-1.

Review UVA emergency preparedness materials Review UVA emergency preparedness materials at http//www.virginia.edu/emergency/plan.htmlat http//www.virginia.edu/emergency/plan.html

University of Virginia PoliceUniversity of Virginia Police

Brian E. Del VecchioBrian E. Del Vecchio434-243-7019434-243-7019

Emergency Planning Emergency Planning [email protected]@virginia.edu

Becky CampbellBecky CampbellCommunity RelationsCommunity Relations

[email protected]@virginia.edu

Documents

Homeland Security and You University of Virginia Police Brian Del Vecchio Brian Del Vecchio Emergency Planning Coordinator