WMD REVIEW

NWFR WMD

Refresher

• Understand what is a Terrorist Event

• Understand what is a CBRNE Event

• Define a WMD Event

• Understand the Incident Response levels

What is a WMD Event

• The term "weapon of mass destruction" usually refers to nuclear, radiological,

biological, or chemical weapons. A weapon of mass destruction (WMD or WoMD) is a

weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to a large number of humans and/or

cause great damage to man-made structures (e.g. buildings), natural structures (e.g.

mountains), or the biosphere in general. The scope and application of the term has

evolved and been disputed, often signifying more politically than technically. Coined

in reference to aerial bombing with chemical explosives, it has come to distinguish

large-scale weaponry of other technologies, such as chemical, biological, radiological,

or nuclear. This differentiates the term from more technical ones such as chemical,

biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons (CBRN).

WMD as Defined by the FBI

• Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) are defined in US law (18 USC §2332a) as:

• “(A) any destructive device as defined in section 921 of this title (i.e. explosive device);

(B) any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through

the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;

(C) any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in

section 178 of this title)(D) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity

at a level dangerous to human life.”

• WMD is often referred to by the collection of modalities that make up the set of weapons:

chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE). These are weapons

that have a relatively large-scale impact on people, property, and/or infrastructure.

What is a Terrorist Act

• What Defines a Terrorist Act?

– 2002 Homeland Security Act Public Law 107-295, 116 Statue 2135:

• Activities that involve danger to human life

• Potential destruction of key infrastructure or key resource

• Influence government

• Intimidate or coerce civilian population

CBRNE Defined

• CBRNE is an acronym that stands for “Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear,

and Explosive”. The term was developed to describe the different type of weapon

systems that may be used in a criminal or terrorist event. Other terms that are

synonymous with CBRNE are: Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that is used by

various Federal government agencies and Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) that is

used by the United States military.

• Source – Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security

Past WMD Event Examples

Oklahoma City 1995

Columbine 1999 WMD

Post incident event sweep for explosives and chemicals

September 11, 2001

Hart Senate Building/USPS

2001

The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case name, occurred over the course of several

weeks beginning on Tuesday, September 18, 2001, one week after the September 11

attacks. Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to several news media offices

and two Democratic U.S. Senators, killing five people and infecting 17 others.

According to the FBI, the ensuing investigation became "one of the largest and most

complex in the history of law enforcement".

Spanish Police Incident on

October 4, 2012

This handout picture released by the Spanish Police on October 4, 2012 shows 140

kilograms of explosives seized by the Spanish police after detaining a 21-year-old man who

was allegedly planning to carry out a Columbine-style bombing massacre.

Boston Marathon Bomb

Who Responds?

Law Enforcement

• Local Police

• SWAT/Bomb Squad

• State Police

• Military

– National Guard

• Federal Agents

– FBI

– ATF

– Secret Service

Fire, Rescue, Hazmat & EMS

• Fire Department

• EMS: EMT/Medic

• Technical Teams

– USAR

• HazMat

– S.E.R.P. Team

Federal Agencies

• National Guard

– Special Teams

• ATF

– Explosives

• FAA

– Domestic Air Travel

• USPS

– All domestic mail

Terrorism

Types

Types Pneumonic

“BNICE” • Biological

– Bacteria, Viruses, Toxins • Plague, Ebola, Hemorrhagic Fever, Ricin

• Nuclear – Radiological

• Alpha, Beta, Gamma

• Incendiary – Flame Producing

• Chemical – Nerve Agents

• Soman, Toban, VX, GX, Blister Agents

• Explosives – High & Low

• Primary & Secondary (Extremely Sensitive & Less Sensitive)

Biological • Anthrax

– Inhalation

• Spores

– Coetaneous

• Skin Lesions

Nuclear

(Radiological)

• Alpha

• Beta

• Gamma

Incendiary

• Flame Producing

• Arson

Boston

Marathon

Bombing

April 2013

Chemical

• Nerve Agents

• Blood Agents

• Choking Agents

• Blister Agents

– VX

– Mustard

– GX

Explosive

• Pipe Bombs

• IED’s

• C4, TNT

Improvised Explosive Device

(IED) • IED Types:

– Pipe bomb

– Letter Bomb

– “Homemade Bomb” • Power Source

(Batteries)

• Initiators (Blasting Caps or flame producing)

• Explosives (ANFO, Black Powder, etc.)

• Switches (Arming device or fuse)

• Fragmentation (nails, shrapnel, bolts)

Scene Safety Pneumonic

“RAIN”

• Recognize the hazard or threat – Rapid interpretation

• Avoid the hazard, contaminant or injury potential – Liquids, powders, vapor clouds, ied’s, secondary

devices

• Isolate the hazard area – Time, distance & shielding from you and others

• Notify the appropriate support agencies – Notify command authority (law enforcement, fire, etc.)

Initial Actions for

WMD Responses

Size-up

•Using binoculars, determine type of incident – fire, spill, container failure, explosion, WMD, etc.

•Is it a facility that may be a terrorist target?

•Is there a suspected biological agent?

•Is this an emergency? Rescue? Defensive? Non-Intervention?

•Identify container – pipeline, size, type and condition

•Identify product – placards, labels and visual observations

•Determine priorities – life, environment, property

Initial Actions for

WMD Responses

Report

• Report to dispatch and incoming units

• Establish command and give location of command post

• Give your size-up from information gathered.

• Call for help: Haz-Mat Team, Bomb Squad, law enforcement, mutual aid, etc.

• State your objectives: Scene control, investigation, evacuation or rescue

Initial Actions for

WMD Responses

Scene Control

•Based on the size-up, isolate the area. Use the Emergency Response Guidebook as appropriate for isolation distance, except pipeline: see Pipeline Procedure Guide

•Deny entry, control traffic, barrier tape, cones and stage incoming units

•Determine safe approach route and advise incoming units

•Stage apparatus in a safe area facing away from the incident

•Establish emergency decontamination for victims and/or rescuers

Initial Actions for

WMD Responses

Gather Information

• Product name – UN number, classification, primary hazard

• Paperwork – shipping papers, waybills, consist or MSDS

• Resources – driver, shipper, consignee, plant specialist, witnesses

• Determine potential – exposures, weather, release type and rate

• Share information – report to Haz-Mat Group Supervisor, Bomb Group Supervisor, Incident Commander

• NIOSH Pocket Guide

Biological Response

Actions

Biological Response Action

• Most events do not generate a scene which personnel could respond.

• Credible threats are managed by NIMS & Law Enforcement.

•Non-credible threats are handled similar to that of a bomb threat.

•Fire Service resources when requested supports & back-up Law Enforcement & FBI.

General Guideline Information

Biological Response Action

• The threat of a release at a specific time and location

• A device detected and reported prior to release

• A perpetrator observed in the act of disseminating an agent

• A package or letter containing an agent or suspected agent was reported

A Biological Incident May Involve

Biological Response Action

• Quarantine persons in the immediate area of exposure (office or room of origin) and place them in a safe refuge area.

•If the package is unopened, recover and double bag the package.

•For open containers, request Haz-Mat response.

•Shut down HVAC systems to reduce potential spread within the building.

•Do not use the specific name of the suspected agent over the radio. Use the term “Bio Agent.”

Isolate Area and Establish a Perimeter

2012 ERG Update for WMD

Note: All information for slides 32 to 42 were taken from the

2012 ERG. Consult ERG for further information on these slides

Criminal/Terrorist Use of CBR Agents

Criminal/Terrorist Information

Differences between a Chemical, Biological and Radiological agent

• Chemical and biological agents as well as radioactive materials can be dispersed in the air we

breathe, the water we drink, or on surfaces we physically contact. Dispersion methods may be as

simple as opening a container, using conventional (garden) spray devices, or as elaborate as

detonating an improvised explosive device.

• Chemical Incidents are characterized by the rapid onset of medical symptoms (minutes to hours)

and easily observed signatures (colored residue, dead foliage, pungent odor, dead insects and

animals).

• Biological Incidents are characterized by the onset of symptoms in hours to days. Typically,

there will be no characteristic signatures because biological agents are usually odorless and

colorless. Because of the delayed onset of symptoms in a biological incident, the area affected

may be greater due to the movement of infected individuals.

Criminal/Terrorist Use of CBR Agents

Criminal/Terrorist Information • Radiological Incidents are characterized by the onset of symptoms, if any, in days to weeks or

longer. Typically, there will be no characteristic signatures because radioactive materials are

usually odorless and colorless. Specialized equipment is required to determine the size of the

affected area, and whether the level of radioactivity presents an immediate or long-term health

hazard. Because radioactivity is not detectable without special equipment, the affected area may

be greater due to the migration of contaminated individuals.

• At the levels created by most probable sources, not enough radiation would be generated to kill

people or cause severe illness. In a radiological incident generated by a "dirty bomb", or

Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD), in which a conventional explosive is detonated to spread

radioactive contamination, the primary hazard is from the explosion. However, certain radioactive

materials dispersed in the air could contaminate up to several city blocks, creating fear and

possibly panic, and requiring potentially costly cleanup.

Other ERG Information

Also review other information contained in the 2012 ERG on:

• Indicators of a Possible Chemical Incident

• Indicators of a possible Biological Incident

• Indicators of a Possible Radiological Incident

• Personal Safety Considerations

2012 ERG Table 3

Information Update TABLE 3 – Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances for Different Quantities of Six Common Toxic Inhalation Hazard Materials (TIH) Gases contains:

A list of Toxic Inhalation Hazard materials that may be more commonly encountered.

The materials are: Ammonia, anhydrous (UN1005)

Chlorine (UN1017)

Ethylene oxide (UN1040)

Hydrogen chloride, anhydrous (UN1050) and Hydrogen chloride,

refrigerated liquid (UN2186)

Hydrogen fluoride, anhydrous (UN1052)

Sulfur dioxide / Sulphur dioxide (UN1079)

Table 3 in the ERG

Important: • The materials are presented in alphabetical order and provide initial isolation and

protective action distances for large spills (more than 208 litres or 55 US gallons)

involving different container types (therefore different volume capacities) for day time

and night time situations and different wind speeds.

Table 3 of the ERG Example

IED Devices Update for

2012 ERG

• A Safe Standoff Distance Chart for various threats when

improvised explosive device are involved is found on

page 372 of the ERG2012.

• Know where to find this chart and how it is applied to an

event before the event occurs.

• Reminder: These type of events always require a

request for Law Enforcement.

2012 ERG IED Table Example

Summary to WMD

• Know the boundaries of a WMD Response

• Understand how to use the 2012 ERG.

• Always Maintain Situational Awareness

• Know the Hazards

• Understand the Terrorism Issues

• Start unified command early with other agencies

• Don’t Become Part of the Problem