An explosion rings. A bright light fills the sky. A mushroom cloud rises into the air.
It may seem dramatic and unlikely, but this is what a nuclear attack would be like, at least according to the nonprofit think tank RAND. In its “pocket-edition terrorism survival guide,” the catastrophe is also listed as a possible terrorist attack.
Since Sept. 11, pamphlets, Web sites and conventions held by government agencies and other emergency groups have been trying to prepare the public for a possible terrorist attack. Local officials have a simple message: Don’t worry, but be prepared for all emergencies.
The Department of Homeland Security listed the national threat advisory as elevated Thursday, meaning there is a significant risk of terrorist attacks.
Matthew Marheine, domestic preparedness coordinator for Oregon Emergency Management, said the general public should be prepared even though a major attack hasn’t occurred in the U.S. since 2001.
“I don’t think people have forgotten, but the emphasis has lost its impact because of the time frame,” he said.
A 2002 pocket guide by the Department of Veterans Affairs includes examples that sound like a cross between a horror and a science fiction movie, listing botulism, smallpox and anthrax as possible agents of biological warfare that terrorists might use.
RAND’s 2004 guide, which lists steps that people can take to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks, is available on the group’s Web site, and it prints on two sheets that can be cut and folded.
Lane County Emergency Management, which helps prepare government agencies for manmade and natural hazards, has put more emphasis on possible terrorist attacks since Sept. 11. LCEM also prepares agencies for manmade and natural hazards and health emergencies, including floods, earthquakes and wildfires.
In 2003, LCEM took part in a statewide terrorism assessment sponsored by the state.
“We took a look at the potential targets in Lane County,” LCEM Manager Linda Cook said. She added that the group looked at the visibility of targets and how a possible attack would impact the area.
“We also asked, ‘Would it advance the terrorist cause?’” Cook said. “Basically, we determined that we don’t view ourselves as having targets for international terrorists,” she said. She added that a terrorist who targeted the area could still gain international and national attention.
OEM’s Marheine said that it’s difficult to determine if one area is more susceptible to an attack.
“There is no current data that says Eugene is at more risk than New York, or the other way around, besides the population differences,” he said.
Cook said that domestic terrorists are also a concern, including anarchists and the Animal Liberation Front.
Local agencies train and prepare for such events with state and federal emergency agencies, Cook said. Agencies work together to test command and response systems.
“We find out what it would be like to interface and coordinate all of our resources,” Cook said.
Chuck Solin, emergency program manager for Eugene, said he approaches emergency response with an “all-hazards approach.”
“A lot of the things – techniques, tools, response – are the same, whether an incident was done intentionally or was the result of some type of accident,” he said. Solin said that various city departments, including public works, fire and police, work together to prepare for emergencies.
Cook said that Eugene area residents shouldn’t worry specifically about a terrorist attack but added that residents should always be ready to sustain themselves for three days.
“If you can sustain yourself, you’re pretty well prepared for any type of emergency,” Cook said. “I don’t necessarily want people to have a feeling of impending doom, but everyone should always be prepared for the unexpected.”
Officials recommended putting together a 72-hour kit that includes food, water and a battery operated radio and flashlight.
Solin said Eugene has a reverse 9-1-1 emergency system in which city officials contact residents through a landline phone to notify them of an emergency. He said those with cell phones should have radios.
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