Like any other hazard, terrorism must be prepared for.  From plans to isolate and treat those who open envelopes supposedly filled with anthrax spores, to plans for a community wide response to a larger threat or attack, planning for any incident makes a response work.  Lives are saved, damage may be reduced, and normal life is restored as quickly as possible.

Is terrorism a potential problem in Collier County?  When you consider that bomb threats, coordinated attacks of vandalism, threats of the use of biological or explosive agents, or demonstrations which become violent could be considered acts of terrorism, we must conclude that is is a potential problem in our community.  Captains of industry live and vacation here, as do heads of state from around the world.  If someone were to attack them while they are here, it would have a pronounced effect on the area and our residents and other visitors.

Planning for terrorism and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) follows the same process as planning for hurricanes, floods, tornados, hazardous materials and the like.  A response to an incident would not be unlike a response to a natural hazard: people and property must be protected, the injured must be cared for, and hazards must be mitigated.

Terrorism/WMD planning continues in Collier County, around the state of Florida, and across the country.  The links below are to sites around the nation and the world, both government and private in nature, which discuss planning, potential threats and actual incidents.

• Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support

• Report to Congress: Volume I, Domestic Preparedness Program in the Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Defense Policy on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
• Plan for Integrating National Guard and Reserve Component Support for Response to Attacks Using Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Defense Research and Development Support to Domestic Emergency Preparedness for Response to Threats of Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism
• Joint Statement Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Civil Support and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Defense for Reserve Affairs before The United States Senate Committee On Armed Services

• Protecting Americans at Home

• Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions

• Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism

Centers for Disease Control

• The Prospect of Domestic Bio-terrorism | PDF Format
• Biological and Chemical Terrorism:Strategic Plan for Preparedness and Response
• The Threat of Biological Attack: Why Concern Now?
• Bioterrorism as a Public Health Threat
• Epidemiology of Bioterrorism
• Biological Warfare and Terrorism: The Military and Public Health Response
• Potential Biological Weapons Threats
• Bioterrorism Readiness Plan:  A Template for Healthcare Facilities (PDF)
• Preparing for Chemical Attacks by Terrorists | (PDF Format)
• Technical Information
• Anthrax
• Brucellosis
• Smallpox: Clinical & Epidemiological Features