Here is a continuation of notes from my CERT training discussing terrorism and what we as CERT do about it or rather not do about it. The following notes are directly from the CERT book. Any inaccuracies are the fault of the note taker.

High – yield explosives:

High – yield explosives of the most commonly used terrorist weapons because they are easy to get, easy to hide and activate, and they can cause extensive damage. While terrorists have use military munitions such as to grenades, mortars and shoulder fired surface-to-air missiles, experts rate high yield explosives in the form of improvised explosive devices as a greater threat.

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) include any device that is created in an improvised manner, incorporated explosives or other materials designed to destroy, disfigure, distract, or harass. Most bombs used by terrorists or improvised. The raw materials required for many explosives can be purchased commercially (e.g. ammonium nitrate, which is also used as fertilizer), purchase from commercial blasting supply companies, or developed using readily available household ingredients. An IED may also contain chemicals as a means of increasing the damage potential.

High – yield explosives or considered the highest risk when dealing with potential terrorist attack.

Assessing the risk:

Although nuclear weapons present the highest impact, they are considered the lowest risk because of the difficulty in obtaining enough weapons – grade material and the technical complexity of developing and maintaining the tolerances required for nuclear device to detonate.

Chemical and high-yield explosive devices are considered higher risk but lower impact weapons.

Biological weapons are considered both high – risk and high – impact weapons but only for diseases that are highly contagious. Other types of biological weapons (i.e. those requiring dispersal devices) are considered a lower risk because of the sensitivity of the biological agents to heat, light and shock.

Eight signs of terrorism:

We all have a responsibility to play an active role in keeping the country safe. Everyone should report to authorities anything they see that seem suspicious or out of place. The phrase “if you see something, say something” took on additional power after the foiled Times Square’s bomb plot in New York City. On May 1, 2010, street vendors in Times Square notice a smoking SUV with his blinkers on, engine running, and no one inside. They decide to say something to a police officer. Thousands of people were cleared from the area while the bomb was dismantled.

Through funding from DHS, the Center for empowered learning and living (the sale) produced a video outlining the eight warning signs that terrorist activity may be before the coming (www. Thecell. org). These signs are exhibited by potential terrorists (often in this order and they include:

1. Surveillance: the targeted area is washed and studied carefully. This may include recording or monitoring activities.
2. Elicitation: information is gathered that is specific to the intended target. This may be by mail, phone, or in person.
3. Tests of security: local security measures are tested and analyzed, including measuring reaction times to security breaches or attempts to penetrate security.
4. Funding: raising, transferring, spending money, which may include selling drugs was stolen merchandise, funneling money to business or charities.
5. Acquiring supplies: necessarily supplies are gathered to prepare the attack, including weapons/weapon components, transportation, and communications. Supplies may be purchased with cash only.
6. In personation or suspicious people who don’t belong: people impersonating roles to gain access to information and people who don’t fit or don’t seem to be long in the location.
7. Rehearsal and dry runs: groups of individuals will often operate test runs before the actual attack.
8. Deployment: the final and most urgent phase when Terrace or deploying assets and gathering into position. Attack is imminent.

The presence of even a few of these signs may include the possibility of a terrorist attack.

Although it is not the mission of CERT members to keep comes didn’t watch over these eight signs, Everett should be alert to changes in their environment as a clue to a possible terrorist attack and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.