| Atlantic County, New Jersey Atlantic County Government Web Site Public Safety |
|
Atlantic County Government DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFTEY Office of Emergency Preparedness |
|
What is Terrorism?Describing terrorism is easy: Terrorism is the illegal use of force or violence to create fear, panic or cooperation, or to collect ransom. Comprehending terrorism is difficult: Why would someone want to create such panic and pain? Terrorists want publicity for their causes. They want to create chaos and undermine the public's confidence in their government. They use random violence because they lack the money, force and weapons of the stronger powers they are attacking. A Method to the Madness Terrorists use surprise attacks to create fear and uneasiness in all of our lives. Terrorists tend to choose high visibility targets, whether military or civilian, in order to get the most publicity. They select targets with easy access and with easy escape routes. Terrorists may even use suicide attackers to carry out their missions. They occasionally warn targets that an attack is coming, but not in a way that any defense would be possible. In all, terrorist methods are cowardly, vicious and planned for the maximum level of attention, loss and suffering. Watch and Wait Being alert to your surroundings is the first and best thing you can do to keep from being victimized by terrorists. In the event that an attack does occur, you need to remain calm. Panic only adds to the confusion and increases problems. Realize that our government agencies and public health, safety and law enforcement agencies are world class. They are focusing tremendous efforts and resources on combating terrorism. Follow their instructions with patience, calm and trust. What is the County Working On? In addition to the work of the Office of Emergency Preparedness (link) and the Division of Public Health ( link) Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson has created the Atlantic County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Task Force. The Atlantic County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Task Force consists of representatives of major medical, public health, law enforcement and emergency rescue agencies that have primary responsibility for responding to a critical public health emergency. The task force's responsibilities include developing a comprehensive and realistic response plan that is carefully thought out and tested. The task force will identify gaps in the local emergency response system and work to ensure those gaps are closed. What types of Attacks are Possible? There have been many reports and much speculation on the potential tactics a terrorist may employ on the United States. The following outline some of the potential methods and consequences should such an attack occur. Monitor local media outlets for official threat assessment information. Click on any of the following potential methods for further information:
What Can I Do to Prepare Myself and My Family? The following information and links to general emergency preparedness
information can help prepare you and your family for a potential terrorist
attack. Preparing for a terrorist event is similar to preparing for any other type of emergency. It begins with making sure that you have the supplies and plans in place to take care of yourself and your family. It is also good to plan to help your neighbors and your community, particularly those with special needs who may have trouble or are unable to prepare for themselves. The following links take you to other pages on our site where we discuss how to best prepare. These techniques help during terrorist events, hurricanes, blizzards as well as any type of emergency or disaster you may face. You should: |
