Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD) pose a growing threat to the security of the United States. WMD is defined to include terrorist incidents involving nuclear, biological, chemical, and explosive devices. Emergency responders and the community must be able to recognize the unique characteristics of WMD in order to protect themselves, mitigate the dangers, and facilitate the support necessary to resolve the incident. Response for a terrorist incident involving WMD may include evacuation, shelter-in-place, or other instructions. Dirty Bomb A radiological devise that could be built and used by terrorists is commonly called a "dirty bomb". These devices can be made from common radioactive elements used in industry across this country. A dirty bomb is not a nuclear bomb like the type seen on military missiles, rather it is a conventional bomb surrounded by nuclear material. Thus it is the ease of obtaining radioactive materials that makes a dirty bomb worrisome. From radioactive medical devices, to mechanical gauges using cesium, to food irradiation facilities using cobalt, there are more than 18,000 sources of industrial radiation just in America, not to mention the thousands of other sources in foreign countries. Even though there seems to be a prevalence of radioactive material, using it to create a bomb is not easy. This is because it is difficult to develop a dirty bomb that is safe to handle, easy to transport, and intense enough to hurt people. The psychological damage from such a device may be just as damaging as the device itself. People fear radioactivity because, you can't see it, you can't smell it, you can't hear it, but you know it's there because people say it's there. If a dirty bomb created from stolen radioactive material is detonated, the result would be: 1) mass evacuation of the area affected, 2) assessment of the size of the contaminated area rendered uninhabitable, 3) psychological and physical trauma and response, and 4) environmental decontamination. Keep in mind that the biggest impact of a dirty bomb is not necessarily the death of many people, rather it is long-term contamination of an area. Areas considered most likely for such an attack are large urbanized areas and infrastructure. In the event of such a disaster, a relatively few people may be killed from the blast. However, the risk from radiation exposure that may occurs could result in a larger problem as people attempt to evacuate. Because radiation is odorless and invisible, people may not realize the areas at risk or the level of danger from exposure. Thus, panic may cause additional injuries and death. This panic is essentially causing real terror, which is what terrorism is all about. Sources: State and Local Government, City Manager's Desk Reference. Bob Hart. Sheshunoff Publishing. 2001. North Ogden City Emergency Management Brochure. Delon Atkinson. Jackson County, Utah. Florida. Emergency Management. Brigham City, Utah Emergency Management Booklet. Lindon City, Utah Emergency Preparedness Booklet. "A Healthy Dose of Advise." Ogden Standard-Examiner. Saturday, September 27, 2003. Weber County, Utah Emergency Management. Emergency Operations Plan. Lance Peterson. Weber County, Utah Planning. General Plan. 1990 - Revised 1999. Department of Homeland Security. American Red Cross. National Weather Service. Federal Emergency Management Agency. 28