Be Prepared for Terrorist Events

FAMILIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS


What happens to your family when you respond to a natural or terrorist disaster? Many of us that are or have been military, police, fire or medical first responders are protected by equipment that is issued to us for these disasters.

In most cases we are sorely unprepared to protect our families in the event one of these disasters occurs in our hometown. Threats of nuclear, biological or chemical terrorism are very common outside of our country and to some degree inside the United States. We have elaborate plans at the national, state and regional levels to react to these incidents but how about actual protection of the public in the event of a CBRNE event besides the advice to cover your face with cloth and to tape over your windows?

Do you think the public will be given Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the event of an attack? Do these grandiose plans take into effect public prevention of being exposed to a deadly agent? As the first responders rush out in their MOPP gear and Breathing Apparatus how about their families and the general public?

I was in IRAQ in September 2003 as a DIA Contractor when Hurricane Isabel left much of Virginia without power or water for weeks. I was ok in the war zone because I had my issued equipment to protect me but I was mostly helpless to give any aid to my family in rural Quinton Virginia as they suffered during this time period.

Most scenarios plan for decontamination after the event has occurred and the agent has dissipated from the area. Civilian Emergency personnel will not normally enter a “Hot Zone” while the danger exists and then medical attention after a Nuclear event will be lacking because most burn unit beds are already full and their supply is decreasing.

Wouldn’t you feel defenseless if you are a First Responder to an emergency in your area and you family does not have CBRNE protection? Unless this is a high yield nuclear event they would be safe with an “Emergency Escape” type Mask like they have in the Pentagon. Most of these have a small air circulation device and run by battery and NBC filter and will last for a few hours. They can be slipped over the head and are easy for our wives and children to use in an emergency.

I know that many of us have “away bags” and have planned escape routes to another area, but a supply of food, water, ammo and a tent are not going to save your family in the event of a CBRNE incident!
I would like to see your comments.