Res 2006-163 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 i I A terrorist attack can take several fonns, depending on the technological means available to the terrorist, the nature of the political issue motivating the attack, and the points of weakness of the terrorist's target. Bombings are the most frequent used terrorist method in the United States. A terrorist using a chemical or biological weapon is of particular concern to officials. Special training and equipment is needed in order to safely manage a WMD incident. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Governor's Division of Emergency Management (TxDEM) routinely conduct exercises for Texas communities to provide important WMD training. The Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) also prepared a "all-hazards" Mitigation Plan that addresses terrorism and WMD. The Hays County Mitigation Planning Committee expressed concern regarding terrorism due to Hays County proximity to the IH 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio. Terrorism has the possibility of cascading hazard events such as HAZMAT incident, transportation accident (rail, truck and aircraft), biological, chemical, energy supply, water supply interruption, dam failure, urban fire, and poor air quality. I The threat of terrorism has received significant media attention during the last few years. Terrorism attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, have heightened public concern. Efforts have been made within Hays County to mitigate public concern and fear associated with terrorism incidents. Recently, Hays County and the City of San Marcos have been involved in terrorism planning and training. Funds have been made available to augment their current capabilities for responding to a terrorist event. Hays County and the City of San Marcos have completed the required state hazard assessments and submitted the analysis to the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX). Hays County and the City of San Marcos have also developed a plan for responding to weapons of mass destruction events within the area. The Hays County Emergency Management Plan contains a terrorism annex. Detailed information regarding terrorism planning efforts within Hays County is addressed within the Terrorism Annex, Annex V, of the Emergency Management Plan. The definition of terrorism is the use or credible threat of violence that is out of the ordinary, for political objectives, with an intended impact broader than the immediate victims, who were chosen for their symbolic value. Acts of terrorism can take many different forms and involve many different targets, such as: Government functions: Organizations: Transportation: Civilian population: buildings, events lifelines, gas, water, electric, sewer, telephones air, rail, road networks critical resource distribution systems, mass casualties or fatalities, business and industry, major cities, sporting events, political celebrations I FEMA Region VI review comments dated March 8, 2006 requires that the locations of facilities most likely to be targets of telTorism to be included in the hays County Mitigation Hays count~', Texas Mitigation Plan 88