Since the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the subsequent anthrax letters, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has been preparing to respond to any number of possible threats to the health and safety of residents of the Commonwealth. Natural disasters, intentional acts of terrorism, and emerging infectious disease can all have serious public health implications. The Department has established the Center for Emergency Preparedness (CEP) to help to coordinate and lead response efforts to "all hazards" by local public health, public safety and emergency management officials.

The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) were compiled for the general public and are consistent with guidance from state, federal and private emergency response agencies.

What is biological terrorism (bioterrorism)?
Biological terrorism is the intentional release of biologic agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites, or biological toxins) to produce disease, create fear, and disrupt society. An intentional act of biological terrorism may not be immediately known, as symptoms may take days or weeks to appear. Public health and medical providers are constantly monitoring for unusual disease outbreaks or clusters of illness in order to protect the public.

What is chemical terrorism?
Chemical terrorism is the intentional use of (or threat to use) chemical agents such as sarin or cyanide to harm people, create fear, and disrupt society. Certain chemicals can also pose a threat if they are accidentally released into the environment. The emergency response to either an intentional or accidental release of a chemical into the environment would be the same with the goal of preventing further exposure and containing the threat.

What is a "dirty bomb"?
A "dirty bomb", or radiological dispersal device (RDD), is a conventional explosive that has been combined with some kind of radioactive material. The explosive is used as a way to spread particles of radioactive material as radioactive contamination. A dirty bomb is thousands of times less dangerous than a nuclear bomb, and any injuries would most likely be caused by the explosion itself, rather than from radiation exposure from the radioactive particles. If a dirty bomb is detonated, emergency response officials will care for the injured, control access to the area, and if necessary, ensure that anyone who may have been contaminated with radioactive particles is decontaminated. Unless it is accompanied by an injury, contamination on an individual is not expected to be a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment at a hospital or clinic. People's fear of radiation will cause the greatest impact, with the most harm expected to be from injuries from the blast itself, and from costs associated with responding to lingering concerns of people and restoring the areas around the site of the explosion.

What is Massachusetts doing to prepare for public health threats or emergencies?
The Center for Emergency Preparedness (CEP) at the Department of Public Health was established to coordinate the efforts of local public health agencies, hospitals and health care providers, public safety agencies, and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to develop plans to minimize risk to the public and treat those who may become ill. We are continually updating and enhancing capacity at the State Laboratory Institute to detect diseases and other threats, and are training emergency responders to incorporate public health into the Incident Command Structure. One of the most ambitious efforts by the CEP has been the creation and support of 7 Emergency Preparedness Regions across the state. Working at the local level, Regional Coordinators and Health Educators are bringing together community leaders, public safety agencies, hospitals and health care providers to prepare local communities to respond to a variety of potential threats. Both the state and federal governments have provided training, funding and equipment at the local level and stand ready to provide support in the event of an emergency. Local communities and individuals need to prepare themselves for 'all hazards' as it is understood that an emergency will require immediate, local response when an incident occurs.

What can I do to protect myself and my family?
In much the same way as you prepare for other emergencies, such as hurricanes or blizzards, CEP recommends that everyone develop a personal emergency response plan and kit before an emergency occurs. Recommendations include:

  • Make sure your family has a communications plan, and that all family members know what it is. Identify two contacts, ideally someone nearby who everyone can reach, and someone away from the area, perhaps out of state, who can serve as a point of contact for everyone in your family if you are separated. An out-of-state contact may be helpful in the event that local phone lines are jammed. Make sure that every family member has those phone numbers and knows who to call. In any disaster, knowing that your loved ones are safe, and assuring them of your safety, can make following the instructions of public safety officials about what to do a lot easier.
  • Prepare a personal emergency kit with water, food, portable radio with batteries, and first aid supplies in the event that you need to stay where you are and 'shelter in place'. (Information about what the kits should contain can be found at (link to RedCross/CDC site) These supplies can also be taken with you if you are asked to evacuate an area and need to seek shelter away from home.
  • Talk with your children's school to learn what planning and preparation has been implemented, in the event that an emergency happens while your child is at school. Consider that the safest place for both you and your children might be where you are when an incident occurs and that the best response is to 'shelter in place'.
  • Talk with your employer about emergency evacuation and other response plans they have in place.

What can I do to help?
 Emergency preparedness planning is ongoing at the local, state and national level. In Massachusetts, there are several places where you can learn about those efforts and to volunteer.

What does 'shelter in place' mean?
To shelter in place means staying inside your home, if possible in a room with few or no windows, and taking refuge there. Emergency officials may ask you to shelter in place during an emergency where hazardous materials have been released into the air and it is safer to stay inside than to leave the contaminated area.

This information is provided by Emergency Preparedness within the Department of Public Health.