First Responders Guide to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Second Edition

As the 21st century unfolds, threat of the employment of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) against the U.S. homeland continues to be a reality. The new century was ushered in with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, employment of the biological warfare agent anthrax, and attacks employing the chemical agent chlorine against U.S. forces in Iraq. Attacks against airlines and in urban areas such as Times Square have been attempted. Now, the death of Osama Bin Laden could prompt revenge attacks, possibly using a radiological dirty bomb or some other WMD device, by terrorist cells. WMD threat planning and response remain high priority endeavors for our state, local, and federal officials. The purpose of this book remains twofold. It is a concise shirt-pocket reference for the first responder who may be called to a site where WMD have been employed. It is also a primer for the average citizen desiring practical information on threat agents and procedures for surviving a terrorist attack involving WMD. Unlike other references, this handbook covers nuclear and radiological weapons as well as chemical and biological weapons. The handbook presents straightforward, easily understood, and potentially life-saving information.