Posted on 02/13/2003 2:39:36 PM PST by Sweet_Sunflower29
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government first urged Americans to seal a room with duct tape and plastic sheets. Now it says people should cover their mouths with a cloth and wash their hands to cut down on further contamination from a chemical, biological or nuclear attack.
The latest recommendation came in an information bulletin from the FBI (news - web sites)'s National Infrastructure Protection Center warning of the threat from al Qaeda of a possible mass-casualty chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack.
The bulletin, dated Feb. 12 and posted on its Web site (http:/www.nipc.gov/publications/infobulletins/2003/ib03-003.ht m), also recommended "basic countermeasures."
"Most (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) threats represent an inhalation or contact hazard," according to the bulletin.
"To minimize further contamination, individuals who come in contact with an unusual substance should cover their mouths with a cloth while leaving the area, avoid touching surfaces, and wash their hands thoroughly," it said.
With a possible war with Iraq looming and the U.S. government having raised the threat level of terror attacks based on intelligence reports, U.S. authorities on Monday recommended that every American home have at least three days' worth of food and water in case of a chemical, biological or radiological strike.
Officials of the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security also said families should designate a room where they could gather in the event of such an attack and have duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal it.
The recommendations have generated plenty of anxiety as well as some ridicule as Americans flock to hardware and office supply stores to buy the items -- just in case.
The bulletin noted the national threat level has been raised to orange, the second-highest level after red, and said owners and operators of critical infrastructure plants should be on alert.
"Al Qaeda operatives also may attempt to launch conventional attacks against the U.S. nuclear/chemical-industrial infrastructure to cause contamination, disruption, and terror," according to the bulletin.
"Based on information, nuclear power plants and industrial chemical plants remain viable targets," it said.
The warnings of possible attacks by Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s al Qaeda network largely echoed what FBI Director Robert Mueller and CIA (news - web sites) Director George Tenet said in testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee earlier this week.
"Information indicates (al Qaeda) has experimented with procedures for making blister (mustard) and nerve (sarin and VX) chemical agents," according to the bulletin.
Among the other countermeasures recommended, the bulletin said owners of plants should vary security routines and should be on the alert for terrorist groups attempting to infiltrate a potential target.
How about, "They should look for nearby Arabic Muslim males and take a complete description for police. If armed, citizens should take these suspicious individuals into custody."
Question: What should we do in case of a nuclear attack?
Answer: Wrap yourself in a shroud and walk slowly to the cemetery.
Question: Why slowly?
Answer: To avoid a panic.
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