This new guide is written to fill a serious void in preparation against releases of toxic chemicals and biological agents during a terrorist attack.

The next, and possibly frequent terrorist attacks will not be those of hijacked aircraft crashing into buildings, or of squads of terrorists confronting nuclear reactors, or of detonated nuclear weapons. The easiest targets, and there are plenty of them in the United States, are chemical and fuel storage locations, and rail and truck shipments. With relatively minor explosions, or vehicle or missile impacts, these targets will release toxic chemicals into residential neighborhoods and urban areas, threatening the health and life of everyone in the path of the cloud for up to five miles downwind. Unfortunately, the Federal and state governments have not told you how to protect yourself and family from this. The correct response is to immediately shelter.

The Washington Post, on August 6^th 2002, headlined a story "Government is Slow to Offer Safety Plans," and provided its own guide. While well meaning, and consistent with conventional wisdom, the advice given was bad, and possibly deadly. There are aspects to sheltering that are known to few but the author of this guide, who is a research scientist and specialist in protective actions. The author is sharing this knowledge out of concern for the safety of Americans and other potential victims.

This guide tells homeowners and vehicle drivers how to protect their families in the absence of government guidance. It corrects the following common misconceptions.

1. The government, not the individual, has responsibility for your protection, and is prepared to provide it.
2. The terrorist must smuggle in or transport the materials that he might release.
3. You cannot find out what large toxic chemical inventories are near you.
4. Evacuation from the area of a release is the best initial response.
5. Ventilation systems with filters help to protect you during a terrorist attack.
6. The air conditioning system in your car or home protects you.
7. It is necessary to stay in a shelter for a long time, even for days.
8. Exhaust fans are good in event of a release of toxic materials.
9. You want a bare shelter, not one crowded with furniture, drapes, carpets, etc.
10. There is no acceptable level of exposure to chemicals, biological agents, or radioactivity.

• Exposure reduction through sheltering
• Evacuation vs. sheltering
• Exposure thresholds for chemical effects
• Likely and unlikely releases
• Nuclear power reactors
• Air entry into buildings and vehicles
• Tall buildings and automobiles as shelters
• Gas masks and suits
• Furnishing the shelter
• Airing out the shelter after cloud passage

The author is certified by the American Meteorological Society as a Certified Consulting Meteorologist. The guide is based on personal knowledge gained in over 45 years of work in the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and its contractors, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Department of Energy (DOE) community. Much of the material is recent original research by the author on sheltering in buildings and vehicles. The author has a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences. He has written guidance for accident analysis, and has analyzed potential accident scenarios at DOE facilities, including wildfires, and calculated public effects from a potential major release of chlorine at a large water treatment plant.

The guide can be obtained in printed (photocopy) format, or via e-mail, 3.5" floppy disk, or CD-ROM. Send payment to:

Global Atmospheric Response
11701 Karen Drive
Potomac MD 20854
USA

Price is $19.95. Add $5 for shipping and handling if ordered in print form, or on diskette or CD-ROM. Send check or money order, or use credit cards via PayPal, to address