Chemical attack is the use of toxic chemicals to do harm such as destroy life, properties or the environment. These chemicals could be obtained from industries or sabotaging chemical plants and vehicles transporting chemicals ( National Academy of Sciences, 2004). The chemicals can contaminate the water, food and environment, and pose a serious health risk to citizens. In this paper I will look on the federal agencies mandated to deal with chemical attacks.
FEMA’s National Response Framework
FEMA National Response Framework provides guidelines of how various government agencies and other organizations should be involved in case of an emergency attack. The guidelines are meant to demonstrate how public, private and NGO’s entities working together can help in restoring the situation or nation to normalcy. In case of an emergency incident the first step is to determine the affected community lifelines, organize them in order of priority, determine the needed resources and then stabilize all the lifelines (FEMA, 2019).
When an incident occur that include chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE), the National Guard members are the ones to lead the response exercise as they have the required rescue expertise in the area (FEMA, 2019). The emergency support function coordinator in responses that involve hazardous materials is the Environmental Protection Agency.
First responders to a CBRNE attack and HAZMAT
The first responders to a CBRNE attack are the firefighters, local law enforcement and emergency medical personnel like the Red Cross. The first responders may lack the necessary expertise to contain the situation and the FEMA may request the Department of Defense to offer the help as it has both technical and operational support capability. HAZMAT refers to hazardous materials that can destroy individual’s health, properties and the environment. These substances are in solid, liquid and gaseous form, but can combine three forms and happen to be fumes, mist, smoke, gas, dust and vapor (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021).
The FBI in preventing CBRNE
The FBI is involved in CBRNE activities through its Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate (WMDD). The bureau investigates CBRNE threats and incidents to thwart attacks and respond to attacks as they occur. The WMDD prepares the FBI and other government agencies on how to respond to Weapons of Mass Destruction through training to improve FBI capacity and build relationships and collaboration with tribal, local, state and federal law enforcement agencies (FBI, n.d.). The WMDD also works with other security agencies, private entities, academic industry and scientific researchers as a countermeasure of preventing misuse of CBRNE knowledge. The FBI also has the Technical Hazards Response Unit (THRU) which houses the teams that offer on-site expertise help in case of a chemical attack.
Precaution in contaminated area
The number one precaution of entering a contaminated area is ensuring one has protective clothing. For this case, the protective equipment’s are not the usual aprons, gumboots and gloves but clothes specifically designed for people handling WMD. For example, level C clothing for handling biological hazardous materials, masks with high-efficiency particulate air filters, among others. The second measure is to extinguish fires and ensure no explosive item is around to avoid exposure to undue risk (FEMA, 2002).
In conclusion, chemical attack is the major threat that nations in the world faces. This is one threat that can destroy the whole world. One reason of the Iraq War was to eliminate WMD that Iraq was believed to be in possession of, but none was found (The Washington Post, 2019). The Iraq war clearly shows the commitment of the United States in the fight against chemical weapons.
