Date: February 25, 2003

Attention: ASCIP Members

Subject: International Terrorism

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ASCIP has received numerous inquiries regarding how schools should prepare for a potential attack by international terrorist elements. Various media sources have advocated one course of action or another addressing the potential risk of attack on the general population leading to some confusion in the community. ASCIP believes that:

1) The individual K-12 school or Community College (public or private) is unlikely to be a direct target of international terrorism as such institutions are not highly visible worldwide or politically attractive to a terrorist who would desire to make a global statement utilizing limited resources;

2) Individual K-12 schools or Community Colleges may be subject to local crime and "street terrorism" by gangs or individuals with limited local means. These concerns would normally be handled as a police matter although any evidence of association with an international agenda may expand such local concerns to higher levels;

3) Schools and Colleges located near attractive targets for international terrorism (airports, harbors, major amusement parks, certain government buildings, and other highly visible landmarks which might be recognized worldwide) may be affected by whatever attack may be prosecuted against that nearby target and they should have a plan in place which is developed and implemented with the participation of local authorities and the operators of the potential target facility itself.

4) Schools and Colleges should already have existing emergency, lockdown, evacuation, shelter in place, earthquake, and other programs and supporting materials in place which should be utilized in the case of a general area terrorist attack (biological weapon, radioactive 'dirty' bomb, nerve gas, etc) as there is currently no better or more practical defense against such weapons for the general population. Should one of these acts occur, civilian travel will likely be prohibited to prevent spread of the war agent to uncontaminated areas and thus schools may be imposed upon to keep both staff and pupils in an earthquake-type residence for up to 72 hours (or more) until State and Federal resources can develop a plan to react to the event and reach all affected areas.

5) All school emergency plans should be tested ASAP to ensure that they will work as intended if needed. Earthquake and shelter-in-place supplies should be inspected and any deficiencies corrected.

General information regarding homeland security may be obtained from the California Office of Emergency Services website at: www.oes.ca.gov and from the US Department of Homeland Security link website at www.ready.gov/work_school.html

Reviewed July, 2006