Guam Hazard Mitigation Plan - Western States Seismic Policy Council

SECTIONFIVERisk AssessmentA bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs (agents) tocause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. These agents are typically found in nature,but it is possible that they can be modified to increase their ability to cause disease, make themresistant to current medicines, and/or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment.Biological agents can be spread through the air, through water, or in food. Terrorists may usebiological agents because they can be extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness forseveral hours or several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spreadfrom person to person and some, like anthrax, cannot.LocationThe Department of Homeland Security’s National Planning Scenario identifies the possibleterrorist strike locations it views as most plausible. Places in Guam judged to be at risk includecities, such as Dededo and Tamuning; places that have economic and symbolic value, such asAgana Heights and Yigo; places with hazardous facilities; and areas where large groups ofpeople congregate, such as office buildings and sports arenas. However, it is also believed thatterrorists may begin to target small rural communities, with the goal of targeting pesticidefacilities, chemical plants, the water supply, dams, or agriculture.Previous OccurrencesNo major terrorist events have occurred on Guam. In December 2010, one report from asupposedly credible source noted the threat of a possible terrorist attack on Guam in the form offood poisoning aimed at hotels and restaurants. According to the report, the terrorist plot wasaimed at attacking hotels and restaurants at multiple locations across the United States over asingle weekend. However, no attacks occurred.Probability of Future EventsDue to the large number of factors involved in terrorism, including the many factors involved inhuman decision-making and motivation, the probability of a future terrorist attack on Guam isunknown.5.3.14 Transportation AccidentNatureIn this HMP, a transportation accident is defined as an accident involving an aircraft or marinevessel that causes a large loss of life, a large loss of property, or has a drastic effect on theeconomy. Marine and air transit, through Apra Harbor and GIAA, respectively, are almost theonly means for people and goods to enter or leave Guam. (Additional airports are located on themilitary bases on Guam.) An accident that involves an airplane or a marine vessel has thepotential to have a significant effect on the economy and infrastructure of Guam. An accidentinvolving a large commercial passenger airplane or a large marine passenger vessel also has thepotential to result in a large number of fatalities or injuries to the people on the airplane ormarine vessel as well as the people on the ground at the site of an airplane crash.An airplane crash can lead to a large number of fatalities or injuries to persons on the airplaneand persons on the ground at the site of the accident. This type of accident could also cause alarge loss of property. A crash at the GIAA could lead to a disabling of the operational facilitiesat the airport and could cause this port of entry to close temporarily. Any size or type of aircraft5-44