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Courtesy Of America’s Most Wanted Safety Center

A terrorist attack could happen at any time, and could take many forms: a bomb threat or bombing, a hijacking, or cyber attack are all possible scenarios. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) warns that typical targets for terrorist acts are government facilities, international airports, major cities and landmarks, to name a few. Will you know what to do if an attack happens near you? During a terrorist attack you will need to rely on first responders for direction, but you can also prepare just as you would for other emergencies. Here are a few tips from FEMA to help you and your family be ready.

• Try to always be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right you should move or leave the area and get to a safe place.
• When you travel, be aware of suspicious behavior. Never take packages from strangers and never leave your luggage unattended.
• Learn where emergency exits are located, and plan an emergency exit route in buildings you frequent.
• Report suspicious packages or behavior to police or security officers.

If you do happen to receive a suspicious package at work or at home, approach it with caution. According to FEMA and US Postal Inspectors, there are several characteristics which should call your attention:

• An unexpected package, from someone unfamiliar or no return address.
• Excessive postage or packing material, such as masking tape or string.
• Have protruding wires, strange odors or stains.
• Are an unusual weight for their size, or are oddly shaped.
• Have misspellings of common words, incorrect titles or titles without a name.

If you are at work, report the package to building security or to your supervisor, who should immediately notify authorities. If you are at home, report the package to the local police.

Check out the FEMA site for more advice on how to prepare in case of a terrorist emergency, or for other general emergency and disaster preparation information.

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