CITY OF CLEVELAND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Phone No: 216-664-2200 E-mail: emergencypreparedness@city.cleveland.oh.us

Preparing for Terrorism

Your assistance is critical if we are to succeed in keeping our neighborhoods safe.  Knowing what to look for and being aware of what is going on around us forms the basis of an effective terrorism prevention program.  Certain activities can indicate terrorism planning, especially when they occur at or near key facilities.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Wherever you are, be aware of your surroundings.  The very nature of terrorism suggests there may be little or no warning.
   
2. Take precautions when traveling.  Be aware of conspicuous or unusual behavior.  Do not accept packages from strangers.  Do not leave luggage unattended.  Unusual behavior, suspicious packages and strange devices should be promptly reported to the police or security personnel.
   
3. Do not be afraid to move or leave if you feel uncomfortable or if something does not seem right.


4. Learn where emergency exits are located in buildings you frequent.  Notice where exits are when you enter unfamiliar buildings.  Plan how to get out of a building, subway or congested public area or traffic.  Note where staircases are located.  Notice heavy or breakable objects that could move, fall or break in an explosion.


5. Assemble a disaster supply kit at home and learn first aid.  Separate the supplies you would take if you had to evacuate quickly and put them in a backpack or container, ready to go.


6. Be familiar with different types of fire extinguishers and how to locate them.  Know the location and availability of hard hats in buildings in which you spend a lot of time.

Report these suspicious activities to Cleveland Police:

1. Surveillance – are you aware of anyone recording or monitoring activities, taking notes, using cameras, maps or binoculars near a key facility?
2. Suspicious questioning - is anyone attempting to gain information in person, by phone or e-mail regarding a key facility or its personnel?
3. Tests of security has anyone attempted to penetrate the security system or test security procedures at a key facility?
4. Acquiring suppliesis - anyone attempting to improperly acquire explosives, weapons, ammunition, dangerous chemicals, uniforms, badges, flight manuals, access cards or identification for a key facility or to legally obtain items under suspicious circumstances that could be used in a terrorist attack?
5. Suspicious persons- have you seen anyone who does not appear to belong in the workplace, neighborhood, business establishment or near a key facility?
6. Dry runs – have you observed any behavior that appears to be preparation for terrorist activity such as mapping out routes, playing out scenarios with other people, monitoring key facilities, timing traffic lights or traffic flow or other suspicious activities.
7. Deploying assets – have you seen abandoned vehicles, stockpiling of suspicious materials, or persons being deployed near a key facility?