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Recent events make NBC emergencies a plausible scenario necessitating detailed contingency planning and preparation of emergency responders in order to protect the civilian populace in the State of Rhode Island. Among the events heightening the threat level are the 20 March, 1995 Sarin (chemical weapon) attack on the Tokyo subway, followed by the attempted hydrogen-cyanide assault on the Tokyo subway on 5 May 1995. The presence of sodium cyanide residue in the debris of the World Trade Center bombing in New York City heightens domestic concern. In the biological arena, incidents of note include the synthesis of ricin by a Minnesota anti-government, tax protest group whose members were convicted for violating the Biological Weapons Anti-terrorism Act in 1996. Nuclear terrorism surfaced in Moscow when Chechen insurgents placed radiological waste in Moscow parks to further their cause.

Both chemical and biological agents can be delivered by a variety of means including dispersal via explosive devices (chemical or bio-bombs), mechanical devices such a crop dusting aircraft, mosquito control trucks, or garden spray devices, or dispersal through a building's water or ventilation system. Additionally, conventional standoff attack on chemical plants, bioengineering facilities, or goods in transit (i.e., an intentional hazmat incident) must be considered. Such routine shipments offer a prime target, either for hijacking in order to appropriate the materials or a more conventional attack aimed at extortion or the release of the agents.

Bio-attack would most likely involve aerosol dispersal and would afford no easily discernible signature (i.e., the onset of symptoms will typically occur within days to weeks after the initial exposure making detection difficult). The medical and emergency management concerns are complex, since little experience exists in coping with the impact of bio-toxins on a large scale.

Sports arenas, concert halls, department stores and malls, transportation terminals and office buildings-- in short, any location capable of hosting a large number of people in an enclosed or nearly enclosed space-- are amenable to aerosol dispersal and thus at greatest risk in a CB terrorism incident.

In Rhode Island, the Emergency Management Agency is the lead agency at the state level for managing the consequences of an NBC terrorism incident and coordinating state support to the local incident commander. The Rhode Island EMA can provide planning assistance, emergency technical assistance, a mobile command post and coordination of state resources.