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Anoka County 2019 Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan 104 Weapons of Mass Destruction” also defines weapons of mass destruction to be “nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons.” The Domestic Preparedness Program is a partnership of federal, state, and local agencies with the goal of ensuring that, as a nation, we are prepared to respond to a terrorist attack involving nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons - weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Today, the term "Homeland Security" is used to denote the concept of preparing for these kinds of events. The FBI categorizes terrorism in the United States primarily as one of two types - domestic terrorism or international terrorism. Domestic terrorism, such as the bombing of the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City, involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are directed at elements of our government or population without foreign direction. International terrorism, such as the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are foreign-based and/or directed by countries or groups outside the U. S., or whose activities transcend national boundaries. Attacks can take many forms. They are all designed to terrorize citizens. While Anoka County has not experienced terrorist events, the county contains potential target sites for terrorist attack. The presence of these facilities places Anoka County at a high threat level for forms of terrorist attack. A terrorist event at these facilities would affect the entire county. Bioterrorism: In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, concerns about bio- terrorist attack involving smallpox prompted Minnesota health officials to develop a mass vaccination plan. Anoka County Community Health's plan was tested during an August 2004 Strategic National Stockpile drill and subsequently revised response plans to address problems found during that exercise. During the outbreak of anthrax in the last months of 2001, local firefighters and law enforcement officers investigated several suspicious-looking substances, packages, and mail at a Department of Energy facility, private residences, businesses, a hospital, a post office, and a school. Though all tests were negative, decontamination procedures were initiated at a school and post office. Planned Parenthood received one of several hundred fake anthrax letters mailed by an anti-abortion extremist. The probability of future events exists and the county and its municipalities are at equal risk of Bioterrorism. The Community Health and Environmental Services Department maintains an All Hazards Emergency Response and Recovery Plan, of which components are tested on an annual basis. Bomb Threats: The Northtown Mall was the target of a bomb explosion that damaged the mall but caused no injuries. Though none have been found credible, bomb threats by telephone are becoming an increasing problem for schools and government throughout Anoka County. In 2018 there were twenty-one bomb threats reported to Anoka County Central Communications. Bethel, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Lexington, Lino Lakes and St. Francis all experienced multiple terrorist bomb or anthrax threats. All of which are considered domestic in nature. The majority of threats involved schools. A number of the incidents involve actual pipe bombs being found. In