01/08/2007 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Anoka County Multi- Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan Blaine, Circle Pines, Coon Rapids, Ham Lake and St. Francis have experienced multiple incidences of Methamphetamine Labs. The Tabs range from sophisticated installations to mobile labs in vehicles. The most common physical impact is the damage to structures and contents from the chemicals employed in the manufacture of Methamphetamine. The resulting clean up runs into thousands of dollars. The most catastrophic incident involving an operational laboratory occurred in Coon Rapids where an explosion occurred resulting in the total destruction of a residence. The likelihood of reoccurrence of Meth Tabs is high and the impact is moderate to high when social issues are included There have been 134 reports of Illegal Methamphetamine Laboratories in Anoka County and participating jurisdictions since 1980. The illegal labs accounted for no fatalities and one injury. Structure damage is estimated at $935,000 and content damage to be $199,800. These losses primarily resulted from using an average clean -up cost of $6,000 per incidence. The county and most municipalities have experienced meth lab seizures. Although meth lab operators may more easily establish labs in the urban and more remote unincorporated areas, all jurisdictions in the county are at risk from this hazard. Meth is a highly addictive drug. The potential for future hazard is high, and all areas will be equally impacted. A detailed list of Meth Lab incidents can be found in Appendix A. 4.3.2.7 Terrorism The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines terrorism as "the unlawful use of force against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in the furtherance of political or social objectives." Events could typically be expected in urban areas near public gatherings, government facilities or highly visible areas. Terrorism is the use of force or violence against people or property for the purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom. Terrorists often use threats to create fear among the public, to try to convince citizens that their government is powerless to prevent terrorism, and to get publicity for their causes. The 1966 Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, defines weapons of mass destruction as "any weapon or device that is intended, or has the capability, to cause death or serious bodily injury to a significant number of people through the dissemination, release or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals or their precursors, a disease organism, or radiation or radioactivity." President Clinton's 1994 Executive Order 12938 entitled "Proliferation of 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.