CharlestonCounty.org
  • Home
  • Online Services
  • By Topic
      Topics icon
    • Taxes
    • Property & Permits
    • Courts
    • Business
    • Residents
    • Emergency
    • Law Enforcement
    • Code Enforcement
    • Request Public Information/Documents (FOIA)
  • Departments
  • Elected Officials
      Elected Officials Icon
    • Auditor
    • Clerk Of Court
    • Coroner
    • County Council
    • Probate Judge
    • Register of Deeds (ROD)
    • Sheriff
    • Solicitor
    • Treasurer
  • Employment
      Employment Icon
    • Benefits
    • FAQs
    • Job Openings & Apply Online
    • Print Application
  • FAQs
  • About Us
      About icon
    • Mission & Values
    • Organizational Chart
    • Diversity Philosophy
    • Title VI Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Financial Reports
    • Ordinances
    • Firsts/Oldest
    • History
    • Office Locations
    • Holiday Schedule
    • Municipalities
    • School District
    • Links
    • Calendar
  • Contact
      Contact icon
    • General Contact
    • FOIA Fee Schedule
    • FOIA Requests
    • Media Inquiries
  • This is the main menu for CharlestonCounty.org. Please use the right side menu to access the department or section menus. The right side menu will change depending on where you are in the website.

  • Charleston County Council photo Charleston County Council
  • Charleston County Council Info
  • View Homepage >> View Agendas >>
Charleston County, SC
  • Home
  • Emergencies
    • General Emergency Info
    • Emergency Kit
    • OPCON Level Descriptions
    • Managing Food & Water
    • Threat & Disaster Info
      • Hurricane

      • Earthquake

      • Tsunami

      • Fire

      • Tornado

      • Storm/Flooding

      • Extreme Heat

      • Terror

      • Ozone Info

      • Winter Storms

      • Pandemic Illness

      • Managing Storm Debris

  • Rescue Squad
  • CERT
  • LEPC
  • Speaker Request
  • Internships
  • Training
  • Citizens Alert System
  • Dash Pass
  • This menu is for the Emergency Management Department. Use the left side menu to access the main menu for CharlestonCounty.org.

Terrorism Info

General Emergency Info

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Definitions & Facts Biological & Chemical Weapons Terrorism In The U.S. Terrorism Trivia

facts

Definitions & Facts

What Is Terrorism?

Terrorism is the use of force or violence against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United States for 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 immediate publicity for their causes.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) categorizes terrorism in the United States as one of two types - domestic terrorism or international terrorism.

Domestic terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are directed at elements of our government or population without foreign direction.

International terrorism involves groups or individuals whose terrorist activities are foreign-based and/or directed by countries or groups outside the United States or whose activities transcend national boundaries.

Terrorism Facts

  1. Most terrorist incidents in the United States have been bombing attacks, involving detonated and undetonated explosive devices, tear gas and pipe and fire bombs.
  2. The effects of terrorism can vary significantly from loss of life and injuries to property damage and disruptions in services such as electricity, water supply, public transportation and communications.
  3. One way governments attempt to reduce our vulnerability to terrorist incidents is by increasing security at airports and other public facilities. The U.S. government also works with other countries to limit the sources of support for terrorism.
  4. From 1983 to 1991, the Federal Bureau of Investigation identified 101 terrorist incidents in the United States.

Biological

Biological & Chemical Weapons

Biological agents are infectious microbes or toxins used to produce illness or death in people, animals or plants. Biological agents can be dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles. Terrorists may use biological agents to contaminate food or water because they are extremely difficult to detect.

Chemical agents kill or incapacitate people, destroy livestock or ravage crops. Some chemical agents are odorless and tasteless and difficult to detect. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds to a few minutes) or a delayed effect (several hours to several days).

Biological and chemical weapons have been used primarily to terrorize an unprotected civilian population and not as a weapon of war. This is because of fear of retaliation and the likelihood that the agent would contaminate the battlefield for a long period of time.

The Persian Gulf War in 1991 and other confrontations in the Middle East were causes for concern in the United States regarding the possibility of chemical or biological warfare. While no incidents occurred, there remains a concern that such weapons could be involved in an accident or be used by terrorists.

Terrorism

Terrorism In The U.S.

In the United States, most terrorist incidents have involved small extremist groups who use terrorism to achieve a designated objective. Local, State and Federal law enforcement officials monitor suspected terrorist groups and try to prevent or protect against a suspected attack. Additionally, the U.S. government works with other countries to limit the sources of support for terrorism.

A terrorist attack can take several forms, depending on the technological means available to the terrorist, the nature of the political issue motivating the attack, and the points of weakness of the terrorist's target. Bombings are the most frequently used terrorist method in the United States. Other possibilities includes an attack at transportation facilities, an attack against utilities or other public services or an incident involving chemical or biological agents.

Terrorist incidents in this country have included bombings of the World Trade Center in New York City, the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. and Mobil Oil corporate headquarters in New York City.

Trivia

Terrorism Trivia

  • On February 28, 1993, a bombing in the parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City resulted in the deaths of five people and thousands of injuries. The bomb left a crater 200 by 100 feet wide and five stories deep.
  • The Department of Defense estimates that as many as 26 nations may possess chemical agents and/or weapons and an additional 12 may be seeking to develop them.
  • In recent years the largest number of terrorist strikes have occurred in the Western States and Puerto Rico. Attacks in Puerto Rico accounted for about 60 percent of all terrorist incidents between 1983 and 1991 that occurred on United States territory.
  • The Central Intelligence Agency reports that at least ten countries are believed to possess or be conducting research on biological agents for weaponization.

Information compiled from the Federal Emegency Management Agency.


Municipalities

City of Charleston
City of Folly Beach
City of North Charleston
City of Isle of Palms
Town of Awendaw
Town of Hollywood
Town of James Island
Town of Kiawah Island
Town of Lincolnville
Town of McClellanville
Town of Meggett
Town of Mount Pleasant
Town of Ravenel
Town of Rockville
Town of Seabrook Island
Town of Sullivan's Island

Go to top

Additional Resources

Arts & Entertainment
CARTA Transit System
County Library
County Parks
Transportation Sales Tax
School District

Sex Offenders Search
Identity Theft Info
Traffic Cam
Make-A-Wish Car Donation
United Way 24hr hotline
Visitor Information

Employee Resources

Employee Online
Go to top

Social Media

Facebook
X (Twitter)
YouTube
Next Door
Instagram
Linkedin

Site Translation

Go to top

E-mail your comments or questions about this site to publicinfo@charlestoncounty.org
Report technical problems with this site to webmaster@charlestoncounty.org

This is the official web site for Charleston County Government.
Copyright © 2000-2025, Charleston County, South Carolina. All rights reserved.
Legal Disclaimer | Refund Disclaimer | Privacy Policy

Fixed footer :-)