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Terrorism is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations as "the
unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to
intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any
segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives."
When terrorism strikes, communities may receive assistance from
State and Federal agencies operating within the existing Integrated
Emergency Management System. FEMA is the lead Federal agency for
supporting State and local response to the consequences of terrorist
attacks.
FEMA's role in managing terrorism includes both antiterrorism
and counterterrorism activities. Antiterrorism
refers to defensive measures used to reduce the vulnerability of
people and property to terrorist acts, while counterterrorism includes
offensive measures taken to prevent, deter, and respond to terrorism.
Within the emergency management arena, antiterrorism is a hazard
mitigation activity and counterterrorism falls within the scope
of preparedness, response and recovery.
Terrorism is often categorized as "domestic"
or "international." This distinction
refers not to where the terrorist act takes place but rather to
the origin of the individuals or groups responsible for it. For
example, the 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma
City was an act of domestic terrorism, but the attacks of September
2001 were international in nature. For the purposes of consequence
management, the origin of the perpetrator(s) is of less importance
than the impacts of the attack on life and property; thus, the distinction
between domestic and international terrorism is less relevant for
the purposes of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery
than understanding the capabilities of terrorist groups and how
to respond to the impacts they can generate.
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