Maine Unknown Substance Threat Assessment
Developed by MEMA
October 13, 2001

Complete for each situation/sample:
Source Name, address, telephone _______________________________________
Date, Time of report or collection _______________________________________

The following questions should be asked during the handling of a chemical or biological agent threat or when gathering information at the scene. They may be used as a guidance in determining the level of risk of the incident.

1. Is this a package from a know source? ______

2. Where was the package first received, and where is it now? ____________________
   __________________________________________________________________

3. Has the package been received via U.S. mail, UPS, Federal Express, messenger, inter-office, unknown, or been placed? (Circle one)
If placed, has the package been disturbed? ______________________________

4. Does the package contain dusts, powders, stains, discolorations, residues, liquids, solid materials and/or foreign objects? (Circle one)

5. Did anyone report an unusual odor or smell? DO NOT smell it yourself. _______

6. Who has had contact with the package?
   Names:____________________________________________________________

7. Has anyone who had contact experienced any ill effects? If so, what ill effects and how long after exposure to the package were they experienced? ______________________
___________________________________________________________________

8. When was first contact (time) made with the item made? _______________________

9. Has the package been opened? _____
   What are the contents? ________________________________________________
   Are they expected contents? ____________________________________________

10. Does the package contain a threat or an implied threat? If so, what is the exact wording or nature of the threat? ___________________________________________

11. Have threats been received prior to receipt of this package? ___________________

12. Are there existing conditions (labor disputes, community action, sensitive research, etc.) which may have initiated this type of activity? _____________________________

13. Is there a return address? If so, what is the exact wording? ____________________
____________________________________________________________________

14. What is the postage date, if any? _______________________________________

15. Can the package and exposed area be secured? ____________________________

Guidelines to Determine High Priority Situations:

Have multiple persons been exposed? _________

How many? _____________________________

Through inhalation or actual contact? _______________________________________

Has anyone been quarantined? ____________________________________________

Is anyone experiencing physical effects requiring medical attention? _________________

If all questions have "no" answers, this would not be considered a high priority situation. If any of the answers are "yes," the local Incident Commander may request assistance and guidance to determine if the WMD Civil Support Team (CST) or other assistance is needed, by contacting the Maine State Police, Augusta, by calling 1-800-452-4664. State Police will contact MEMA or during off-hours, the MEMA Duty Officer, to notify them of the event and provide a point of contact for follow-up.

Guidelines to For Other Than High Priority Situations:

The local Incident Commander, in coordination with the appropriate law enforcement agency is responsible for the following when a package or container has been opened. Law enforcement agencies shall treat the materials as potential evidence of a crime.

-Evacuate the surrounding vicinity and close the room;
-Shut down the HVAC systems and secure the hot zone, as determined by the Incident    Commander;
-Have everyone coming in contact with it thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water and blow their nose, washing their hands again;
-Using plastic/rubber gloves and a particulate mask if available, double bag the package or envelope containing the substance in the smallest possible package and place in sealed, rigid container, i.e. clean, empty paint can available from local paint suppliers;
-Label properly including the name of the person packaging the material and the date, time of doing it plus the initials of the person doing it.
-Record the names of all persons, their addresses and phone numbers who physically handled the package or who were in the immediate vicinity;
-Contact the Maine State Police at 1-800-452-4664, to advise a package is being delivered to Augusta and obtain a control number for it;
The appropriate law enforcement agency is responsible for the delivery of the suspect package to Augusta in a sealed container stored in the trunk of a car;
-The package must be delivered to the Bureau of Health's Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory, State Street, Augusta, if during business hours, or contact Capitol Security (287-4357) to coordinate the receipt of materials outside of business hours;
-Testing will be accomplished and the results provided to the Maine Emergency Management Agency for relay to local Incident commander.

NOTE: Testing and treatment for anthrax is NOT indicated at the time of the incident (whether it is a high or low risk situation), and should NOT be initiated unless tests show the package may contain anthrax. Updated information regarding bioterrorism is on the Web (http://www.state.me.us/) and look up "bioterrorism."

Guidelines for Envelopes and Packages Not Opened:

The local Incident Commander, in coordination with the appropriate law enforcement agency is responsible for assessing the threat level of packages and envelopes that have not been opened and determine if testing or destruction is appropriate.