Other Human-caused Hazards
Human-caused hazards include technological hazards and terrorism, as well as civil unrest. These are distinct from natural hazards primarily in that they originate from human activity.
Civil unrest or disturbance is an unlawful assembly that constitutes a breach of the peace or any assembly of persons where there is danger of collective violence, destruction of property or other unlawful acts.
Technological hazards refer to incidents that arise from human activities such as the manufacture, transportation, storage and use of hazardous materials. Technological hazards also include nuclear power plant failures and radiological releases.
Hazardous material spills and releases are the most common type of technological hazard.
Terrorism is 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 the furtherance of political or social objectives. Terrorism can be either domestic or international depending on origin, base and objectives of the terrorist organization. Terrorist weapons may include biological, chemical, nuclear or radiological weapons as well as arson, incendiary, explosive, and armed attacks; industrial sabotage and hazardous material releases and cyber-terrorism. Improvised high explosive devises have been the terrorists’ weapon of choice.
The San Diego Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Center is responsible for collecting, analyzing and disseminating local area terrorism threat information. Local threat information is disseminated through bulletins and terrorism liaison officers.
Today's Threat Level (National)