Local emergency responders must be prepared to respond to coordinated terrorist attacks that may occur within many locations simultaneously, challenging and taxing local response resources. The authors first review the different types of coordinated terrorist attacks that are commonly used, including the use of parallel devices, secondary attacks, and multiple dispersed attacks. Each type of coordinated attack presents different challenges to local responders. For example, secondary attacks target first responders who attempt to help the victims of the first attack while multiple dispersed attacks divide and drain local response capabilities. The implications for local emergency responders are discussed as the authors illustrate the need for communities to have decentralized equipment and personnel and to have a plan in place to protect first responders from secondary attacks. As terrorists demonstrate an increased determination to cause greater impact on their targets it is important that communities plan and train for coordinated attack scenarios. Endnotes