The growing awareness of the need for local emergency planning and survey results showing that few communities have emergency plans are discussed. Descriptions of the components of such a plan cover roles of elected officials, the chain of command, organization structure, procedures, and the need to identify possible hazards. Employee and citizen roles are also discussed. The functioning of the nervous system during the various phases of a hostage situation, the nature of the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses, and the approaches that police officials and hostage negotiators should use during the hostage negotiations are explained. The nature of the terrorist threat in the United States and Americans' misperceptions that terrorism doesn't really exist in the United States are discussed. Procedures used by police and public officials to deal with the growing number of special events in Ventura, Calif., are detailed.