The Ashdod port attack could have been, and possibly was planned to be, an order of magnitude worse than it actually was. Hundreds of tons of dangerous substances are stored at the port, including bromide, fuel, and ammonia. Some of them were stored within close walking distance of the terrorists. A crack in one of the tanks as a result of an explosion would have left a "dirty bomb" cloud hanging over the entire area. The only protection for citizens within several kilometers of such a cloud would be to "remain at home with the windows and doors closed," according to Ruby Gilad of the Environment Ministry.