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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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February
2004
Volume 6
- Number 1 |
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Terrorism Perspective By Elaine Wolff September 11, 2001 was a very tragic day for the nation. The events that unfolded that day forced the public and our leaders to realize just how vulnerable we were. This put terrorism on the forefront of American life. Given the timing, nature, and magnitude of the attacks, plus the immediate extensive media coverage, the topics of terrorism and emergency management received an unprecedented amount of attention not only in the United States but worldwide. Aspects of terrorism usually reserved to a small group of behind-the-scenes operational personnel suddenly became of interest and concern to citizens throughout the nation. (Rubin and Renda-Tanali, 2003) This day also drastically shaped the field of emergency management. President George W. Bush and his war on terrorism have resulted the investment of unprecedented sums of money, resources and manpower into homeland security, anti-terrorism efforts. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formed as a result of the merging of 22 agencies, and controls much of this. Bacillus anthracis spores intentionally distributed through the
mail, causing 22 cases of
anthrax and 5 deaths, forced the nation’s public health system to be
confronted
with and be challenged by many unknowns. This
anthrax scare made our nation’s emergency management
field
understand the importance of embracing “an all-hazards approach to
terrorism
preparedness and response that includes biological, chemical,
radiological/nuclear and mass trauma disasters.” (CDC, 2003) However, the vastness of this all-hazards
approach makes it impossible to prepare for all the different
possibilities. There are numerous
subcategories within each category of terrorism - for example,
biological threats
include smallpox, plague, tularemia, anthrax and botulism to name a few. It is impossible for even “experts” to
predict what public health emergency or type of terrorism attack looms
on the
horizon. The unexpected (non-terrorism
induced) public health emergencies of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS),
this season’s influenza epidemic and a Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
(BSE,
or Mad Cow Disease) infected cow in Washington State, West Nile Virus
and
monkeypox that our nation has encountered since 9/11 further
demonstrate this
fact, and the need for an all-hazards approach to terrorism
preparedness. It is
not a question of will another terrorist attack occur on U.S. soil, but
when,
where and how. Our ability to respond
effectively lies in our preparedness efforts. The Federal government’s investment in the
area of public health and terrorism preparedness since 9/11 and the
anthrax
attacks has created a perception that our nation is undergoing rapid
and
substantial improvements that will bolster our response to future
attacks. However, in reality, the majority
of our
anti-terrorism efforts lie in the area of security and response –
keeping the
“bad guys” out of our nation’s borders, hunting down and arresting
terrorists
already here, and foiling any potential terrorism attacks.
As a result, exercises conducted (such as
Top Officials (TOPOFF) 2) and numerous reports*
written found “an
unsettling picture” (Trust for America’s Health, 2003) in the area of
preparedness. Although every state has developed a
bioterrorism planning document and most have upgraded their
communication
systems, major deficiencies in laboratory and workforce capacity,
information
technology systems, and communication, cooperation and coordination
amongst
those involved are critical elements in terrorism preparedness and
response
that still need to be addressed. In
addition, the public health and medical communities, the media, and the
public
all need to be educated about the unique aspects that need to be
factored into
the preparedness and response operations for the various types of
terrorist
threats. Unfortunately, this aspect has
been largely neglected. With all of this said, will the United States
be prepared to respond effectively to future biological, chemical,
radiological, nuclear or weapons of mass destruction attacks? One can only hope.
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Program in Brief: Terrorism
Preparedness and Emergency Response Fact Sheet. Atlanta, GA:
February 2003. Rubin, CB and Renda-Tanali, Irmak.
“Effects of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001, on Federal
Emergency
Management in the United States.” Beyond
September 11th: An Account of Post-Disaster Research.
Special
Publication Number 39. Natural Hazards Research and Applications
Information
Center, University of Colorado. Boulder, CO: 2003. Trust for America’s Health. Ready
or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health in
the Age of Bioterrorism. Washington
DC: 2003. * These reports include: Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Public Health’s
Infrastructure – A Status Report. Atlanta,GA: 2001. Institute of Medicine. The
Future of the Public’s Health in the 21st
Century. Washington DC: 2003. Trust for America’s Health. Ready
or Not? Protecting the Public’s Health in
the Age of Bioterrorism. Washington
DC: 2003. U.S. General Accounting Office. State and Local Bioterrorism Preparedness.
GAO-03-373. Washington DC: 2003. |
