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    Risk is defined as “1. chance or possibility of danger, loss, injury, etc. 2. person or thing regarded in relation to risk. 3. expose to risk. 4. accept the chance of.” (Oxford Dictionary) From my perspective, there are a couple of different aspects to terrorism risk: there is the risk of a terrorist incident occurring within the United States and there is the risk of that terrorist incident affecting me on a personal and professional level.                

The likelihood of a terrorist incident occurring within the United States is inevitable. There are many individuals, groups and organizations inside and outside the United States who hate America and what it stands for. It is not only the al Qaeda who perform these outrageous acts; in fact, the FBI this week “warned that ‘lone extremists’ unconnected to any group may become so enraged by world events, including a possible U.S. invasion of Iraq, that they could launch terrorist attacks against U.S. targets while acting alone or in small groups.” Identifying who these people or groups are and keeping track of them is virtually impossible. A person of any color, nationality or creed can perform an act of terrorism, that kills thousands of people, if there is enough hate within that person. Furthermore, it appears that everyday more and more people, groups, organizations and countries are turning against the United States. If the United States continues with it’s foreign policy and worldwide policing than we should continue see this type of reaction and an increase in terrorist’s activities against us.

Will terrorism affect me on a professional and personal level?  I strongly believe that I will be involved in another terrorist incident as a fire fighter and/or member of a hazardous materials team. Many aspects of the fire department have changed in the relatively short time I have been on the job as a direct result of terrorism, specifically the sarin attack in Tokyo in 1994. Since then we have trained regularly on our response to a WMD.  The fire department has placed radiation detectors and nerve agent antidote kits on all fire apparatus in preparation for the next terrorist event. I believe this is in large part because of our close proximity to Washington D.C. and because Washington will forever be a target to terrorist because of the symbolism and power it represents. This being said, I believe that there is a strong probability that I will be involved in another terrorist incident on a professional level.
The personal risk associated with terrorism involves the risk to family, my friends and myself during the course of everyday life. I believe that this risk will be present throughout our lifetime and that every United States citizen has some risk. Terrorism is so random and broad that no one is risk-free; however, it currently appears that some are more at risk than others. The “authorities” believe that the people of Washington and New York have a higher risk of being involved or targeted by terrorist. I believe there is some truth to this but because of the randomness of terrorism my personal risk is not significantly increased.