Question

Since 9/11, there has been a significant focus on preparedness for terrorist attacks. The response to Katrina highlighted significant short comings in response to the impact of natural disasters. Based upon your text and outside readings, what do you see as the improvements required to adequately respond to terrorist threats and attacks, as well as hurricanes like Katrina, earthquakes, and other natural disasters? Does preparing for one emergency assist in preparing for the other type disaster? What organizations within the community would you engage in preparing an emergency response plan to both terrorist attacks and natural disasters?

Answer 1

The main improvement required to adequately respond to terrorist threats and natural disasters is a plan. A plan needs to be in place to respond to the event. The response to the 9/11 attacks and hurricane Katrina has been drastic over the years. The 9/11 terrorist attack was something we had never experienced before and has therefore given us the groundwork to understand and respond to future terrorist attacks. We now know what is needed for large scale disasters and we can navigate the processes better. All types of disasters use the same resources, but the response level is greatly different. The downside from focusing and revamping our efforts towards terrorist attacks has depleted our efforts toward natural disasters. We have become so enthralled in this new type of disaster that out preparedness plans have suffered. A terrorist attack is most likely to receive a federal response right off the bat versus a natural disaster that must go through the set stages and ask for federal assistance.   Some of the resources and organizations that can engage any disaster include first responders, police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical services, and city officials. These groups are the first set of resources on the scene and ready to help as needed. They are trained for each specific event and will react to the conditions set forth before them.