Individual preparedness and response to chemical, radiological, nuclear, and biological terrorist attacks / Lynn E. Davis ... [and others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Davis, Lynn E. (Lynn Etheridge), 1943-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Weapons of mass destruction--Safety measures.

Weapons of mass destruction.

Nuclear terrorism--Safety measures.

Nuclear terrorism.

Bioterrorism--Safety measures.

Bioterrorism.

Chemical terrorism--Safety measures.

Chemical terrorism.

Survival.

Industrial safety.

Physical Description:

xxvii, 161 pages : illustrations ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : Rand, [2003]

Summary:

Individual preparedness is an important element of our nation's strategy for homeland security. This report adopts a scenario-driven approach that provides a rigorous way to identify actions-linked specifically to terrorist attacks-individuals can take to protect their health and safety. The result is an individual's strategy across four types of terrorist attacks-chemical, radiological, nuclear, and biological-consisting of overarching goals and simple and directive response and preparatory actions. The actions are appropriate regardless of likelihood of an attack, scale of attack, or government alert level; designed to be sensitive to potential variations; and defined in terms of simple rules that should be easy for individuals to adopt.

Contents:

Study Motivation and Objective 1

Chapter 2 Scenario Approach to Developing an Individual's Strategy 7

Step 1 Develop Terrorist Attack Scenarios 8

Rationale for a Scenario-Driven Approach 8

Scenario Design Criteria 8

Scenario Descriptions 10

Step 2 Define Individual Needs 13

Step 3 Identify Potential Actions 15

Step 4 Evaluate Potential Actions 16

Step 5 Develop an Individual's Strategy 18

Chapter 3 An Individual's Strategy 21

Chemical Attack 21

Attack Characteristics 21

Response Strategy: Chemical Attack 22

Recommended Actions 23

Actions Not Recommended 28

Radiological Attack 30

Attack Characteristics 30

Response Strategy: Radiological Attack 31

Recommended Actions 32

Actions Not Recommended 35

Nuclear Attack 35

Attack Characteristics 35

Response Strategy: Nuclear Attack 36

Recommended Actions 37

Biological Attacks 42

Characteristics 42

Response Strategy: Biological Attack 45

Recommended Actions 46

Actions Not Recommended 50

Priorities for Response Actions 51

Preparatory Actions 52

Understand Requirements of Individual Response Actions 52

Gather Information and Develop Plans in Advance 54

Augment General Emergency Preparations 55

Enhance Protection Against Biological Attack 56

Enabling Actions by Government and Businesses 57

Inform Individuals About Official Terrorism Response Plans 58

Design Education and Training Programs 59

Implement Detection and Warning Systems 59

Regulate Retail Equipment Marketed for Terrorism Response 61

Our Recommended Individual's Strategy 63

Comparison with Current Terrorism Guidelines 67

How Can Our Approach Be Used in The Future? 69

A Catastrophic Terrorism Scenarios 71

B Emergency Guidelines 125

C Focus Group Methods and Results 143

D A Review of the Risk-Perception and Risk-Communication Literature 147.

Notes:

"MR-1731-SF"--P. 4 of cover.

Includes reference card summarizing the essential features of a strategy for what individuals should do to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks.

Reference card inserted inside back cover.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 153-161).

ISBN:

0833034731

OCLC:

52773412