WMD and Domestic Response

<p>America's first line of defense in the aftermath of any terrorist attack is its first responder community -- police officers firefighters emergency medical providers public works personnel and emergency management officials. Almost 11 million state and local first responders regularly risk their lives in the line of duty to save the lives of others and make the country safer and more secure. These individuals include specially trained hazardous materials teams collapse search and rescue units bomb squads and tactical units.79 It is the readiness and capabilities of these public servants that determine whether the U.S. can actually deal with the consequences of a domestic WMD attack or not. Currently there are simply not enough properly equipped and trained first responders to protect all the towns and cities of the U.S. But how much is enough? According to Fireman and HAZMAT expert Alex MacDonald a well prepared city would possess an adequate number of first responders to consequence manage a WMD event when it could simultaneously triage large numbers of casualties (in excess of 3500) fight associated fires perform search and rescue functions and initiate HAZMAT procedures while maintaining the ability to respond to secondary emergency requirements.80 Obviously to create such a first responder capability in every major town and city is currently beyond the economic and political reach of the U.S.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>