An article, a flash poll, and a podcast each addressed the same topic: Is the United States
prepared for a nuclear detonation? Each came to the same conclusion, “No, not as prepared as it needs to
be.” The threat of a nuclear attack did not disappear with the Cold War, but the lessons learned are
fading.
When a radiological incident occurs, the consequences can be devastating. However, the frequency and probability of such incidents limit many jurisdictions from being fully prepared and trained. Illinois officials understand the threat and conduct annual exercises to ensure that jurisdictions in and around its nuclear facilities are ready for their potential emergency response roles.
The 2013 Boston Marathon bombings caused confusion, frustration, and anger when race marshals
abruptly ended the event. The consequences, though, could have been much greater had the initial reports
been true. Knowing what makes a dirty bomb “dirty” is the first step to ensure the health and safety of
all those who are near the detonation.
In the first 72 hours following a nuclear blast, survivors would face many challenges –
communication, evacuation, sheltering, response, and incident command. Scenario 1 (Nuclear Detonation –
Improvised Nuclear Device) of the National Response Framework was depicted in the History Channel’s “Day
After Disaster” in 2009. Five years later, is the United States prepared?
Although there has not been another significant attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, the threat of terrorists acquiring materials to create weapons of mass destruction still exists. Leaders of countries around the world recently met to discuss the current nuclear and radiological threats and to develop preventive measures to secure the “”ingredients”” for nuclear bombs.
The American Heart Association reported that, in 2011, the average survival rate to hospital discharge for nontraumatic cardiac arrest patients of all ages after receiving treatment from emergency medical services (EMS) was 10.4 percent. As such, EMS teams play a key role in preparing the families of cardiac arrest patients for any news they may receive.
The average person in the United States uses between 80 and 100 gallons of water per day. California’s multiyear drought has broken new records, created unprecedented reductions in water supply, and demands personal conservation techniques. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services has been leading the charge toward mitigating this widespread disaster.
The Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964 did more than advance the study of plate tectonics, it demonstrated to the world that communities can be resilient following a catastrophic incident when everyone works together. In 2014, Alaskans will lead the nation in a full-scale exercise that will bring the earthquake from 50 years ago into modern society.
Diverting a tornado, deflecting high winds, and steering a hurricane away from landfall are not within the scope of practice for emergency planners and managers. However, planning and training for a large-scale natural disaster with the right tools will help jurisdictions prepare for both common and uncommon incidents.
The benefits of owning a beach property come with a great risk of flooding. As Superstorm Sandy demonstrated in 2012, the National Flood Insurance Program cannot sustain rebuilding efforts at the existing insurance rates. This means making difficult choices: build and incur significant costs; raise properties into the air; or move away from flood zones.
An article, a flash poll, and a podcast each addressed the same topic: Is the United States
prepared for a nuclear detonation? Each came to the same conclusion, “No, not as prepared as it needs to
be.” The threat of a nuclear attack did not disappear with the Cold War, but the lessons learned are
fading. 