Terrorist Attacks in the United States of America - Literature review Example

On September 11, 2001 a series of coordinated attacks were experienced in the United States of America. The attacks believed to be perpetrated by the “Islamist extremists” and in particular the al Qaeda was characterized by the hijacking of “four American commercial passenger jet airliners” and the corresponding crushing of the planes to strategic points of interest (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks (chapter 5). One, at around “8:46 hours Eastern Time”, the suicide hijackers crashed the “American Airlines Flight 11” into the world Business Center’s North Tower; the tower collapsed and crumbled into pieces (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, chapter 5). Minutes later, a similar attack - involving the “United Airlines Flight 175” - occurred where the plane was crushed into the “Southern tower” of the centre; the tower also collapsed (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, chapter 5). The “four buildings” that did not collapse instantaneously sustained extensive damage from the rubbles and were finally demolished. At the same time, a different grouping of the same terrorist crashed “American Airlines Flight 77” into the “Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia” (Cable News Network, 2006). The fourth Airline, United Airline Flight 93, crashed into a field near the “town of Shankville in Somerset County, Pennsylvania” (Cable News Network, 2006). Besides the “nineteen hijackers” in the four separate incidences, “two thousand nine hundred and four” other individuals died immediately due to the direct attacks (Cable News Network, 2006). Moreover, the death of not less than one person was reported as a result of the “exposure to the dust” that resulted from the World Trade Centre. Moreover, another twenty persons are missing and assumed dead (Cable News Network, 2007). According to National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, chapter 5, the victims of this incidence were mostly civilians. Fig. 1: A picture of the World Trade Centre as it burns after the September 11th 2001 attacks (www.cnn.com) Literature review According to National Institute of Standards and Technology (2005) some buildings at the World Trade Center Complex collapsed as a result of structural failure while the impact of the plane caused fire which burned the twin towers until they crumbled. One building collapsed as a result of the impact of the rubble from the “twin towers” (National Institute of Standards and Technology, June 2004). The terrorists took control of the airplanes using “box-cutter knives and knives” where they killed flight attendants, pilot and the passenger s (National Institute of Standards and Technology, June 2004). They used “tear gas” or “pepper spray” to keep passengers out of the “first-class” cabin (Mike, 2004). Bomb threats were made on three of the aircraft, but not on American 77. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, the ‘bombs” were probably fake. The 9/11 Commission further established that two of the hijackers had recently purchased “multi-function hand tools.” The media as well as individuals gave “contradictory and unconfirmed” information (Michael, 2006). Out of the “two thousand nine hundred and seventy four” fatalities, 246 were aboard the plane, 125 were at the pentagon and 2, 603 were from New York. (Cable News Network, 2006). The 9/11 Commission reported that hundreds were killed instantaneously by the impact while others were trapped in the towers and died after it collapsed. According to the commission, about “eighteen people” managed to escape form the tower before it collapsed. Some people jumped from the “burning towers” and landed on the streets and rooftops of adjoining building many feet below (Dennis and Moore, 2002). Moreover, some people in the tower climbed to the roof in hope of rescue but there were no plan for a helicopter rescue. The doors leading to the roof were locked and severe heat as well as thick smoke engulfed the whole area such that it would have been impossible for a “helicopter to land” (CBS, 2004). Some organizations mandated for the rescue operation lost a number of their employees in the rescue process; these included the New York City Fire Department which lost 343 personnel and the New York Police Department lost 37 officers (CBS, 2004). In addition, 8 individuals operating “private ambulances” were killed (Pradnya, 2005). Apart from the twin towers of the World Trade Centre Complex, several other buildings were destroyed. Most of the building became inhabitable as a result of the toxic conditions and extensive damage. According to the 9/11 Commission, approximately 16,000 people were below the “impact zones” in the World Trade Center complex at the time of the attacks. A large majority of those below “the impact areas” survived, evacuating before the towers collapsed (Robin, 2005). Cleanup of the World Trade Center site took 8½ months while the recovery continued for more months on 24 hours a day basis (Robin, 2005). The operation involved thousands of workers. In addition, massive pile of debris smoldered and smoked for 99 days. Emergency Management and the lessons from the attack Emergency management or disaster management deals with “management of risks’ including avoidance of the risks (Haddow and Jane, 2-3). It entails preparing, supporting, and rebuilding the society when disasters occur. Emergency management should be a continuous process involving “communities, groups as well as individuals” in management of hazards so as to reduce or avoid the impacts of disasters (Alexander, 10.12). The action taken should depend on the perception of the risks of the people exposed to the hazard. According to Walker (98 -110) an effective disaster management should integrate “emergency plans” at various levels of “government and non-government participation”. Modern set up in emergency management should focus on a more general goal to protect the “civilian population” at all times whether in times of peace or in times of war (Haddow and Jane, 65-90). The process should involve the following important phases: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Mitigation Mitigation attempts try to prevent hazard from building up into disasters or they reduce the impacts of disasters (Wisner, 100-101). This phase focuses on long term measures for eliminating or reducing risks. If a disaster occurs, application of mitigation strategies becomes part of the recovery efforts. However, actions that eliminate or minimize risk over time are part of mitigation measures (Haddow and Jane, 65-90). Mitigation efforts involve both structural and non-structural strategies. Structural measures employ technology while non-structural comprises “legislation, insurance, and land-use planning” (Wisner, 100-101). Mitigation activities include assessment of risks which involve identifying and evaluating hazards. A risk is determined by the “hazard and the vulnerability” of the population (Wisner, 100-101). According to Wisner (100-101) the higher the risk, the more urgent the mitigation efforts should be targeted at the “hazard specific vulnerabilities”. In case there is no vulnerability, risk does not exist (Haddow and Jane, 65-90) Preparedness In this phase, emergency personnel come up with plans of action that would be implemented in the event of a disaster. Preparedness measures include communication plans, development of multi-agency coordination, training and maintenance of emergency services as well as maintenance and inventory of equipments and supplies. An “emergency operation center” is a viable solution to management of emergencies (Walker 98 -110). Moreover, capability of “volunteer response” among the populace should be developed but in the occurrence of a disaster, these volunteers should operate at the periphery (Walker 98 -110). Response The response phase involves mobilization of the essential emergency services and the first response in the emergency area. The recovery phase aim at restoring the area affected to its original state. Recovery efforts come after addressing the immediate needs. In the United States, the National Response Plan is mandated with the responsibilities of dictating how resources will be used in the recovery efforts (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 4). National Response Plan The National Response Plan sets up a detailed “all hazards approach to augment” the ability of the United States to manage domestic emergencies (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 4). It establishes the foundation of how the federal government coordinates with “tribal, local and state governments” as well as the private sector during disasters. The National Response Plan lays down protocols to assist in the following: • Safety and health protection of the responders, public, and recovery workers; • Security of the homeland; • Prevention of an imminent danger; • Protection and restoration of key resources and critical infrastructure; • Investigations to resolve the occurrence, gather and preserve evidence for ascription and/or prosecution, and apprehend the perpetrators; • Protection of property and mitigation of impacts and damages to communities, individuals, and the environment; • Facilitation in recovery of individuals, families, businesses, governments, and the environment. An Emergency Management Information System (EMIS) is a “computer database” that is used in disaster response and it provides real-time, “graphical information” to responders (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 4). Conclusion Rescue efforts were initiated after hours of the attack. The rescue efforts took several months to complete including eight weeks of putting the fire off. The expenses incurred were massive and the number of precious lives lost was great. In this concern, emergency management is an important consideration which should be “incorporated in governments planning and strengthened on the ground” (Haddow and Jane, 2-3). References: Alexander, David. Principles of Emergency planning and Management. 2002. Harpenden: Terra Publishing. Cable News Network. First video of Pentagon 9/11 attack released. 2006. 7th October 2007 Cable News Network. Flight 93 Transcript. 2006. 7th October, 2007 Cable News Network. New York: Toxins caused Death. 2006. 7th October 2007 CBS News. Poor Info Hindered 9/11 Rescue. 2006. Retrieved on 7th October 2007 Cuny, C. Fred. Disasters and Development. 1983. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Dennis, Cauchon and Moore, Martha. Desperation forced a horrific decision. 2002. 7th October 2007 Federal Emergency Management Agency. 72 Hour Kits, an article from Home Security Guru. 2004. 7th October, 2007. www.fema.gov Haddow, D. George and Jane, A. Bullock. Introduction to Emergency Management. 2004. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann. Michael, O’ Mara. 9/11: Fifth Plane' terror alert at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. 2006. 7th October 2007 Mike, M. Ahlers. 9/11 panel: Hijackers may have had utility knives. 2005. 7th October 2007 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. 9/11 Commission Report. 2004. Chapter 5 National Institute of Standards and Technology. Interim Report on World Trade Centre 7. 2004. Pradnya, Joshi. Port Authority workers to be honored. Newsday. 2005. Robin, McKie. Warning over skyscrapers' deadly faults. The Guardian. 30th October 2005, Retrieved on 7th October 2007. pg 4. Walker, Peter. International Search and Rescue Teams, A League Discussion Paper. 1991. Geneva: League of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Wisner, P. Ben, Blaikie, T. Cannon At Risk - Natural hazards, people’s vulnerability and disasters. 2004. Wiltshire: Routledge. Read More