How Prepared are First Responders for Domestic Terrorism?

by Davis, Lois M.; Riley, Jack K.; Ridgeway, Greg; Pace, Jennifer; Cotton, Sarah K.

• ISBN13: 9780833034991
• ISBN10: 0833034995
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-21
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Emergency responders play a critical role in responding to terrorist attacks. This volume presents the results of a nationwide survey RAND undertook of state and local law enforcement agencies, state offices of emergency management, and state departments of agriculture to assess how prepare they are for this role.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	ix
Tables	xi
Summary	xv
Acknowledgments	xxxi
Abbreviations	xxxiii
Introduction	1	(10)
Background	1	(2)
Objective	3	(1)
Approach	4	(4)
Limitations	8	(2)
Organization of This Report	10	(1)
Response Experience of Law Enforcement Agencies with Terrorism	11	(16)
Analytic Approach	11	(1)
Few Local Law Enforcement Agencies Had Prior Experience with Terrorism	12	(3)
Following 9/11, State and Local Law Enforcement Gained More Experience in Responding to Terrorist-Related Incidents	15	(3)
Potential Physical Vulnerabilities Vary at the Local Level	18	(2)
Most Local Law Enforcement Agencies Perceive the Threat to Be Low for Their Jurisdiction	20	(2)
Discussion	22	(5)
Preparedness Results for Law Enforcement Agencies	27	(38)
Analytic Approach	29	(1)
Assessment Activities Before and after 9/11	30	(4)
Coordination Activities	34	(6)
Communications Interoperability	40	(2)
Organizational Changes Made to Improve Terrorism Response Capabilities	42	(4)
Planning Activities	46	(2)
Training and Exercises	48	(6)
Discussion	54	(11)
Law Enforcement's Support Needs and How They Are Resourcing Preparedness Activities	65	(20)
Introduction	65	(1)
Analytic Approach	65	(1)
Law Enforcement's Support Needs	66	(5)
How Law Enforcement Is Resourcing Their Preparedness Activities	71	(4)
Discussion	75	(10)
Understanding the Relationship Between Risk, Size of Jurisdiction, Receipt of Funding, and Preparedness Activities	85	(24)
Introduction	85	(2)
Analytic Approach	87	(8)
Results	95	(9)
Discussion	104	(5)
Conclusions and Future Directions	109	(20)
Introduction	109	(1)
Conclusions and Implications	110	(15)
Future Directions: Getting the Most Out of the Survey	125	(4)
Appendix A. Study Methodology	129	(10)
Appendix B. Analysis of Perceived Threat and Characteristics of Law Enforcement Agencies	139	(2)
References	141