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Potential
terrorist attacks pose a
significant
national concern. Attacks could involve dispersing toxic gases or
bioterrorism
agents (e.g., bacteria that cause plague) through the air. UT Arlington
is capable of
helping regions prepare for, respond to, and mitigate such potential
acts of
airborne terrorism, as well as non-terrorist related airborne releases
of toxic
chemicals.
Dispersion
modeling can be used to
predict how far
toxic gases or bioterrorism agents will travel from a release point,
and what
ambient concentrations will be. Thus, the number of people exposed to
potentially dangerous levels can be determined, and areas that need to
be
evacuated can be identified.
Examples of
scenarios where
dispersion modeling would be useful for planning responses include:
§ Release of
biological terrorism agents from a truck, train, or building;
§ Release or spill
of toxic chemicals from manufacturing, storage, or end-use facilities,
or
during transportation (e.g., from a truck or train);
§ Release of
chlorine gas from a water or wastewater treatment facility.
Dispersion
modeling case-studies performed ahead of
time can help cities, counties, and other emergency response
organizations
analyze organizational readiness, identify steps necessary to implement
emergency
management responses, and identify organizational vulnerabilities.
In
addition,
specially adapted dispersion modeling
software can be used real-time to predict airborne transport of toxic
gases or
bioterrorism agents to aid emergency response personnel in the event of
an
actual attack/release.
Dispersion
modeling can also be used to determine
locations for monitors for chemical and biological agents to define the
magnitude and location of an attack/release.
Much of the
response to a
bioterrorist attack would occur at the local level
GAO report
2003 - Officials
reported deficiencies in capacity, communication, and coordination
elements
essential to preparedness and response, such as workforce shortages,
inadequacies
in disease surveillance and laboratory systems, and a lack of regional
coordination and compatible communications systems.
State officials also
expressed a desire
for
more sharing of best practices.
Disaster
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