Document Type
Master's Culminating Experience
Publication Date
6-2017
Abstract
In today’s geopolitical environment, the emergence of religious extremism is becoming more prevalent. Justified as a holy war, jihadists are becoming more brash and calculated in attacking targets to inflict maximum damage and instill the greatest amount of fear. Coordinated, lethal, terrorist attacks against innocent targets; killing indiscriminately is a preferred tactic of extremists. Multiple attacks, coordinated either in proximity or timing, using firearms, explosive devices, or fire to inflict damage and disrupt life is the basis of a Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attack (CCTA).
City and regional emergency response plans should address mitigating efforts to a CCTA. Community strength and resiliency is dependent on a rapid, seamless, local, regional, and potentially federal response to a terrorist event. To aid in planning efforts, multiple federal agencies sponsor a collaborative effort among federal, state, local, and private sector entities aimed at assessing community vulnerabilities to terror attacks, existing emergency response plans, and consultation to develop regional mitigating actions in response to a CCTA. In 2016, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offered designated grant money to communities interested in developing emergency preparedness and resiliency efforts against these types of terror attacks. Dayton Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) and the Dayton Emergency Management Services (EMS) Council collectively agreed upon and submitted a grant proposal to help fund a collaborative, regional, multi-jurisdictional exercise in response to a potential CCTA event. Integral aspects of regional vulnerability assessment, exercise planning, and community resiliency are addressed in this manuscript.
Repository Citation
Elliott, T. (2017). Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attack: Considerations for Practical Emergency Preparedness and Resiliency Exercises. Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
Creative Commons License
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