Infrastructure Issues for Cities—Countering Terrorist Threat
Publication: Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 9, Issue 1
Abstract
Americans awoke on September 11, 2001, to watch a life and death struggle, live and in color, in New York and Washington D.C. but also to a changed world. We were shocked to realize we are no longer safe within our borders. And then we learned our attackers had patiently developed and financed a careful plan that led to their attack. Today we Americans may wonder if we and our children are safe in our homes and schools. This paper explores some of the significant vulnerabilities inherent within the infrastructure systems that support our way of life. A number of near-term actions to improve protection, response, and recovery from terrorist attacks are identified. The attack of September 11 was clearly an act of war on our homeland. Our President has responded forcefully by declaring that we are at war on terrorism. This in effect is a call to arms for professionals in particular, to contribute our knowledge, skills, and energies to protecting our families and nation.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Infrastructure Systems
Volume 9 • Issue 1 • March 2003
Pages: 44 - 54
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 3, 2002
Accepted: Jul 22, 2002
Published online: Feb 14, 2003
Published in print: Mar 2003
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