Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Chicago's Turn to See How Emergency Crews Respond to Simulated Terrorist Attack
Aired May 13, 2003 - 06:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's Chicago's turn to see how emergency crews respond to a simulated terrorist attack. The national exercises began yesterday in Seattle when emergency crews were called in to handle a mock dirty bomb attack.
CNN's Lillian Kim joins me live from Seattle with more -- good morning, Lillian.
LILLIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
This mock rescue and recovery effort continues today here just south of downtown Seattle. For crews, this is not only a simulated bomb site, but a mock crime scene created by theoretical terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIM (voice-over): The simulated dirty bomb went off with a bang. Minutes later, hundreds of emergency workers converged on the scene. About 200 people played the roles of the dead or injured, affected by a mock dirty bomb, a conventional explosive device that disperses radioactive material.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a fairly likely terrorist threat scenario. In fact, probably more likely than being able to aerosolize smallpox or anthrax.
KIM: This terrorism response exercise is designed to test the readiness of local, state and federal officials by pushing them to the limit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know and we fully expected that this was going to be a difficult, challenging problem for police officers and firefights. It was designed to basically exceed our grasp.
KIM: At nearby hospitals, medical personnel in protective gear treated mock victims. In real life, the suits would minimize radiation exposure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The value of drilling is you get to learn and know about information that you hadn't really paid a lot of attention to before.
KIM: This Congressionally mandated five day drill is the largest terrorism response exercise ever. Although the participants knew about the drill in advance, organizers say they didn't know the specifics. They expect real lessons to be learned from the experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They know roughly what it's about, but beyond that, they are reacting as they would pretty much in real life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KIM: Some time today the second phase of this five day drill will begin to play out in Chicago, where officials will be dealing with the first simulated cases of pneumonic plague. By the end of the week, this exercise is expected to cost $16 million tax dollars and involve more than 8,500 people.
Reporting live from Seattle, I'm Lillian Kim -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Many thanks.
Lillian Kim reporting live for us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Simulated Terrorist Attack>
Aired May 13, 2003 - 06:22 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's Chicago's turn to see how emergency crews respond to a simulated terrorist attack. The national exercises began yesterday in Seattle when emergency crews were called in to handle a mock dirty bomb attack.
CNN's Lillian Kim joins me live from Seattle with more -- good morning, Lillian.
LILLIAN KIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
This mock rescue and recovery effort continues today here just south of downtown Seattle. For crews, this is not only a simulated bomb site, but a mock crime scene created by theoretical terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIM (voice-over): The simulated dirty bomb went off with a bang. Minutes later, hundreds of emergency workers converged on the scene. About 200 people played the roles of the dead or injured, affected by a mock dirty bomb, a conventional explosive device that disperses radioactive material.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a fairly likely terrorist threat scenario. In fact, probably more likely than being able to aerosolize smallpox or anthrax.
KIM: This terrorism response exercise is designed to test the readiness of local, state and federal officials by pushing them to the limit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We know and we fully expected that this was going to be a difficult, challenging problem for police officers and firefights. It was designed to basically exceed our grasp.
KIM: At nearby hospitals, medical personnel in protective gear treated mock victims. In real life, the suits would minimize radiation exposure.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The value of drilling is you get to learn and know about information that you hadn't really paid a lot of attention to before.
KIM: This Congressionally mandated five day drill is the largest terrorism response exercise ever. Although the participants knew about the drill in advance, organizers say they didn't know the specifics. They expect real lessons to be learned from the experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They know roughly what it's about, but beyond that, they are reacting as they would pretty much in real life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KIM: Some time today the second phase of this five day drill will begin to play out in Chicago, where officials will be dealing with the first simulated cases of pneumonic plague. By the end of the week, this exercise is expected to cost $16 million tax dollars and involve more than 8,500 people.
Reporting live from Seattle, I'm Lillian Kim -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Many thanks.
Lillian Kim reporting live for us this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Simulated Terrorist Attack>
