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Is the U.S. Prepared to Deal With Another Terrorist Attack?

Aired October 20, 2001 - 15:26   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9-11, many cities across the U.S. are reevaluating just how ready they are or are not to respond to similar tragedies.

Joining us now is Hank Christen, who's the co-author of "Understanding Terrorism and Managing the Consequences," live with use here in Atlanta. The book is thick. Good afternoon to you, sir.

One of the principle points you make is this: A city has to be prepared and ready. How in the world can any city be ready for what happened in New York City on 9-11?

HANK CHRISTEN, AUTHOR: No city can. This incident pointed out that no fire department on earth could be prepared for two jumbo jets hitting two towers within minutes of each other, and it pointed out again the importance in any size city, from New York down to Small Town, USA, the importance of mutual aid.

The largest -- one of the largest mass casualty centers in our history was in Hoboken, New Jersey, across the river, using New Jersey EMS assets to help the city of New York.

HEMMER: As you look back, was that coordinated prior to, or is that something that was ad-libbed in a sense?

CHRISTEN: Well, we try not to ad-lib mutual aid. I'm not familiar with those specific plans, but one of the things that we emphasize for any community, large or small, is to not ad-lib it, to plan it, to set up mutual aid and be ready to help each other.

HEMMER: One of the things you make is that a lot of what was taking place in terms of preparation prior to the attacks in early September was hypothetical. People were imagining scenarios. How has that changed now, since then, and what have you heard from various cities across the country in the past five-and-a-half weeks?

CHRISTEN: Well, one of the big changes is you never fund the hypothetical. When we first started talking with our editors at Pearson Education Brady Books on this project, we discussed hypothetical things that would happen. We talked to other cities and, of course, now reality has struck, and the big change is that there is an awareness -- there's an awareness too, that the local responders in Anytown, USA are going to be the first there. The federal assets are a tremendous help, and they can give us sustainability, but the soldiers of this new war is public health, EMS, fire and law enforcement in your town.

HEMMER: You mention awareness. I'm wondering how that has changed. Do people have a sense that it could come here, or is there still a sense that it happened somewhere else and we might be pretty well protected at this point?

CHRISTEN: No, I think there's a definite sense that it could happen in other places. It's unlikely, but it can and it might, and what local planning agencies are looking at is to improve what they do best every day so that in the remote case that terrorism should hit in a mid-size city or small city or another large city they're going to be ready to respond, and again, do what they do best.

HEMMER: And the other thing here that requires money, many of these facilities and departments have gone underfunded. Have you gotten a sense that that has changed, or is in the process of?

CHRISTEN: Well, I think it's in the process of. It's too early, but, you know, this anthrax scare points out the fact that the tip of the spear in most cities is going to be an underfunded and understaffed public health agency that's going to have to detect it, and we see hospitals and EMS systems throughout the country that have trouble responding to even a busy Friday night surge capacity, much less a major event. So the funding is going to come slow, but it's one of the things that's going to have to happen, along with the awareness and preparation.

HEMMER: You were in New York City, Hank, and I also know that you looked at Oklahoma City from six years ago. I am not sure the comparisons are even fair in this case, but based on what you have seen and noticed between the two, what could you tell us about what we have learned?

CHRISTEN: Well, there are some comparisons, the fact that, again, a local community gets a 911 call, that's where it starts. They are overwhelmed, they need aggressive mutual aid support, and the federal support gives us a large level of expertise and sustainability, but the local agencies are going to be on their own for quite a long time.

HEMMER: We are all learning as we go, are we not?

CHRISTEN: Definitely, and this is called learning that's hard and painful.

HEMMER: And the curve is steep. Hank Christen, an author who wrote the book "Understanding Terrorism and Managing the Consequences," thanks for coming in.

CHRISTEN: Thank you.

HEMMER: Appreciate it. All right.

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