Community Preparedness and Response to Terrorism, Vol. 3

What can we do to protect ourselves from a terrorist attack, and how can communities respond most effectively if the unthinkable should happen? The next large-scale terrorist attack on the United States could be carried out using any number of agents and delivery methods, including anthrax, smallpox, the water system, the agriculture industry; threats to bridges, tunnels, trains, airlines, and other transportation systems; suicide bombings in crowded cities, convention centers, and shopping malls; the possibilities are many, but not endless. Local preparation is critical. Until now, scant attention has been paid to the role of communities in preparing for and responding to terrorism. This invaluable set covers chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive scenarios. Throughout, the focus is on community preparedness and response.

Volume I, The Terrorist Threat and Community Response, focuses on local, state, regional and federal coordination of efforts and interaction. Volume II, The Role of Community Organizations and Business, includes chapters on the public health system, counterterrorism training, cyberterrorism, negotiating with terrorists, nonprofit organizations, and schools. Volume III, Communication and the Media, addresses the role of the media in alerting the public to a terrorist attack, and the need to prevent terrorists from using public information against the very citizens the media is trying to serve in times of crisis.

Each volume of this three-volume set has its own focus: volume 1, the terrorist threat and community response; volume 2, the role of community organizations and business; and volume 3, communication and the media. Each volume contains 14-17 contributed chapters, has its own index and bibliography, and was thoughtfully prepared by its own set of editors and contributors (with some overlap). The aim is to present a well-rounded reference for the citizenry and for the leadership, written by experts with substantial experience in a variety of fields such as government and public policy, the health sciences, law, business, psychology, planning, insurance, and organizational behavior. These are people who have been talking, meeting, and studying the challenges, which are unprecedented in this country and which require preparation involving an unprecedented amount of organization, awareness, and creativity at local and regional levels. Initial chapters give a brief history of terrorism and of America after 9/11. Following are chapters devoted to various aspects of the coordination of governmental efforts, the public health system, counterterrorism training, cyberterrorism, negotiating with terrorists, schools, the role of the media in alerting the public to attacks and the need to prevent terrorists from using public information against the public, among many other topics. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

JAMES A. JOHNSON is Professor of Health Sciences at Central Michigan University. He has published nine books on a wide range of health-related topics. He is actively involved in international health development, including work with the World Health Organization.

GERALD R. LEDLOW is Associate Professor and Director of the Doctor of Health Administration Program at Central Michigan University and former U.S. Army Medical Logistics Officer in the Medical Service Corps. In the 1990s he directed managed care for Military Health Systems.

MARK A. CWIEK is Professor of Health Sciences at Central Michigan University. He has served as president and CEO of hospitals in Michigan and Illinois and he has led a Physician Hospital Organization.