Urban response to CBRNe. Multi-service, multi-jurisdictional, response to terror events

Abstract

Terrorist attacks occur in the urban environment to maximize fear and confusion. The “urban first responder” is the critical asset in minimizing the effects of an attack. Urban first responders are first on scene, and first to extract and treat casualties. They are the first wave in protection of the public and infrastructure. Special Operations Task Forces (SOTF) are the second wave of response. These task forces usually comprise urban police, fire and paramedic personnel with specialized training in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and explosive (CBRNe) identification and containment, including treatment of the contaminated and injured. Federal policing and military units are the third wave of response. They respond at the request of the state and/or province, and are highly trained and effective specialists with advanced equipment and capabilities. All levels of government are responsible to effectively minimize the effects of terror events to the public, infrastructure and country. A high level of capability has been developed, unfortunately within silos, to respond to a CBRNe attack but there are deficiencies within the three waves that will prevent us from staging an optimum response. First responders are a critical key to an effective response. Indeed, the initial actions of the first responder will often be the defining factor in the outcome. Linkages and communications between the three waves of the response are also critical. Federal and military teams are certainly necessary for a full response but they must develop relationships with the first and second waves in order to be successful. Therefore, the complete response approach, pulling together the three waves of response, is critical to our public safety mission, which is to effectively coordinate and apply the appropriate resources at the appropriate time of an event.