NCJ Number
191686
Date Published
2001
Length
79 pages
Annotation
The report summarizes the Human Behavior and Weapons of Mass Destruction Crisis/Risk Communication Workshop and its recommendations for future research, analysis and other activities.
Abstract
Twenty-seven agencies follow a Federal Response Plan in dealing with a terrorist attack involving chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. But the plan does not describe a strategy for crisis/risk communications in such an attack. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Advanced Systems and Concepts Office (ASCO) is charged with improving the ability of the Defense Department to protect troops from the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The Human Behavior and Weapons of Mass Destruction Crisis/Risk Communication Workshop was ASCO's first step to develop a strategy to focus the agencies on a preparedness mission to respond to a WMD event. Military and intelligence officers, academics and media representatives were some of the participants in the workshop. The workshop examined how, in a WMD event, can public fear be minimized; how can the public be persuaded to take appropriate action and to avoid inappropriate action; which responders and members of the public are at higher risk of psychological effects, and how can such effects be prevented; and what are the likely psychological impacts of a WMD event. The public needs to be desensitized on WMD agents by public awareness campaigns. Experts should develop best-case and worst-case scenarios and explain those to the public. Expected responses from emergency personnel should be delineated for each type of WMD, and the heads of all involved agencies should come together to coordinate a response plan for WMD attacks. Attendee list, bibliography.