NCJ Number
201821
Date Published
2003
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This report presents the key findings of a 2002 survey of U.S. mayors regarding which security threats were of most concern to the mayors, as well as the level of their city's emergency preparedness for dealing with those threats; the survey focused on planning capabilities, emergency response equipment, and funding.
Abstract
Surveys were mailed to just over 600 mayors across the country, and 122 surveys were returned, representing cities of all sizes from every region of the country. Although the survey was administered 9 months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, mayors' concerns about terrorist-related attacks had not diminished. The greatest concern was threat detection as a means of preventing an attack before it can be executed. The vulnerability of greatest concern was related to the possibility of a chemical or biological attack. The mayors reported that their cities' emergency preparedness planning, including communications planning, was satisfactory regarding the preparation of a core of first-responding agencies and offices; however, they reported a need to improve communications beyond this core of agencies, notably in communication networks that would involve regions, hospitals/health care providers, businesses, and the general public. The mayors expressed a significant need for additional funding and resources for almost every component of preparedness for terrorist attacks, even in areas already receiving a large share of current budgets, such as emergency response training and equipment purchases. The mayors wanted additional funds sent directly to cities rather than channeled through State governments. Some mayors believe their cities could qualify as "best practice" for security emergency planning and preparation, in that they could provide a basis for learning/action by other communities. Extensive charts