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8 Societal Impact of a Radiological Attack
8.1.1 Public Health
During and after the emergency phase of a radiological attack the primary public
health concerns will revolve around providing care for the critically injured as
discussed in Chaps. 6 and 17. This is likely to be challenging as hospitals close
to the scene of the attack are likely to be overwhelmed with the first victims to be
evacuated from the scene as well as by persons who self-evacuate and transport themselves to the hospital. In the aftermath of the attacks against the World Trade Center
on September 11, 2001 public health, emergency response, and medical caregivers
reported to the author that not only did large numbers of victims arrive at nearby
hospitals by foot, automobile, or mass transit, but many who were relatively lightly
injured actually arrived at medical facilities more quickly than did the critically
injured because they did not require rescue, evaluation, and transport.
In New York City, for example, the primary radiological public health objectives
are to care for those in the immediate vicinity of the dispersal, whether explosive or
covert. Taking steps to reduce inhalation and ingestion, moving members of the public
out of the path of airborne radioactivity, and telling those downwind to shelter (go
indoors, close doors and windows, and wait until the plume has settled to the ground),
and taking steps to determine the plume “footprint” will help to minimize radiation
exposure to those who are downwind but not directly affected by the explosion.
Once these immediate needs are addressed—caring for those who require medical
attention and minimizing radiation exposure to those more distant from the release—
public health personnel can begin to pivot towards considering long-term health
concerns.
8.1.2 Economic
A radiological attack is likely to have a massive economic impact, but this will play
out over the course of weeks to decades after the attack; in the short term, during the
emergency phase, the economic impact is likely to be far lower. In such a short time
frame the major economic impact for the government is likely to be overtime paid to
emergency responders and obtaining the supplies needed to stabilize the scene and
to care for the injured as well as those who need shelter because their homes were
destroyed or are inaccessible.
In the days following an attack those whose homes were destroyed or made
inaccessible will need to pay for lodging and for items they will need on a day-today basis; in the absence of assistance from the government this can have a negative
effect on their savings and net wealth. Businesses in the area will suffer as well when
their customers (and possibly employees) are unable to visit. In fact, the issue of
inaccessibility is likely to continue for months to decades, depending on a number of
factors, which are discussed below. In the short term these businesses will, like the
individuals affected, have to spend their savings (if any) to continue paying necessary
8 Societal Impact of a Radiological Attack
8.1.1 Public Health
During and after the emergency phase of a radiological attack the primary public
health concerns will revolve around providing care for the critically injured as
discussed in Chaps. 6 and 17. This is likely to be challenging as hospitals close
to the scene of the attack are likely to be overwhelmed with the first victims to be
evacuated from the scene as well as by persons who self-evacuate and transport themselves to the hospital. In the aftermath of the attacks against the World Trade Center
on September 11, 2001 public health, emergency response, and medical caregivers
reported to the author that not only did large numbers of victims arrive at nearby
hospitals by foot, automobile, or mass transit, but many who were relatively lightly
injured actually arrived at medical facilities more quickly than did the critically
injured because they did not require rescue, evaluation, and transport.
In New York City, for example, the primary radiological public health objectives
are to care for those in the immediate vicinity of the dispersal, whether explosive or
covert. Taking steps to reduce inhalation and ingestion, moving members of the public
out of the path of airborne radioactivity, and telling those downwind to shelter (go
indoors, close doors and windows, and wait until the plume has settled to the ground),
and taking steps to determine the plume “footprint” will help to minimize radiation
exposure to those who are downwind but not directly affected by the explosion.
Once these immediate needs are addressed—caring for those who require medical
attention and minimizing radiation exposure to those more distant from the release—
public health personnel can begin to pivot towards considering long-term health
concerns.
8.1.2 Economic
A radiological attack is likely to have a massive economic impact, but this will play
out over the course of weeks to decades after the attack; in the short term, during the
emergency phase, the economic impact is likely to be far lower. In such a short time
frame the major economic impact for the government is likely to be overtime paid to
emergency responders and obtaining the supplies needed to stabilize the scene and
to care for the injured as well as those who need shelter because their homes were
destroyed or are inaccessible.
In the days following an attack those whose homes were destroyed or made
inaccessible will need to pay for lodging and for items they will need on a day-today basis; in the absence of assistance from the government this can have a negative
effect on their savings and net wealth. Businesses in the area will suffer as well when
their customers (and possibly employees) are unable to visit. In fact, the issue of
inaccessibility is likely to continue for months to decades, depending on a number of
factors, which are discussed below. In the short term these businesses will, like the
individuals affected, have to spend their savings (if any) to continue paying necessary