8.2 Long-Term Impact
81
might be going into the local economy, but the places that are forced to close until
remediation is completed and access restored will have lost many of their former
regular customers and developing a new customer base (and possibly luring former
regular customers back) will require time. In this time, many of these businesses can
be expected to fail with a concomitant loss of jobs and tax revenue for the city. This
can also lead to a cycle of business startup followed by business failure that can last
for many years.
This same effect can come into play with regards to tourism, conferences and
conventions, and business travelers. Consider the impact of a radiological attack
against the Las Vegas Strip. With the relaxation of gambling laws in the United
States people can go to Atlantic City, casinos on Native American reservations, and
any number of riverboats, cruise ships, and other venues to gamble. One can imagine
them substituting any of these alternative destinations during the years required to
remediate the Las Vegas Strip and then simply continuing to go to their new casino(s)
even after Las Vegas is restored to the pre-attack normal. In addition to that, there
might be a reluctance to visit a city that has suffered such an attack, whether worried
about the risk of a second attack or the risk from residual radioactivity. This, too, can
cause a lasting impact on the economy of the city that was attacked.
References
1. US Department of Transportation (2020) Traffic safety fact: Preview of motor vehicle traffic
fatalities in 2019
2. Drottz-Sjöberg B, Persson L (1993) Public Reaction to radiation: Fear, Anxiety, or Phobia?.
Health Phys 64(3):223–231
3. Stallings R (1984) Evacuation Behavior at Three Mile Island. Int J Mass Emergencies Disaster
2(1):11–26
4. Johnson G (2015) When Radiation Isn’t the real risk. New York Times
5. Becker S (2004) Emergency communication and information issues in terrorist events involving
radioactive materials. Biosecur Bioterror 2(3):195–207
6. Becker S (2005). Addressing the psychosocial and communications challenges posed by
radiological/nuclear terrorism: key developments since NCRP report No. 138. Health Phys
89(5):521–530
7. Becker S (2011) Risk communication and radiological/nuclear terrorism: a strategic view.
Health Phys 101(5):551–558
8. Becker S (2011) Learning from the 2011 great east Japan disaster: insights from a special
radiological emergency assistance mission. Biosecurity Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy,
Pract Sci 9, No. 4 Special Report
9. Becker S (2013) The fukushima dai-ichi accident: Additional lessons from a radiological
emergency assistance mission. Health Phys 105(5):455–461
10. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (2018) Community reception center
field guide. New York City
11. US Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (2017) Radiological
dispersal device (RDD) response guidance: planning for the first 100 minutes. US DHS, New
York City
12. Hall E, Giaccia A (2019) Radiobiology for the radiologist, 8th edn. Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins, New York
81
might be going into the local economy, but the places that are forced to close until
remediation is completed and access restored will have lost many of their former
regular customers and developing a new customer base (and possibly luring former
regular customers back) will require time. In this time, many of these businesses can
be expected to fail with a concomitant loss of jobs and tax revenue for the city. This
can also lead to a cycle of business startup followed by business failure that can last
for many years.
This same effect can come into play with regards to tourism, conferences and
conventions, and business travelers. Consider the impact of a radiological attack
against the Las Vegas Strip. With the relaxation of gambling laws in the United
States people can go to Atlantic City, casinos on Native American reservations, and
any number of riverboats, cruise ships, and other venues to gamble. One can imagine
them substituting any of these alternative destinations during the years required to
remediate the Las Vegas Strip and then simply continuing to go to their new casino(s)
even after Las Vegas is restored to the pre-attack normal. In addition to that, there
might be a reluctance to visit a city that has suffered such an attack, whether worried
about the risk of a second attack or the risk from residual radioactivity. This, too, can
cause a lasting impact on the economy of the city that was attacked.
References
1. US Department of Transportation (2020) Traffic safety fact: Preview of motor vehicle traffic
fatalities in 2019
2. Drottz-Sjöberg B, Persson L (1993) Public Reaction to radiation: Fear, Anxiety, or Phobia?.
Health Phys 64(3):223–231
3. Stallings R (1984) Evacuation Behavior at Three Mile Island. Int J Mass Emergencies Disaster
2(1):11–26
4. Johnson G (2015) When Radiation Isn’t the real risk. New York Times
5. Becker S (2004) Emergency communication and information issues in terrorist events involving
radioactive materials. Biosecur Bioterror 2(3):195–207
6. Becker S (2005). Addressing the psychosocial and communications challenges posed by
radiological/nuclear terrorism: key developments since NCRP report No. 138. Health Phys
89(5):521–530
7. Becker S (2011) Risk communication and radiological/nuclear terrorism: a strategic view.
Health Phys 101(5):551–558
8. Becker S (2011) Learning from the 2011 great east Japan disaster: insights from a special
radiological emergency assistance mission. Biosecurity Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy,
Pract Sci 9, No. 4 Special Report
9. Becker S (2013) The fukushima dai-ichi accident: Additional lessons from a radiological
emergency assistance mission. Health Phys 105(5):455–461
10. New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (2018) Community reception center
field guide. New York City
11. US Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (2017) Radiological
dispersal device (RDD) response guidance: planning for the first 100 minutes. US DHS, New
York City
12. Hall E, Giaccia A (2019) Radiobiology for the radiologist, 8th edn. Lippincott Williams and
Wilkins, New York