Introduction
December 8, 2001
Representatives from 18 organizations convened at the American Public Health Association in Washington DC and agreed on the urgent need for the education of community health, medical, public safety, and local government officials regarding the fundamentals of weapons of terrorism, their detection, and response.
Following the 1995 terrorist Sarin gas attack in Tokyo and the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah building preparedness for mass casualty incidents developed momentum. The Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Amendment (The Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 1996) was introduced in 1996 to address “threats, risks, and shortfalls in response capabilities.” PL 104-201. September 23, 1996. Also during the same year the Metropolitan Medical Response System program was created to assist highly populated areas to plan, prepare, and train for mass casualty terrorist events. Initiatives include:
- Domestic Preparedness Program
Department of Defense- Emergency Response to Terrorism
Department of Justice / Federal Emergency Management Agency- Department of Homeland Security
Department of Health and Human Services