120 Cities Most at Risk [Surviving Terrorism]

Surviving Terrorism.com ^ | 2-10-03 | Jarret B. Wollstein

[Salvation]

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120 Cities Most at Risk
Of Terrorist Attacks

For the past few years, the federal government has been providing training and assistance to police and emergency response workers in the 120 cities considered most at risk of terrorist attacks. A complete list of those cities appears at the end of this report.

As you will see, the list includes major government centers (Philadelphia, Miami, Sacramento, Washington, D.C.), cities with extensive industry (Detroit, Houston, San Jose), major business centers (Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia), important media centers (New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C.), major seaports (Newport News, Oakland, San Diego, Tampa), and important military facilities (Colorado Springs, Honolulu, Long Beach, Norfolk, San Francisco).

The federal government is providing extensive training for police and emergency workers in these 120 cities, including preparation for conventional (e.g., bomb), biological, chemical, and radiological (“dirty bomb”) attacks. However ...

Are the “At Risk Cities” Now Prepared?

The short answer is no, they are not. So if you live in or within 50 miles of these cities, you should consider yourself at significant risk for the duration of the War on Terror, which President Bush says could last as long as 50 years.

Fifty miles should be considered the minimal safe distance from an “at risk” city. The reason is that in event of even a small radiological or nuclear attack (5-20 kiloton weapon), lethal radiation and fallout will be carried by prevailing winds at least that far. In plain English, if the winds are blowing away from you, you will probably survive if you are 10-20 miles away. However, if winds are blowing toward you, you will probably be dead in a few days. Similarly, in event of a major biological attack, winds and fleeing survivors could easily carry pathogens at least 50 miles.

In the event a more serious attack, you may need to be as much as 100-300 miles away from a target city to survive.

While the government is now attempting to train emergency personnel in the 120 cities at greatest risk, please recognize it will take many years before most cities are even minimally prepared. Even then, government assistance is absolutely no guarantee that there will be enough drugs, water and food to go around for everyone in the event of a radiological, nuclear, or biological attack, which could put hundreds of thousands, even millions of people at risk. In many cases, the consequences will be nationwide.

Furthermore, there are many biological weapons for which no effective treatments exist, and the only protection is to not be anywhere in the area when people are exposed, and to get out before you and your family are exposed.

Also, in a crisis, expect emergency facilities—including hospitals and medical clinics —to be quickly overwhelmed. In fact, they are likely to be reservoirs of disease and contagion.

Dark Winter: What to Expect in the
Event of a Bioterrorist Attack

On June 22-23, 2001, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) conducted what they term “a senior-level war game” examining the likely consequences of a smallpox outbreak in the U.S. Again, let me emphasis this is an exercise based on high-level computer analysis and prediction, not an actual occurrence.

The results were alarming: During the exercise, smallpox was projected to spread to 25 states and 15 foreign countries. By the 13th day of the exercise, “A total of 16,000 smallpox cases have been reported in 25 states.” But that’s just the beginning.

By the end of the exercise, the National Security Council projects “that in worst-case conditions, the third generation of cases could conceivably comprise as many as 3,000,000 cases of smallpox and lead to as many as 1,000,000 deaths.” (“Shining Light on ‘Dark Winter’,” Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, Electronically published 19 February 2002.)

Other conclusions of the Dark Winter study:

• “States have restricted nonessential travel.”
• “Food shortages are growing in some places, and the national economy is suffering.”
• “Residents have fled and are fleeing cities where new cases emerge.”
• “Canada and Mexico have closed their borders to the United States.”
• “The public demands mandatory isolation of smallpox victims and their contacts, but identifying contacts has become logistically impossible.”
• “The individual actions of US citizens will be critical to ending the spread of contagious diseases.”

This last point to me is the most important lesson of Dark Winter: To survive you need to prepare in advance.

For more information on Dark Winter, check out the collection of articles here and here. The last link is from the University of Chicago.

120 Cities Most at Risk
State	City
Alabama	Birmingham
	Mobile
	Montgomery
Alaska	Anchorage
Arkansas	Little Rock
Arizona	Phoenix
	Mesa
	Tucson
California	Anaheim
	Bakersfield
	Fremont
	Fresno
	Glendale
	Huntington Beach
	Long Beach
	Los Angeles
	Modesto
	Oakland
	Riverside
	San Bernardino
	San Diego
	San Francisco
	Santa Ana
	San Jose
	Sacramento
	Stockton
Colorado	Aurora
	Colorado Springs
	Denver
District of Columbia	Washington
Florida	Fort Lauderdale
	Hialeah
	Jacksonville
	Miami
	Orlando
	St. Petersburg
	Tampa
Georgia	Atlanta
	Columbus
Hawaii	Honolulu
Illinois	Chicago
Indiana	Fort Wayne
	Indianapolis
Iowa	Des Moines
Kansas	Kansas City
	Wichita
Kentucky	Lexington
	Louisville
Louisiana	Baton Rouge
	Metaire
	New Orleans
	Shreveport
Maryland	Baltimore
Massachusetts	Boston
	Springfield
	Worcester
Michigan	Detroit
	Grand Rapids
	Warren
Minnesota	Minneapolis
	St. Paul
Mississippi	Jackson
Missouri	Kansas City
	St. Louis
Nebraska	Lincoln
	Omaha
Nevada	Las Vegas
New Jersey	Jersey City
	Newark
New Mexico	Albuquerque
New York	Buffalo
	New York
	Rochester
	Syracuse
	Yonkers
North Carolina	Charlotte
	Greensboro
	Raleigh
Ohio	Akron
	Cincinnati
	Cleveland
	Columbus
	Dayton
	Toledo
Oklahoma	Oklahoma City
	Tulsa
Oregon	Portland
Pennsylvania	Philadelphia
	Pittsburgh
Rhode Island	Providence
Tennessee	Chattanooga
	Knoxville
	Memphis
	Nashville
Texas	Amarillo
	Arlington
	Austin
	Corpus Christi
	Dallas
	El Paso
	Fort Worth
	Garland
	Houston
	Irving
	Lubbock
	San Antonio
Utah	Salt Lake City
Virginia	Arlington
	Chesapeake
	Newport News
	Norfolk
	Richmond
	Virginia Beach
Washington	Seattle
	Spokane
	Tacoma
Wisconsin	Madison
	Milwaukee

[Salvation]

**It would have to be one heck of an attack to even get noticed in that dump.**

But how many of the Al-Qaeda terrorist lived in your backyard there?

[Koblenz]

Nothing in CT?

[HamiltonJay]

Terrorism is a real threat, to individuals.. the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time.. you can be dead. HOwever, in the greater scheme it is about more symbolic attacks than practical destruction. Look at their 9/11 attacks... Pentagon, WTC and likely Capitol Building. Pentagon was not going to be stopped by a plane, even its complete destruction would not stop the US military... so symbolic. Al Queda's own admittance they did not expect the WTC's to fall, only to be damaged, so the full economical effect of 9/11 was far greater than planned or expected by the terrorists, and the Capitol Building... this one if it had succeeded may have caused some serious political problems... but it is the only 1 of the 3 in my view that could have been anything more than political statement making.

There are so many simple ways terrorists could distrupt our economy or way of life... and I am almost certain none of these avenues are being explored. Because they won't cause spectacular press, or even large amounts of death, but would without question be economically and socially devastating. I won't mention any of them, no need to give out ideas.... but lets just say, while terrorism is a frightening prospect... like all ARAB military actions in the last 500 or more years... it won't have much overall impact and in its large scheme fail miserably.

[MadelineZapeezda]

Your search showed nothing because no one has "survinging" terrorism before! lol

[Redcloak]

Nothing worth attacking, I suppose.

[RayBob]

I'm mortally wounded! I've been called a dumbass! Oh, what shall I do?

Look, my point was that we are all at risk from a terrorist attack, no matter where we are. I also took a shot at humor, which apparently went over your head.

This list of the 120 cities most at risk is assinine. Podunk, TN is just as much at risk as New York City. The fact that major economic, business and population centers would be primary targets is about as obvious as the nose on your face.

Yes, this is always a possibility. So was the collapse of society due to the Y2K bug. Yes, you have to recognize the threat, but you also have to analyze the risk and plan accordingly. The fact remains that no matter how well you think you prepare, you either will have prepared for nothing, or have seriously underestimated the risk. How many people still have crates of canned food and bottled water in the basements? And if Y2K turned out to be be disaster that they thought it was, would those supplies have made that much of a difference for them in the long run? In otherwords, there's very little that you can do except live your life.

Look at the Isrealis. They have lived with the real threat of terrorism for 40 years. They recognize that each day could be their last. They see that they have two choices: to cower in fear in their basements waiting for death to come or to live their lives. They assess the risk and try to plan for it, but in the end, they go about their lives. Like the Isrealis, I choose to live my life.

[G L Tirebiter]

You have nailed it.

This reminds me of a speech made by a history prof. at a local college during the heyday of the Cold War.

He said our town (Winston-Salem, NC) was at special risk from a Russian nuke.

The reason: We were ground zero for cigarette production...If the Soviets knocked out the Winston, Camel, and Sir Walter Raleigh plants all the smokers would have nicotine fits and the U.S. would have to surrender.

The remarkable thing is that this nonsense was accepted as an important insight into Warsaw Pact strategy.

The real reason that Winston-Salem was so important is, of course, that is is the HQ of Krispy Kreme.

[Destructor]

"Yes, this is always a possibility. So was the collapse of society due to the Y2K bug. Yes, you have to recognize the threat, but you also have to analyze the risk and plan accordingly."

Well, now you're making sense! Anyone that thinks that the threat of terrorism has past is delusional.

[tuna_battle]

"No cities listed for Wyoming or Idaho. Good."

This is likely an error on their part. They forgot about these two states.

[RayBob]

The first part of my reply was my main point:

"If you live in the United States, and live somewhere near any city, or if you fly on airplanes, or ride on trains, or buses, or drive a car over a bridge or through a tunnel, you are at risk of a terrorist attack."

I stand by that statement. The rest was just my attempt at humor. The fact remains that every time you get behind the wheel of your car, you are at risk of being killed in an accident. You can't let fear paralyze you.

[AgentEcho]

When did the District of Columbia become a state?

Æ

[Indy Pendance]

[Chemist_Geek]

BTW is "Miller's Bar" still in Dearborn? They had the best "almost raw" burgers around...

Over on Michigan in West Deadbored? Yeah, and if you listen carefully you can hear the burger moo...

[Caliban]

I choose to live my life.

The real issue here is this...EVEN if the attack is "Weapon of Mass Disruption"...

Then once water supplies are being controlled, and electric is disrupted, and travel is minimized due to marshall law...you will have plenty of time to choose how you are gonna live your life.

Fact is many cities especially the top 10 largets cities provide alot more to the rest of the USA then you can imagine.

Imaging Houston having all of it's oil and gas refineries shut down thanks to a radioactive contamination? Think it can't happen? Think it won't affect you and the life you live?

Imagine pipe lines blown up across the fruited plains? Imagine major shopping malls contaminated...imagine a few grocery stores that are proven to be sources of poisonings...imagine the hysteria...the fear...remember what happened to the airlines. The airlines were destroyed by the FEAR of flying and diving into buildings...imagine how truckers with out fuel WON'T be able to get food to people...

I know it isn't time to OVER REACT to paranoia...BUT it is time to "prepare" for worse case scenarios...because I can tell you...once your/their food and water run out and you/they come sniffing around mine...it won't be pretty.

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[ncpastor]

Studies show that 100% of all people now living will someday be dead.

[laker_dad]

if you listen carefully you can hear the burger moo...

Ahh, yesss! Happy memories from a previous life. Friday's were always long lunches (from the Ford Research Center) with 2-3 beers, Miller-burger and fries! No utensils required...

[Old Professer]

Under MARTIAL LAW, the spelling police will be armed - This is your last warning!!!!!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Claremont would be an interesting choice, not that I'm biased or anything... ;0)

[Jonah Hex]

The real reason that Winston-Salem was so important is, of course, that is is the HQ of Krispy Kreme.

Dang it, that was classified!! Now we'll have to relocate the recipes back to the bunker again.....