As far as Americans waking up to the threat, well, I fully expect one of our larger cities to be a total wipe before that happens. And when (not if) it does, you'll see a lot of "woulda, shoulda, coulda" finger-pointing. And we'll still have the usual amicus hostis apologists running around mewling their usual tripe. Assuming they aren't part of the ash-heap, of course.
That's interesting...Navy called them NBC, in the 70's anyway.