The current state of affairs for disaster planning for a nuclear terrorist attack

Authors

  • Thomas E. Goffman, MD, FACP

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2009.0008

Keywords:

nuclear attack, bomb effects, medical treatment, federal and state plans

Abstract

The author presents current thinking on the effects of an atomic bomb blast from a medical point of view and will argue that current US Federal plans for a nuclear disaster are simply crude, insufficient, disarticulated, and principally relies on martial law as a means of crowd control. The simple physics of a fusion reaction bomb is discussed along with the plans of other countries, apparently “secret” American plans, which show a poor knowledge of the physics of nuclear bombs as well as poor insight into what will be needed to help the maximum number of citizens. An alternative plan involving computer modeling and educating the public to the effects of a fission explosion are presented. The key issue of statewide planning is discussed, as the Federal government has dumped medical problems on “the local level.”

Author Biography

Thomas E. Goffman, MD, FACP

Director, Cancer Intelligence and Research, PC, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

References

Goldberg J: On Nov. 4, Remember 9/11, Op-Ed. The New York Times, September 9, 2008.

McMichael WH: Nuclear attack? Wear stout shoes. BBC News Channel, March 29, 2004.

York’s Daily Bulletin:Your rehearses role for a nuclear evacuation center. May 26, 2005: 2.

Graham B:War plans drafted to counter terror attacks in US; Domestic effort is Big Shift for Military. The Washington Post, August 8, 2005: 1.

California Hospital Incident Command System:Nuclear detonation— 10-Kiloton improvised nuclear device, 2006: 1-14.Available at http:// www.emsa.ca.gov/HICS/files/Ext_01.pdf. Accessed January 29, 2009.

Dainiak N, Delli Carpini D, et al.: Development of a statewide hospital plan for radiologic disasters. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2006; 65(1): 16-24.

Congressional reaction to Nuclear Posture Review, 2008.Available at www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/policy/dod/npr.htm.

McMichael WH: NorthCom chief:We are ready for WMD attack. Military News, March 6, 2008.

Downloads

Published

01/01/2009

How to Cite

Goffman, MD, FACP, T. E. “The Current State of Affairs for Disaster Planning for a Nuclear Terrorist Attack”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 4, no. 1, Jan. 2009, pp. 59-64, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2009.0008.

Issue

Section

Case Studies