Reference Library

Description

his dissertation is submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Policy Analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. The research attempts to improve response to a chemical terrorist incident by following a methodology comprising examination of the risk of chemical terrorism, the capacity and performance required to respond to such an act, cost- effective options to meet performance goals, and budgetary analysis. The findings should be of use to emergency responders and municipal policymakers who must balance their need to be prepared to prevent or to respond to an act of chemical terrorism against all other resource-demanding activities in a metropolitan area. While the dissertation focused on Los Angeles as a case study, the methodology and lessons should be useful to other communities throughout the nation, as well as a framework for making other decisions in an environment of uncertainty.