Abstract: | Abstract Terrorism directed against the United States abroad and at home during the 1990s, in conjunction with the ongoing terrorist threat and use of weapons of mass destruction, and mass casualty disasters demanded a reexamination of national security and disaster response. Strategies to confront current threats and meet population needs include increasing collaboration and cooperation among federal, state, and county agencies and voluntary organizations. The American Red Cross has implemented training to familiarize participants with terrorist threats and the characteristics of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive weapons and has introduced technological changes to speed up service delivery at disasters. |