MCE

Mass casualty event

NBC

Nuclear, biological, chemical agents

WMD

Weapons of mass destruction

•Require extraordinary efforts beyond those required for emergencies/hazards;

•Adaptive responses tested;

Disasters during the 1990-2001:

•1991-94 economic sanctions against Haiti

•Incr’d child mortality from 56 per 100,000 to 61 per 100,000;

•Incr’d maternal mortality by 29%

1995 Bioterrorism attack using sarin nerve gas in Tokyo—11 deaths

1998 Storms in Texas—31 deaths and $900 M in damages

cholera epidemic in Rwandan refugee camps—1521 deaths in 30 days;

hurricane Georges—300 deaths in Dominican Republic, 8 in Puerto Rico

1994-1999 economic sanctions against Iraq—mortality rate among children more than doubled;

1999 Earthquake in Turkey—17000 people killed and 24000 injuries

hurricane Floyd—52 deaths

2000 Famine in Ethiopia –10M at risk for starvation;

2001 World Trade Center & Pentagon—more than 4000 deaths

dissemination of anthrax spores thru mail;