Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116714

Catherine Y. Lee, MPH, Dept of Environmental and Occupational Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, 404-625-4591, cylee@unconventional-inc.com, Phyllis McGuire, National Center for Injury Control and Prevention (NCICP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Mailstop F-41, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, and Tim Davis, MD, MPH, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Mailstop F-41, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724.

Background: Urban centers have been the “melting pot” of America since before the Founding Fathers framed the Constitution. The Spanish, English, and French traded with Native Americans in the early settlements and were later joined by the Dutch, German, Irish, Italian, and various tribes and ethnic groups from African, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Pacific Islands, Latin American, and the Caribbean. While “melting pot” connotes a homogeneous population, “diverse communities” more fittingly describes the strengths, contributions, and relationships between a heterogeneous America. Urban centers remain the demonstrable showcase of these associations. Terrorism has affected all American communities, and stressed both the stamina and trust between peoples. While many aspects of community resilience have been examined, the effects of terrorism on diverse communities based on risk are lacking.

Methods: High probability targets were identified using Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice, and Department of Health and Human Services data and references. The demographics of the high probability regions were delineated based on the 2000 census. Previous preliminary studies of faith and trust of the public health system were then applied based on risk and demographics.

Results: Urban centers contain the majority of high probability targets to terrorism. In addition, the highly concentrated population, business, entertainment, and transportation urban hubs would make a successful terror attack most effective. The demographics of the at-risk urban centers have the greatest concentration of diversity anywhere in American. However, non-European decent Americans were more likely not to trust the public health response to terrorism.

Summary: Diverse communities, always regarded as the fiber of American, are at risk of terror attack because of the concentration in urban areas. However there is a poor representation of diversity in disaster and terrorism preparedness programs across the country. We should begin to evaluate the level of trust between governments and citizens (represented by schools, faith-based organizations, community groups). Without trust there will be less cooperation with routine public health and safety strategies such as shelter-in-place, self-decontamination, quarantine, and orderly protocols for immunization, prophylactic medicines, or evacuation.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize that community trust is not homogeneous
• Identify which communities are at higher risk from acts of terrorism
• Discuss the importance of including diverse communities in all preparedness planning

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Public Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation