Through the New York attacks, our nation learned in a trial by fire, what steps can be implemented in order to deal with a terrorist attack. In all honesty though, can any city be truly prepared for a terrorist attack? Mayor Giuliani got praise for ditching NYC’s original plan of action for a terrorist attack, and gave full leadership to the DDC. He also helped make sure that the mess that was Lower Manhattan was dealt with at a local level, not a national level. Who is to say this will be the proper way to deal with the next terrorist attack?
After 9/11, we learned that a city truly could not make a full proof plan to deal with an attack of grand scale. With the high level of money, egos, bureaucracy, egos, etc., one cannot afford to make a mistake in their decision process or else they will be publicly destroyed. The city of New York had the daunting take of allocating billions of dollars in money and goods. Which groups deserved more money and goods? The city also had to deal with the multiple city agencies fighting for power at the wake of 9/11, from LEMA, to the police department, to the fire department, to the Port Authority, to even the national government, the list can go on and on. Imagine if the Port Authority were the group chosen to take lead after a terrorist attack. Their headquarters were completely decimated in the attacks. Could they have still led a full effort to deal with the after effects of an attack? From the minute the attacks occurred, New York City’s actions were closely watched by the nation via the media. Any mistake in command could lead to national ridicule. Could one group truly handle the pressures of full leadership control?
Anyway one looks at it, all major cities have their eyes on New York City. They want to gain wisdom into how to deal with the potential of a terrorist attack in their own cities. After seeing New York City’s ordeal unfold, one can only hope other cites can implement emergency forms of government that can handle the threat of an attack with relative order.