Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

RISK COMMUNICATION—AN OVERLOOKED TOOL IN COMBATING TERRORISM

DAVID ROPEIK

Risk Communication, Ropeik & Associates, Concord, Massachusetts

1 THE NEED

The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, killed approximately 3000 people, directly. But the death toll was higher. 1018 more Americans died in motor vehicle crashes October through December 2001 than in those 3 months the year before, according to researchers at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute. As those researchers observe “ … the increased fear of flying following September 11 may have resulted in a modal shift from flying to driving for some of the fearful” [1]. 1018 people died, more than one-third the number of people killed in the attacks of September 11, in large part because they perceived flying to be more dangerous and driving less so, despite overwhelming statistical evidence to the contrary.

As much as 17% of Americans outside New York City reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress two months after the September 11, 2001, attacks [2]. Even 3 years later, a significant number of Americans were still suffering serious health problems as a result of that stress. In a random sample of 2000 Americans, people who reported acute stress responses to the 9/11 attacks, even if they only watched the events on television, had a 53% increased incidence in doctor-diagnosed cardiovascular ailments like high blood pressure, heart problems, or stroke for up to 3 years following the attacks. The impact ...