The 15 US National Planning Scenarios

After the September 11th, 2001 attacks on New York and the Pentagon, the US Federal Government began to get serious about organizing federal resources for a catastrophic, peacetime disaster.

However, the government quickly recognized that it could not prepare for all of them, so they decided to find 15 major disasters that encompass the general spectrum of catastrophic events. So the question became:  which ones should be included in the 15? There are literally thousands of disaster events, which cause serious disruption to the US infrastructure. 

They quickly came to an answer, and began to organize themselves accordingly. The entire history of this organizational zeitgeist is beyond the scope of this article; however, the basic chronology is that in 2002, Federal departments, state, tribal, territorial and local governments developed a series of scenarios known as the National Planning Scenarios as the 15 threats the government would prioritize in disaster planning, response, and recovery.

Each of these represents a highly destructive event, including terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and technological emergencies. Some are more likely to occur than others, with some having never been experienced, some having experienced periodically, and some regularly.

Thankfully, the full scope of these disasters very rarely occur (if at all), but the conception of their magnitude from past experiences should give us as business owners and citizens pause. Before I discuss these in any more detail, take a look at the list:

1. Improvised Nuclear Device
2. Aerosol Anthrax
3. Pandemic Influenza
4. Plague
5. Blister Agent
6. Toxic Industrial Chemicals
7. Nerve Agent
8. Chlorine Tank Explosion
9. Major Earthquake
10. Major Hurricane
11. Radiological Dispersal Device
12. Improvised Explosive Device
13. Food Contamination
14. Foreign Animal Disease
15. Cyber Attack

While you may think that most of these will “never happen”, The Homeland Security Council in tandem with the newly-minted Department of Homeland Security believed that there was enough of a threat of these that citizens and others living in the US should prepare for them.  You have probably heard of some of these, and can recount their histories. Others you may not have heard of, or don’t know the full scope of their impact.

That will change soon.


During the next 12 months, I will discuss each of these in some detail. In each discussion, I will elaborate on their history, on their impact, what you can expect in a response from the government, and some measures to protect your business and employees. I think as you read about them, you will discover a lot of interesting information that will help you prepare for a major catastrophic event, wherever you happen to live.

How you react to the information will vary, but I think universally what you will find is that the disaster response to these events isn’t always “obvious” or “common sense”. These disasters defy common sense. That is why when they strike so many people get injured or die. When I teach at the EMS school, I tell the paramedics and EMTs that a little education can save your life and those of your patients.

Next week, I will start with an Improvised Nuclear Device.

Be ready to Reverse Disaster.



Patrick Hardy

phardy@hytropy.com

Twitter: @hytropy

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