Radiological dispersal events within urban environments: A general method of measuring the economic impacts

Authors

  • Antoine N. Munfakh, MS
  • David A. Smith, PhD
  • Daniel T. Holt, PhD
  • Leonard J. Kloft, PhD
  • Eric J. Unger, PhD
  • Jeremy M. Slagley, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.2011.0067

Keywords:

cost estimation, radiological dispersal event, level of impact analysis, planning

Abstract

A radiological dispersal device (or dirty bomb) is an affordable, feasible, and economically devastating option for terrorists. By using an input-output modeling technique, the authors present a general method to assess economic impacts resulting from the use of such a device that will aid researchers, government planners, officials, and key stakeholders. The authors extended previous efforts that focused only on direct effects, exploring the indirect and induced effects as well. In applying the method to the case of a mid-sized city, the authors quantified the area within the city with the largest impact, the central business district. More specifically, the detonation of a dirty bomb in this city’s central business district would cost approximately $1.4 billion and impact 860 firms in 270 distinct industries. In addition, approximately 18,000 people would be unemployed immediately following the attack, with an additional 113,000 people affected by the shift in the local economy as a result of indirect and induced effects.

Author Biographies

Antoine N. Munfakh, MS

Student Pilot, 47 Operation Support Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.

David A. Smith, PhD

Chief of Radiation Health, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General, Washington, District of Columbia.

Daniel T. Holt, PhD

Department of Management and Information Systems, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi.

Leonard J. Kloft, PhD

Assistant Dean, College of Business Administration, University Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Michigan.

Eric J. Unger, PhD

Department of Systems and Engineering Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Jeremy M. Slagley, PhD

Technical Services Branch, US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, Kettering, Ohio.

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Published

07/01/2011

How to Cite

Munfakh, MS, A. N., D. A. Smith, PhD, D. T. Holt, PhD, L. J. Kloft, PhD, E. J. Unger, PhD, and J. M. Slagley, PhD. “Radiological Dispersal Events Within Urban Environments: A General Method of Measuring the Economic Impacts”. Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 9, no. 4, July 2011, pp. 53-67, doi:10.5055/jem.2011.0067.

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Section

Articles