Special Report: Counterterrorism-- Response 9.11

• NCJ Number: 211908
• Journal: Techbeat Dated: Winter 2002
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1996-MU-MU-K011
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Award: National Institute of Justice Continuation Awards

Annotation

This report discusses the technological assistance provided to the New York State Emergency Management Office by the National Institute of Justice's Office of Science and Technology immediately following the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC), and the technologies developed under NIJ's Critical Incident Technology Program to assist this agency, as well as other agencies through a multidisciplinary, multiagency approach and preparing public safety agencies to respond to critical or terrorist incidents.

Abstract

In response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City, the New York State Emergency Management Office requested the assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to provide onsite technology. NIJ's Office of Science and Technology established a technology support office adjacent to the WTC complex. In addition to the technological assistance provided by NIJ, many valuable recommendations in terms of new technology research and development and in modifying existing technologies were received in the areas of search and rescue assistance, communications and interoperability assistance, excess property and equipment assistance, and investigative and forensic assistance. NIJ's ability to assist New York City is due in part to its initiation in 1997 through its Office of Science and Technology (OS&T) the Critical Incident Technology Program. The program develops solutions relating to agency coordination, personnel training, and equipment and technology development. The program is a collaborative effort among Federal, State, and local public safety agencies. The report presents a number of new technologies produced through this collaborative effort in the areas of biohazard and chemical defense, communications and interoperability, explosives detection and remediation, security, and weapons detection.