PNNL

Abstract

Motivation Our country faces profound challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure our continued freedom and security. As the September 11, 2001, attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center illustrate, threats to the United States are present within our borders. On that day, after at least 20 months of planning and preparation, nineteen terrorists hijacked four airliners at three different airports in a coordinated attack. The hijackers crashed two planes into the World Trade Center’s twin towers and one plane into the Pentagon. The fourth plane, intended to attack another U.S. landmark, crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. 2973 people lost their lives as a result of this attack. As the attack unfolded, government agencies and emergency response personnel had to respond in real time to situations for which policies and procedures did not exist. They were forced to assess situations and make decisions under extreme pressure, often without having critical information that would help them save additional lives. [National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, 2004]