Overview of the Hazard: Terrorist Attack on the Shores of Orange Beach

Unit VIII Scholarly Activity
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Overview of the Hazard: Terrorist Attack on the Shores of Orange Beach
Terrorism is a serious issue not only in the US but globally. Terrorists have, over the years, in different heinous acts not only destroyed property but also resulted in massive casualties and losses of lives. The US is no stranger to these terrorist attempts, with the most notable and recent 9/11 attacks. While there have been stringent measures that have been put in place to mitigate and foil these attacks, there is some laxity that has crept in and puts the nation in a precarious position. In 2018, security agencies in Alabama apprehended a man who was conspiring to bomb police stations in the region (Ziskin & Harris, 2007). With such audacity, it is only a matter of time before terrorists succeed with their heinous acts. One notable location that is highly susceptible to the terrorist attack in Alabama is Orange Beach. It is a popular destination and sees tens of thousands of people, particularly over the weekends. The security checks to and from the beach are quite wanting. A terrorist attack on the shores will leave scores injured and dead.
Sequence of Events
In the unfortunate events of a terrorist attack, such as bombing on the shores of Orange Beach, there are likely to be many waves of panic. There will be scores injured and dead. There will also be countless confused individuals who are yet to come to terms with the happenings and, at the same time, are terrified from seeing many injured and dead people (Redcross.org, 2021). There will also be security agencies and health care professionals trying to rush onto the shores to rescue the situation and assist those injured. In light of the attack, the shores of Orange Beach are going to be heavily congested, and the efforts of security and health care officials are likely to be impeded. The scenario would play out differently if the much-needed assistance were but a stone's throw away in the form of qualified and well-trained lifeguards.
Resources and Participants
As has been shared in the previous section, Orange Beach will be in a state of confusion and heavily congested in case of a terrorist attack. On this breadth, it is strongly recommended that assistance is obtained from lifeguards stationed around the shores. The first proposal, therefore, is to increase the number of lifeguards along the beach. One lifeguard should, on average, attend to at least ten people. There are currently only 20 lifeguards who are expected to cover 8 miles of coastline (obawebsite.com, 2021). Increasing the number of lifeguards would reduce their workload and allow them to be keen on detecting any strange activities along the beach. Secondly, in addition to their primary duties of assisting individuals drowning in the ocean, it is highly recommended that lifeguards at Orange Beach are taken through extensive training on security and health care. Security agencies in the area need to train the lifeguards on ways of detecting unscrupulous individuals and diffusing the situations amicably. Similarly, they should be taken through health care training and how to attend to the heavily injured (Emergency Preparedness, 2021). The initiative will help to save many lives and also bring calmness to the tense and frightening situation.
To achieve the above proposal, support is strongly required from the state through the Mayor's office. This is because funds will be required to hire more lifeguards. The Mayor's office is also expected to liaise and coordinate with the security agencies and health care professionals to ensure the lifeguards are taken through extensive training and receive the required resources and tools to carry out their duties effectively (ready.gov, 2021). These include medical equipment to assist them in providing proper care to the injured. The Mayor's office should also oversee the...