Critical Information Flows in the Alfred P. Murrah Building Bombing: A Case Study

• NCJ Number: 194411
• Author(s): Catherine Manzi; Michael J. Powers; Kristina Zetterlund
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 111 pages
• Grant Number(s): MIPT106-113-2000-037
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Technical Assistance; Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

The Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute has undertaken an 18-month project to develop a counterterrorism communications strategy to meet the information requirements of the "first responders" and the general public; this publication is the final product of a case study, completed during the first phase of the project, that identified the information and communication flows that affected the response to the April 1995 bombing of the Murrah building in Oklahoma City.

Abstract

Rather than being a critique of response efforts following the Murrah building bombing, this case study provides an illustrative example of how information and communication affected the response to a major incident of domestic terrorism. Drawing from a combination of interviews with individuals who had key roles in the response to the bombing and a comprehensive review of relevant literature, this report reviews the role of information and communications in deterring, preparing for, and ultimately responding to the bombing. The report is organized according to three phases of response-related activities: pre-incident, incident, and post-incident. The information flows that support deterrence and preparedness are discussed in the pre-incident and post-incident sections. Generally, pre-incident information flows can produce two different, but closely connected, types of effects. The first effect is the deterrence of future acts of terrorism through information provided to the public and to potential terrorists. Deterrence involves convincing a potential terrorist that the cost of acting is too high, the benefit the terrorist will gain is minimal, or both. Pre-incident communications and information are also important in developing the capabilities required to respond to terrorist incidents; they are essential to the training, planning, and coordination efforts that are central components in a national response capacity. The report's section on incident critical information flows focuses on internal communication among organizations involved in the response and external communication that provides needed information to the general public. The value of the post-incident information flows lies in how the response to the bombing has been used to prevent and prepare for future terrorism incidents in the United States. Similar to pre-incident information flows, information flows in the post-incident phase of the bombing can contribute to deterring future acts of terrorism and, if deterrence fails, improving response capabilities. A 200-item bibliography and an appended list of interviewees