Topic > A tragedy that ushered in uplifting changes: The Oklahoma City Bombing

IndexAbstractThe Oklahoma City BombingConclusionReferencesAbstractIn our history of emergency tragedies we have seen vulnerabilities and corrective actions taken in the aftermath. I will cover a tragedy from our past history that paved the way for some significant key changes as the OKC bombing is the topic of the essay. I will be covering the 1995 Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City. This event resulted in a significant situation that would lead the government to review some emergency management parameters and establish new standard operating procedures. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Oklahoma City Bombing In 1995, Oklahoma City experienced one of the deadliest terrorist acts in the United States. On the morning of April 15, 1993, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, two Americans who were reportedly angry with the U.S. government, placed a large 4,800-pound bomb inside a Ryder truck. Around 9 a.m., McVeigh parked the truck in front of the pickup-only federal building. The explosion was so strong that it shattered the windows of nearby vehicles and buildings. The federal building sustained so much damage that it began to collapse into what firefighters described as a "pancake." The death toll after the explosion was 168. There was reportedly around 3 floors of rubble in front of the building and a huge crater where the truck was parked. Chaos broke out immediately after the explosion. Civilians rushed to the building in hopes of helping. Rescuers similarly rushed to the scene with no structure on what to do. Many were not equipped to conduct rescue missions. The accidents are due to the lack of safety equipment. It was difficult to establish command for local firefighters as nearby agencies responded along with state and federal agencies. What took away from this tragedy was the lack of communication between all agencies. The fire chief explained that while most responding agencies attempted to follow FEMA guidelines, there was no training across all agencies in case of a mutual aid scenario. The EOC was not used, which would have helped law enforcement intervene instead of trying to take part in the rescue efforts. The assignment of more public information officers has created confusion. This led to the establishment of a command that would assign a public information officer in order to reduce confusion in the information provided. Conclusion In conclusion, after examining the tragedy it is without a doubt that the lack of communication played a major role in the chaos during a major emergency event. Although most agencies have improved the use of advanced communication devices and the creation of incident command system. Training will also play an important role in us all being able to work together when required as mutual aid. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Our communities will also play an important role in preparing and assisting for a major emergency. Organizations like the American Red Cross and programs established by local agencies like the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) can make a huge difference with precise training on what to do during such an emergency. Community members and