The Asian Tsunami
On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.3 on the Richter scale occurred off the west coast of Indonesia. It triggered a devastating tsunami (known as the Asian Tsunami). With waves exceeding 100 feet, this tsunami killed more than 275,000 people in 11 countries. This international incident was one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history.
Research and assess the destruction brought about by the Asian Tsunami. Design an emergency management plan for the purpose of protecting an American coastal city from the same type of disaster. Consider the short length of warning time in a disaster such as a tsunami.
Sample Solution
plan to attack the United States using suicide bombers and planes9. This was the start of the 9/11 attacks. Months later, on September 11, 2001, the world was shocked by the deadliest terrorist attack in history. On September 20, 2001, President Bush addressed the United States Congress, declaring a “War on Terror” and warned that this war would start with Al-Qaeda but would not end there10. This was the start of major military campaigns – first against Afghanistan and then, against Iraq. Bush kicked off the campaign by attacking the Taliban in Afghanistan for hiding Osama bin Laden.
Over a decade and a half after the 9/11 attacks, after multiple state leaders, and exorbitant expenditure of taxpayer funds, the United States has not been successful in the war with Afghanistan. A headline from the Journal of Foreign Policy reads, “one year after President Donald Trump announced a new strategy for winning the war in Afghanistan, the United States appears to be no closer to stabilizing the country…”11. In fact, it is commonly believed that, “The Trump administration is now using Henry Kissinger’s “decent interval” process of abandonment to end the U.S. war in Afghanistan.”12. Trump’s strategy to pull out of Afghanistan is simple; come to a peace agreement and withdraw. This would include the removal of both troops and foreign aid.