GOLDEN CRESCENT REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PLAN

Description of Regional Situation

A disaster is an event that overwhelms available resources at the disaster site.  It can be a result of naturally occurring phenomena, man-made circumstances or a combination of both.  The First Responders to such an event are expected to secure the area, respond to the needs of the victims, and preserve life and property.

The event may determine the first responders. Therefore, in addition to public safety and emergency management officials, first responders may include elected officials, public works departments, utility departments, transportation officials and hospital personnel. Protecting first responders and preventing them from becoming victims may be a determining factor in the outcome of the response to the event.

The current terrorist threat of an attack using weapons of mass destruction adds a new dimension to otherwise randomly occurring acts.  Terrorism introduces premeditated, deliberate attempts to cause as much damage with as many victims in as wide an area as possible.  In many cases, it is further designed to destroy the continuation of government at any and all levels.

Data from the 2000 Census indicates population figures for the counties, cities, and communities within our region as follows:

Victoria County                                              84,088

Victoria                                                                  60,603

Bloomington CDP                                                    2,562

Inez CDP                                                                 1,787

Calhoun County                                              20,647

Point Comfort                                                               781

Port Lavaca                                                              12,035

Seadrift                                                                       1,352

De Witt County                                                20,103

Cuero                                                                         6,571

Nordheim                                                                      323

Yorktown                                                                   2,271

Yoakum *                                                                  2,137

Goliad County                                                     6,928

Goliad                                                                          1,975

 

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