In the present situation in New York City, the scenario currently being played out is extraordinary. There are thousands of injured that were treated and transported by many different emergency response agencies to hospitals throughout New York and New Jersey.
The information is compiled from all sources, reviewed to the best possible levels for accuracy and then released. The accuracy of information is critical, and it is essential to avoid errors. But being accurate will of course delay access to information, and many times this frustrates concerned families and friends. But simple things like misspelling a name, for instance "Smith" being spelled "Smyth", could result in horrible misunderstandings. The system in place is very sophisticated and is designed to provide the best possible information in a timely manner.
How is this terrorist crisis different, qualitatively, from the Oklahoma City bombing?
While all of these events have left unimaginable death and destruction in the aftermath, this latest barbaric act is truly unprecedented in all aspects. The size of affected area, technique employed, numbers of patients, number of rescuers, fiscal impact and length of time to manage the aftermath are historically the largest of their kind.
