General question about emergency response (not limited to terrorism - could be major floods, earthquakes, urban forest fires - Oakland Hills and San Diego come to mind, hurricanes, tornadoes, major power outages, major blizzards).
The scenario is - your state's National Guard is in Iraq.
The complicating factor - given "Mutual Assistance" and Guard callups - your local police, fire, EMT's are stretched thin.
What is the capability of your volunteer, NGO responders - Red Cross, Salvation Army, Paid On Call/Reserve Firefighters, Citizen Corps, Civil Air Patrol, Coast Guard Auxiliary, ARES/RACES.
What is the capability of your electric, gas, phone companies (remember, cell phones go over wires from your tower to the tower serving the cell you are calling - and the routers are electric), water company, public works.
Do you have an "Incident Control System" - have you tested it in the field?
This is not hypothetical. If you don't test your ICS and drill it ---- you are herding cats.
I just got back from the Red Cross National Convention - this was a big issue in many break out sessions.
I am also ARES/RACES - this is an issue