FEMA WARNS ON WTC HAZARD EXPOSURE

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has noted in its latest report that further research is needed to establish the impact of exposure to hazardous materials in the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks of September 11, 2001. The question of individuals’ exposure to potentially harmful materials in the WTC attacks is one that has significant repercussions for the insurance industry, since payouts could ultimately by due not only to emergency services personnel who were involved immediately after the attacks but also to contract workers who worked on the site in the months afterwards and to site visitors or nearby residents. FEMA has already noted that several visitors to the site suffered from chronic post-traumatic-stress-related problems subsequently which need to be investigated more fully. The report — Responding to Incidents of National Consequence — was released last week and focuses on encouraging “proactive mitigation activities” in response to crisis events.