Summary

How can California1s key infrastructure elements, such as water supplies, electronic data systems, and agriculture be protected from potential terrorist threats? This assessment, carried out for California1s Office of Emergency Services, examines the vulnerabilities of the state1s critical physical infrastructure, cyberinfrastructure, and agricultural domains to terrorist threats. The authors define the possible threats and vulnerabilities, analyze accidents and lessons about terrorism, and provide strategic recommendations. The authors recommend measures to reduce system vulnerabilities, including enhanced physical-security standards, public-private dialogs to increase information sharing, and prevention steps to reduce the likelihood of agricultural losses from disease. Completed just prior to the attacks of September 11 on New York and Washington, D.C., the book includes a new introduction that takes into account today1s terrorist climate.