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September 5, 2008 11:53:26 PM CDT

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The Most Vulnerable Western City: Boise. Really?

Posted Apr 5, 08 7:53 AM CDT in US 

(Newser) – Boise, Idaho, may be better known for hosting the World Potato Congress than topping terrorist target lists, but it was the only city west of the Mississippi to make the top 10 in a Homeland Security-funded study ranking cities by vulnerability to terror attacks, the Washington Post reports. "To be honest, we're a little bit surprised," a spokesman for the city said.

Researchers explained that the cities were not ranked by their attractiveness to terrorists, but by how well they could respond to an attack on a weak spot, such as the Boise area's vulnerability to floods and wildfires. San Francisco's mayor said his city's relatively low ranking wouldn't let him sleep any easier and he hoped the study wouldn't affect federal funding.

Source Washington Post

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The study noted the Boise area's vulnerability to wildfires and floods, with a huge dam not far from the town.   ((c) Franklin Samir)
The Idaho capital's residents didn't seem unduly alarmed by the news. "I'm more confused than scared," one said.   ((c) jimbowen0306)
Boise Hills   ((c) kencf0618)
A Department of Homeland Security-funded study ranked Boise, Idaho among the top 10 American cities most vulnerable to terrorism.   ((c) Leonardo Pires)
In a study ranking 132 US cities by vulnerability to terror attacks, Boise was the only city west of the Mississippi to make it into the top 10.   ((c) Californian Em)
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terrorism  • Department of Homeland Security  • security  • Idaho  • terrorist attack  • Boise


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