Washington, DC

Washington, DC’s Resilience Journey

Washington, DC has a unique position as the seat of the US Federal Government, which makes it a prime target for terrorism. The DC region could lose up to $100 billion in private-sector profits and 1.2 million jobs in the three years following a large terrorist attack.

DC plans to address this challenge by developing stronger relationships with adjacent municipalities and the Federal Government, fostering preparedness of infrastructure and businesses, and nourishing adequate social capital in local communities.

DC is also confronting various forms of inequality that threaten to undermine the city’s long-term financial and social stability, including inequalities in income, educational attainment, social capital, health outcomes, and exposure to violent crime. These inequalities undermine the city’s ability to respond to shocks such as terrorism, since community members are often the first responders in large-scale emergencies.