Emergency-response managers from most major cities say they need more federal funds and information than they currently receive if they are to properly respond to a terrorist attack involving a radiological dispersal device (RDD) or an improvised nuclear device (IND), the Government Accountability Office says in a new report.

The report said that of 27 major cities interviewed, most had assessed their ability to respond to an attack from a radiological or nuclear device and had ranked the risk of these attacks as lower than the risk of other hazards they face.

However, most emergency managers reported to GAO that they need more federal technical and resource assistance than currently provided if they are to properly respond to such an attack.