Report Details Released From Topoff 4 Exercise

A Dirty Bomb is detonated somewhere in the United States releasing its radiological effects in the nearby surrounding areas.

Federal officials from many different agencies are responding to counter the effects and assess the damage.

The event is only a drill called Topoff 4 to prepare, test and train how various government agencies will respond should an actual event of this nature and scale take place in the real world.

The idea of Topoff 4 is increasing coordination through collaboration and took place from October 15-19, 2007. The event took took place in Portland, Ore.; Phoenix, Ariz.; and for the first time, the U.S. territory of Guam as well as in Washington, D.C. for federal partners.

The exercise built on past lessons learned while adding new goals, including: an increased level of coordination with U.S. Department of Defense exercises to combat global terrorism, closer cooperation with the private sector, an expanded emphasis on prevention, a deeper focus on mass decontamination and long-term recovery and remediation issues, and strengthened coordination and communications with international allies.

As stated above the exercise is based on a dirty bomb or Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and is National Planning Scenario 11 (NPS-11). The scenario begins as terrorists, who have been planning attacks in Oregon, Arizona, and the U.S. Territory of Guam, successfully bring radioactive material into the United States. The first of three coordinated attacks occurs in Guam, with the simulated detonation of a (RDD), or “dirty bomb,” causing casualties and wide-spread contamination in a populous area near a power plant. Similar attacks occur in the hours that follow in Portland and Phoenix.

An RDD is not the same as a nuclear attack. It is a conventional explosive that, upon detonation, releases radioactive material into the surrounding area. Although it does not cause the type of catastrophic damage associated with a nuclear detonation, there are severe rescue, health, and long-term decontamination concerns associated with an RDD. Real weapons will not be used in the scenario, but the response will be mounted as if they had been.

The report that was just released outline Strengths and weaknesses that were found during the exercise. The weaknesses reportedly are that officials had problems working with radiation experts and relaying damage reports to the public.

However, the report also highlights some strengths during the exercise, such as quick responses to the mock explosions, sharing of information among agencies and helping special-needs populations like the elderly.

Department of Homeland Security officials met today for a closed-door conference with state and local emergency responders to discuss the preliminary results of the Topoff 4 last from fall.