Welcome to the Health Physics Society Homeland Security Committee

Nuclear and radiological weapons may be used in terrorist attacks on the United States or other countries. The responsibility of the Homeland Security Committee is to provide assistance to professionals and to protect the public against a terrorist attack by weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) containing radiological and/or nuclear material.

The work of the HPS Homeland Security Committee involves the following areas of activity. These are organized as subcommittees:

• First Response
• Medical Response
• Training
• Nuclear Weapons
• Dispersive Devices
• Cleanup
• Interdiction & Security

The chair of the Homeland Security Committee is:

John Lanza, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAP, '14
Florida Department of Health
Escambia County Health Department
1295 West Fairfield Drive
Pensacola, FL 32501
Office: 850-595-6557
Fax: 850-595-6745
Email: john_lanza@doh.state.fl.us

Committee members:

Joel Baumbaugh, '12
Craig Marianno, '12
Debra McBaugh, '12
Peter Darnell, '13
Richard Whitman, '13
Kathleen Hall, '14
Suzanne Helfenstine, '14
Tammy Taylor, '14

Director Liaison: Scott Schwahn, '14

The committee also provides assistance to members and local chapters of the Society who wish to assist in the homeland security effort. For example, the subcommittees are active in:

• Preparing and updating training information and guidance documents for use by Society members and chapters to assist government programs and to train emergency responders.
• Implementing Society and chapter programs to provide trainers or speakers requested by homeland security agencies or teams.
• Preparing, with reference to previous publications of agencies or experts, appropriate information that can be recommended to members of the public for simple actions that may minimize exposure to harm and prevent panic in the event of an attack with WMDs.
• Providing guidance and assistance to chapters for organizing, developing, and implementing local or regional homeland security programs in cooperation with their state and local governments and agencies.
• Assisting in the development of consensus standards and other guidance documents.

Saving Lives in the Immediate Hours After Release of Radioactive or Other Toxic Agents, New book by Allen Brodsky, Sc.D., CHP. Order now for a discount rate and autographed copy  NEW!

Technical Capability Standard for Handheld Instruments Used for the Detection and Identification of Radionuclides has been issued by DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) NEW!

Presentation to NASA Joint Information Center videoconference for Mars Science Laboratory on risk communications:Communicating with the Public in a Radiological Emergency

Presentation to the Dept of Homeland Security: Health Physics Society Homeland Security Committee - Who we are and what we do

Developing an Emergency Risk Communication (ERC) /Joint Information Center (JIC) Plan for a Radiological Emergency (NUREG CR-7032);

Guidance on Developing Effective Radiological Risk Communication Messages: Effective Message Mapping and Risk Communication with the Public in Nuclear Plant Emergency Planning Zones (NUREG/CR-7033)

NCRP Report No. 165 - Responding to a Radiological or Nuclear Terrorism Incident: A Guide for Decision Makers - HPS members get a 20% discount - See the Members Only page.

Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation -2nd edition - Developed by the Homeland Security Council Interagency Policy Coordination Subcommittee for Preparedness Repsonse to Radiological and Nuclear Threats

"Using Health and Medical Physicist Volunteers and Other Radiation Professionals with Local Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Units as Risk Communicators"

This Powerpoint presentation is a draft of proposed training for volunteer radiological spokespersons. As part of HSC's support of the Medical Reserve Corps and after our members attending the wonderful risk communications training provided at the HPS mid-year Albuquerque meeting, the HSC has been putting together this training. This is meant as a self-paced educational opportunity for a radiation health professional to learn about risk communications, if they decide to be the local radiological spokesperson.

The HSC would at least envision this training to be found at our HSC website, but could be used in any appropriate venue including in-person trainings. The trainee can view all or only specific sections/modules based on prior knowledge, how much they want to learn, and how much time they have to devote to the training. The information in this training has been extracted from a variety of sources including Dr. Vincent Covello, the NRC, the EPA, the CDC, and the Florida Department of Health. Risk communicators from the Florida Department of Health, the EPA, and the CDC have reviewed these DRAFT slides. The HSC realizes that there is a lot of information here. That is why it is divided into sections and modules; to pick and choose what the potential spokesperson might need. Please direct any comments to: john_lanza@doh.state.fl.us

The Institute of Nuclear Material Management's (INMM) held a conference called "International Workshop For Users of Proliferation Assessment Tools" at Texas A & M University in late February. The conference was a review of the various tools and strategies used to control the proliferation of nuclear materials and weapons technology. Presentations and background material are available.

Radiation Threats and Your Safety, a new book by Armin Ansari, Ph.D.

Nuclear Detonation 10 Rules For The Public And Citizen Responders - single card
Nuclear Detonation 10 Rules For The Public And Citizen Responders - 4 cards per sheet

Emergency Responder Wallet Card; Emergency Responder Wallet Card for laminating

Key Response Planning Factors for the Aftermath of Nuclear Terrorism by B. R. Buddemeier and M. B. Dillon

Guidelines for Mass Casualty Decontamination During a HAZMAT/Weapon of Mass Destruction Incident

NPR program by Mike Shuster: Response Team Preps For Nuclear Terrorism Threat

WORLD AT RISK: The Report of the Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism

Terrorism Response: A Checklist and Guide for Fire Chiefs

Article by Richard Muller: Why a can of petrol is more dangerous than a dirty bomb

Partnership for a Secure America's Report: NUCLEAR TERRORISM- US Policies to Reduce The Threat of Nuclear Terror

Article: Resources for nuclear and radiation disaster response

From the Federal Register: Planning Guidance for Protection and Recovery Following Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents

National Response Framework (NRF) Resource Center

Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex

Unless specifically asked to do so by the Board of Directors, the Homeland Security Committee does not speak or act officially for the Health Physics Society.

The Health Physics Society has a Media Center that can provide technical information.