Operation Green Bay: Radiation Dispersal Device Tabletop Exercise

Authors

S. G. Goodison, G. A. Falo, M. Melanson, D. P. Alberth

Abstract

Since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 11 September 2001, there has been increased awareness of the potential for the use of nuclear or radiation dispersal devices (RDDs) by terrorists worldwide. This awareness has increased the urgency for agencies with health physics instrumentation and expertise to assess their capability to effectively respond to a terrorist event involving nuclear weapons or RDDs. In April 2002, the Health Physics Program (HPP) of the US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine (USACHPPM) held a multi- program emergency deployment readiness exercise to assess its capability to respond to an RDD terrorist incident, and matrix with other key elements within the Center. The established mission of USACHPPM is to provide worldwide technical support for implementing preventive medicine, public health, and health promotion/wellness services into all aspects of America's Army and the Army Community, anticipating and rapidly responding to operational needs and adapting to a changing world environment. Although not normally considered to be an immediate-response organization, the USACHPPM HPP was called upon to assess radiation and radioactive material implications potentially resulting from the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on 11 September 2001. This event highlighted the fact that all agencies with health physics expertise and instrumentation can be called upon, whether it is by official charter or geographical proximity, to respond to an accident or incident involving ionizing radiation or radioactive material.

Meeting

This abstract was presented at the 36th Annual Midyear Meeting, "Radiation Safety Aspects of Homeland Security and Emergency Response", Consequence Management and Community Needs Session, 1/26/2003 - 1/29/2003, held in San Antonio, TX.

 
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