(Note: If Federal agencies allocated sufficient funds to augment current procurement schedules for suits, masks, etc., these items could be made available in the very near term.

NBC detection equipment requires a high level of calibration and maintenance. If equipment is provided, annual calibration/maintenance costs must be factored in also.)

Another primary need, in regards to NBC response operations, lies with the provision of local level NBC training. Some specialized training is being provided by the Federal Agencies (FEMA, DOE, DOD) but it needs to be expanded to include such things as "Train the trainer" sessions on the operation of NBC detection and decontamination equipment, if that equipment is available, and identification, treatment, and transport of contaminated casualties.

Also, federal assistance might be provided to local organizations in development of their own training courses, curriculums, etc. Each state for example, has developed its procedures for responding to radiological emergencies, including establishment of state and local radiological response teams with assistance from DOE's Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) Regional Team.

A simple "heads up" by the 911 Operator might save some first responders their lives if he/she equates the report of multiple convulsion victims at multiple Metro Stations to a potential NBC attack. We need to safeguard those that put their lives on the line to safeguard us. (Note: By some accounts the first responder community numbers upward of 1 million personnel.)

ТАВ А

FEDERAL CONSEQUENCE MANAGEMENT - AN EXAMPLE

incident:

The following actions would be taken, many concurrently, in response to a terrorist

FEMA

Immediately after learning that an incident has occurred, FEMA would utilize its emergency authorities to notify the President, seek a Presidential declaration, notify the Federal Agencies, activate the Federal Response Plan, and begin coordinating the delivery of Federal

assistance.

The FEMA Director would consult with the Governor of the affected State to determine the scope and extent of the incident.

Concurrently, the President, under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Assistance and Disaster Relief Act, would declare an emergency and designate a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) to coordinate Federal emergency operations

An emergency response team, made up of representatives from each of the primary Federal agencies, would be assembled and be deployed to the field to establish a Disaster Field Office and initiate operations.

A Joint Information Center (JIC) would be established by representatives from each of the federal agencies. This center would be critical to getting the correct, coordinated information out to the public.

DHHS

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), as the lead agency under the Federal Response Plan for health, medical, and health-related social services, would bring extensive capacities for patient care, disease prevention and control, and management of the health consequences of environmental contamination.

- Through its Public Health Service (PHS), DHHS would be primarily responsible for overall coordination of a number of critical activities in a chemical or biological terrorist incident. For example:

PHS would activate the National Disaster Medical System. This would include the provision of direct patient care in the field through the Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs).

PHS would lead the effort for health surveillance in the impacted area, and would provide and coordinate the delivery of health and medical equipment and supplies.

In addition, PHS would provide victim identification and mortuary service for

those who did not survive the event.

EPA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the Chair of the National Response Team, and is responsible for the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Response System, which is an element of the National Contingency Plan (NCP).

EPA's NCP establishes three Federal organizational elements capable of supporting biological or chemical incidents, the National Response Team, Regional Response Teams, and On-scene Coordinators.

In the event of a terrorist act involving chemicals, an EPA On-Scene Coordinator can usually be deployed within two hours to supplement local government response efforts, and help determine the nature, scope, and magnitude of any chemical contamination. This can happen in advance of a Presidential disaster declaration.

If, based on this assessment, a nerve agent is suspected, then the On-Scene Coordinator would request assistance from specialized units within EPA, such as the Agency's Environmental Response Team, and the other National Response Team agencies (DOD and PHS).

EPA retains lead responsibility for decontamination after a chemical incident. If the material is indeed a military warfare agent, DOD would supply technical assistance in the process.

EPA preparedness also reaches down to the local level. EPA regularly coordinates closely with and supports Local Emergency Planning Committees. These committees are composed of local fire, police, environmental groups, media, and community representatives, and they are responsible for developing, testing, and updating community emergency response plans for chemical releases.

DOE

The Department of Energy (DOE) Headquarters would provide the following assistance as required:

- Through the Emergency Management System: Notify other Federal, state, and local agencies of event. Notify internationally as required.

- Mobilize response resources for nuclear event

- Conduct modeling, monitoring, and data assessment activities as appropriate

Coordinate with other federal agencies, state, local response organizations

The Department of Defense would provide critical support to the entire federal effort.

Within DOD the Secretary of the Army is designated as the Executive Agent for providing military support to civil authorities for domestic disaster relief. The Director of Military Support (DOMS) is the action agent for planning, coordination, and management of DOD support.

All military commanders are empowered, in life or death situations, to take immediate action to respond to and assist in the rescue and evacuation of casualties and the provision of emergency medical treatment. Commanders can also provide maintenance or emergency restoration of essential public services and utilities.

- DOD could utilize its extensive and often unique resources to provide a wide range of assistance. For example:

In a chem-bio incident, a Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) would be appointed as the on-scene representative to coordinate military support requirements with FEMA and the other agencies.

Intelligence/ intelligence support would be provided through the DOD

Intelligence Production Program and the DOD Intelligence Focal Point.

The Army would activate its rapidly-deployable Technical Escort Unit. This unit is prepared to conduct reconnaissance of the incident site, and assist with recovery, sampling, and disposal operations of chemical and biological material.

DOD would provide support personnel and equipment for chemical and biological detection and decontamination;

In conjunction with PHS, DOD would provide critical medical care assistance

to victims of a chemical or biological incident.

transportation.

DOD transportation resources would be called upon for patient evacuation and