Mini-Project #6 - Bioterrorism Attack Prevention 2008

There are numerous ways that our government officials and public safety organizations have implemented plans in case of a bio-terrorism attack in Florida and all across the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) has many helpful tips in the event of such emergency. The following press release was taken from the D.H.S. website (http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0050.shtm):

Defending Against Biological Terrorism
Release Date: 02/05/02 00:00:00
For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary February 5, 2002

"Disease has long been the deadliest enemy of mankind. Infectious diseases make no distinctions among people and recognize no borders. We have fought the causes and consequences of disease throughout history and must continue to do so with every available means. All civilized nations reject as intolerable the use of disease and biological weapons as instruments of war and terror."
- President George W. Bush November 1, 2001

One of the most important missions we have as a Nation is to be prepared for the threat of biological terrorism - the deliberate use of disease as a weapon. An effective bio-defense will require a long-term strategy and significant new investment in the U.S. health care system. The President is taking steps now that will significantly improve the Nation's ability to protect its citizens against the threat of bio-terrorism. This is the proposed plan of action:

1. Infrastructure. Strengthen the State and local health systems, including by enhancing medical communications and disease surveillance capabilities, to maximize their contribution to the overall bio-defense of the Nation.

2. Response. Improve specialized Federal capabilities to respond in coordination with State and local governments, and private capabilities in the event of a bio-terrorist incident and build up the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile.

3. Science. Meet the medical needs of our bio-terrorism response plans by developing specific new vaccines, medicines, and diagnostic tests through an aggressive research and development program.

Responsibility for detecting and managing a bio-terrorist attack needs to be shared among a wide range of Federal, State, local, and private entities. The resources made available in the President's Budget for 2003 will help the Nation develop an effective "early warning" system against a possible bio-terrorist attack, and mount an effective operational response to manage its medical consequences. These enhanced capabilities, once in place, will also enhance the Nation's ability to respond to outbreaks of naturally occurring diseases.


The following scenario was executed in Jacksonville Florida to train Firefighters on Biological terrorism - Terrorism Training-Florida:

State, military conduct terrorism training near Jacksonville CAMP BLANDING, Fla. (AP) - Three men in bright blue moonsuits waddled up the steps of the Smithvilla Hotel to discover Wednesday what made a firefighter deathly ill after he fought a blaze caused by an explosion.What they thought was an illegal drug lab, turned out to be aterrorist hide-out containing nerve gas and evidence of biological and nuclear weapons.The explosion, fire, injured firefighter and weapons of mass destruction were not real, of course, but part of a training scenario for the military and state agency law officials learning to handle attacks by terrorists using chemical, biological and radiological agents.The training took place at Smithvilla, an entire village built in the backwoods of Camp Blanding for training military and law enforcement officers. The Florida National Guard base is about 40miles south of Jacksonville.In the scenario, Clay County deputies had been watching the Smithvilla Hotel for signs of a drug lab when an explosion rocked the three-story building. County firefighters put out the fire, buta firefighter had become extremely ill.After two National Guard Blackhawk helicopters ferried in equipment, the three men, covered with blue plastic moon suits,entered the hotel unaware they had uncovered a terrorist headquarters.In the building were a lab to produce the nerve gas serin,documents about anthrax and documents that would lead them to the post office next door, where a radioactive device was waiting."We are trying to make this as realistic as possible," said Robert J. Diemer, chief of investigations for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. He organized the training exercise, which included more than 50 representatives of the National Guard and officials from state law enforcement, health,transportation and agriculture agencies.The agencies are involved in an Environmental Response Team to deal with the aftermath of a terrorist attack, Diemer said.Agency officials believe such training will make them better able to deal with terrorist situations.

Wednesday's exercise was the fourth since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.After leaving the building, the three men went through a decontamination process in the middle of the street. They waded through a children's swimming pool filled with detergent and thens crubbed and showered before being stripped of their protective clothing by other officers in white moon suits and respirators.Florida National Guard members, who had on-the-job training hunting anthrax spores in the American Media building in Boca Ratonlast fall, were heavily involved in the training."We were disappointed something like that happened, but we rose to the challenge," said Maj. Russ Spengler of the anthrax attack,which killed one man.Spengler is the commanding officer of the 44th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team, a 22-person group of full-time Army and Air National Guard soldiers based at Camp Blanding.They are on call to leave within two hours of a terrorist attack or situation in Florida.One of his men donned a moon suit and entered the fake hotel in the scenario."This team is designed to detect biological, chemical and radiological agents and give advice with respect to treatment andevacuation," Spengler said.Watching from the sidelines was R.D. Look, chief ofi nvestigations for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.Working with the other agencies, Look's agents would gather evidence and information from areas contaminated by chemical or biological agents.Each of the FDLE's seven regions has an anti-terrorism task force, he said.Tom Tramel, director of the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Law Enforcement, said the joint training benefits all the agencies."By working together, we're increasing our knowledge,efficiency and expertise," he said.(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.

Source: http://forums.firehouse.com/showthread.php?t=36260