REGION-WIDE DIRTY BOMB EXERCISE TESTS LOCAL RESPONDERS
On May 12, 2004, over 30 agencies representing cities, counties, hospitals, governmental, law enforcement, public health and safety organizations are participating in a full-scale disaster training exercise coordinated by the Portland Office of Emergency Management. “Red Rose II” includes two full-scale field exercises involving simulated radiological dispersal device or “dirty bomb” explosions with approximately 75 casualties and contaminated patients. Additionally, there will be over 300 simulated victims fleeing the scenes and showing up at area hospitals seeking medical care.. The field exercises take place at Whitaker School (42nd and Killingsworth, Portland), and at Memorial Park ( 8100 SW Memorial Dr., Wilsonville).
This exercise marks the first time that local organizations will be tested on their ability to communicate and coordinate resources in the face of a dirty bomb incident. While the Portland metropolitan area has not been considered a target for such a threat in the past, emergency responders and public health officials must be trained and ready for any potential act of terrorism.
“Actual exercise and response to a simulated set of conditions is invaluable, said Miguel Ascarrunz, Director of the Portland Office of Emergency Management. “If this were a real event, communication and coordination between the various regional responders and health care providers will be essential. Working with the counties, hospitals, the airport, and other safety responders in this scenario will test both our knowledge and resources.”
Using a detailed scenario, local hazardous materials response teams are testing their radiation detection, monitoring and decontamination processes. For realism, both Portland and Wilsonville sites will include non-hazardous radiological training sources. Participating cities and counties are also activating their emergency operation centers (EOC).
“The field exercises are as realistic as possible,” stated Jeff Rubin, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Emergency Manager. “Emergency responders need to be prepared for whatever comes their way. Our ability to effectively handle an incident in the future is only as good as our training today.”
During the exercise, 17 hospital emergency rooms are testing their decontamination systems and communication methods for receiving contaminated patients. All area hospitals will activate their emergency patient decontamination plans and will decontaminate approximately 300 victims as they arrive at the hospitals. Public health agencies, including the State Radiation Protection Services, are also participating to test their effectiveness in interagency coordination and information sharing.
"This exercise is also an excellent opportunity for the public to become more familiar with protective actions in the wake of a dirty bomb," comments Jon Jui, M.D., M.P.H., Medical Director, Multnomah County Emergency Medical Services. "The type of agent used in a dirty bomb can vary. So, first, anyone in the vicinity of a bomb should evacuate to a safe area until emergency responders arrive. The responders will be able to provide further instructions which may include evacuating to a non contaminated area for further decontamination or staying in their homes or offices with all windows and vents secured. In any case, emergency responders and public health officers will provide the community with important action steps as quickly as possible. That's why opportunities to practice our communication among agencies and our ability to get information out the public quickly, as we will in this drill, are so vital," said Jui.
Additionally, playing off the hospitals’ scenario of patients flooding local emergency rooms, the exercise includes activating the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) at the Port of Portland. The NDMS is activated when area hospitals have exceeded their treatment capacity and patients must be moved out of the area for definitive medical treatment. The Portland VA Medical Center and the Federal Coordinating Center for the NDMS in the Portland area will be coordinating the NDMS activity at the Portland Airport. The Oregon Disaster Medical Assistance Team, NDMS DMAT OR-2, will be performing casualty reception, medical care, and staging operations (AMC Maintenance Hanger Ramp, NE 47th and NE Cornfoot). After the patients are medically stabilized for aero-medical evacuation, the patients will be loaded onto a US Air Force, C-17. A C-17 will arrive from McChord Air Force Base at Noon, with medical aircrew members for the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. (No patients will be flown out of the area during the drill.)
The FBI’s Hazardous Materials Response Team will respond to the Whitaker site in the morning with other first responders. After life and safety issues are addressed, the FBI will take control of the Whitaker site through the incident command system in the afternoon to “process” the scene for evidence. The Portland’s FBI Hazardous Materials Response Team is newly established and will use this opportunity to test new equipment and techniques. This ten-member team does have specialty training to remove evidence from hazardous situations, including those with biological, chemical or radiological weapons.
Following the exercise, the regional participants will debrief to discuss improvements in future response and identify needed resources.