What would happen if someone detonated a dirty bomb in the U.S.? Or another nuclear accident occurs, such as Fukushima?
Responding to such disasters and restoring the community to basic operations necessarily will be a multi-layered response effort including clean up and protecting people and the environment.
A demonstration of such capabilities will happen on June 24 as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland Security visit Battelle to stage a demonstration of current technologies that are being tested to best contain and decontaminate a radiological spill.
Local emergency responders will assist in spraying one of Battelle’s oldest buildings with a new decontamination foam from a fire truck to test its effectiveness while scientists record results. Another demonstration will test the effectiveness of a material used to decontaminate first-responder vehicles that drive into hot zones to work.
Additionally, this training exercise will give the EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center; Battelle; the DHS; and local, state and federal decision-makers practice relaying information about contaminants in order to develop emergency plans and keep communities safe.
The training and testing event will occur during the week of June 22-25, with media and local officials invited to a public demonstration Wednesday, June 24. Advance registration is required.
Battelle is an official sponsor of Global Biodefense.
