Decontamination operations in a mass casualty scenario: observations from Ardent Sentry 2007

CML Army Chemical Review, Summer, 2008 by Michael L. Snyder, Thomas J. Sobieski

At 10 a.m. on 10 May 2007, a terrorist group smuggled in and detonated a nuclear device, resulting in a 10-kiloton surface blast near Lawrence, Indiana (just northeast of Indianapolis). Local, state, and federal government officials were presented with many complex challenges as a result of this catastrophic event. Among the most challenging tasks was the need to quickly and completely decontaminate much of the population. This was the scenario for the week-long Ardent Sentry 2007 (AS07) exercise.

The Department of Defense (DOD) is capable of providing decontamination in support of civil authorities. However, the effective employment of DOD decontamination capabilities requires a full understanding of the special circumstances surrounding a homeland event and the doctrinal differences between defense support of civil authorities (DSCA) and battlefield decontamination operations.

This article (sponsored by the Joint Requirements Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense [JRO CBRND]) focuses on two aspects of the DOD decontamination mission:

* Differences in conducting decontamination operations in a DSCA environment versus a traditional wartime environment.

* Additional considerations for mass decontamination in a DSCA environment.

Background

Since 2004, the JRO CBRND has been providing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) and consequence management subject matter experts to support combatant commands and subordinate training and exercise programs. The JRO CBRND has also partnered with several non-DOD government agencies to enhance the knowledge of DSCA procedures.

The AS07 exercise was designated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sponsored by the U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), and supported by the U.S. Joint Forces Command (JFCOM). In the months leading up to AS07, the JRO CBRND provided technical assistance to the NORTHCOM Operational Plans and Joint Force Development Directorate (J-7) and JFCOM J-7 in observing battle staff operating procedures at selected command and control locations and developing the effects of the nuclear detonation. Exercise development included collaborating with exercise planners from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indianapolis Department of Public Safety to build the documents and determine the scenario participants needed to drive DOD responses to federal requests for assistance.

Based on National Planning Scenario 1, (1) AS07 primarily focused on the ability of NORTHCOM to execute DOD chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) response plans at the operational level. For the first time, the Ardent Sentry exercise also included a separate but simultaneous field training exercise designed to allow selected DOD units to train with their civilian counterparts.

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The nuclear detonation that occurred at the outset of the AS07 exercise was designed to simulate a "no-notice" terrorist event. Scripted weather, census data from 2000, and computer modeling were used for the scenario. Casualties were estimated at 15,000 dead and 21,000 injured. The injured included those affected by the blast itself and by thermal radiation, prompt radiation, and radioactive fallout.

The nuclear detonation and subsequent effects resulted in the appointment of a principal federal official by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) followed by a presidential disaster declaration. DHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (Region V) established a joint field office (JFO) at Camp Atterbury, which is located about forty-three miles south of Indianapolis. The defense coordinating officer and element from FEMA Region V joined the JFO coordination staff. NORTHCOM Joint Task Force-Civil Support was also deployed to Camp Atterbury to provide command and control of DOD forces deployed to support the local, state, and federal response.

In addition, elements of the DOD CBRNE Consequence Management Response Force (CCMRF) were deployed to conduct consequence management operations in concert with first responders from Marion County, Indiana; the Indiana Department of Homeland Security; the Indiana National Guard CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package; and civil support teams. This field training exercise was conducted at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, located about twenty-five miles southeast of Camp Atterbury.

It became apparent during the planning process and exercise execution that further discussion of the two aforementioned aspects of the DOD decontamination mission would benefit the CBRN response community in general and emergency responders in particular.

DSCA

In a scenario such as that presented in AS07, DOD is ready to assist with local, state, and federal response efforts. Upon receipt of a request for federal assistance, DOD provides support according to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and The Economy Act. The National Response Plan (which was in effect at the time of the exercise but has since been replaced by the National Response Framework) provides the coordinating framework for the support. DOD provides support for all fifteen emergency support functions of the National Response Plan and is a cooperating agency for most of the National Response Plan support and incident annexes. When requested, DOD (in concert with other federal agencies and possibly federalized National Guard units) supports the primary agency (DHS) by providing the manpower and equipment necessary to quickly mitigate the effects of the disaster and meet the needs of responding local and state officials. The manner in which DOD provides this support is described in NORTHCOM Contingency Plan 2501. The JFO is responsible for coordinating DOD and other existing capabilities.