Chemical & Biological Preparedness from DOD

Just a couple of notes on the DoD's new Joint Service Chemical and Biological Defense Program FY 08-09 Overview. For the most part, this is a broad review of the CBDP's aims for R&D and acquisition of new tools for detection, shielding, etc.

But there are a couple of items in the doc that may be of interest to local first responders. It's interesting that the military has set up a parallel system for detection of biological and chemical agents. If I were a local leader or first responder in a community near a military base, I might want to investigate an opportunity for sharing information:

In response to the events of September 11, 2001, an antiterrorism task force was formed to come up with emergency lists for equipment for the Installation Protection Program (IPP), Army Emergency First Responder Program, and Homeland Security Biological Detection initiative.

The task force decisions resulted in PBD 289, which required a pilot program to outfit nine installations—three each for the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy/Marine Corps. The PBD stated that biological and chemical detection only is required. ...

The Joint Service Installation Pilot Program (JSIPP) demonstrated the efficacy of an integrated suite of highly effective chemical and biological sensors and support equipment installed at the previously identified installations. The suite provided tiered sampling/collection, detection, identification, and warning response capabilities. It was designed to provide early indoor/outdoor collection, detection, presumptive identification, and warning capabilities and proved the need to expand this concept.

The JPMG IPP consists of a highly effective and integrated CBR installation protection and response capability, including detection, identification, warning, information management, individual and collective protection, restoration, and medical surveillance, protection, and response. The communications network will leverage existing capabilities and be integrated into the base operational command and control infrastructure. JPMG will procure and field an effective and optimized CBR installation protection and response capability at 135 DOD installations FY06–12.

In the case of a biological or chemical event, a military Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) will be part of the response. Advance collaboration between local officials and these teams will improve any response. The military units can bring specialized equipment and training, but it is vital to ensure communications between civilian and military units:

Weapons of Mass Destruction—Civil Support Teams (WMD-CST) ... will allow selected National Guard and Reserve Component units to respond to and contain the effects of CBRN incidents within the continental United States.

The program also funds the design, enhancement, testing, fielding, and sustainment of the Analytical Laboratory System (ALS) Increment 1 and the Unified Command Suite (UCS) Increment 1 for the WMD-CSTs. The ALS Increment 1 provides advanced technologies with enhanced sensitivity and selectivity in the detection and identification of CWAs, BWAs, TICs, and TIMs. The UCS provides communication interoperability with federal, state, and local emergency responders at a WMD incident.