The US Department of Homeland Security will conduct the largest and most comprehensive counterterrorism exercise to date from October 15-19 in Arizona and Oregon, and the US territory of Guam. Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4) is the fourth in a series of congressionally-mandated exercises and involves various federal agencies as well as the governments of Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

TOPOFF 4 will involve more than 15,000 participants from all levels of government, international partners and the private sector in a full-scale, simulated response to radiological dispersal device attacks. It will focus on five key areas:

* Prevention: To test the handling and flow of operational and time-critical intelligence between agencies to prevent a terrorist attack.

* Intelligence/investigation: To test the handling and flow of operational and time-critical intelligence between agencies prior to, and in response to, a linked terrorist incident.

* Incident management: To test the full range of existing procedures for domestic incident management of a terrorist weapon of mass destruction event and to improve the top officials’ capabilities to respond consistent with the US National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System.

* Public information: To practice the strategic coordination of media relations and public information in the context of a terrorist weapon of mass destruction event or incident of national significance.

* Evaluation: To identify lessons learned and promote best practices.

Private sector organizations are being encouraged to consider participating in TOPOFF 4. For further information about participating email private.sectorT4@dhs.gov

http://www.dhs.gov/topoff4

•Date: 25th Sept 2007• Region: US•Type: Article •Topic: Testing and exercising
Rate this article or make a comment - click here