NCJ Number
192258
Date Published
2000
Length
51 pages
Annotation
The goal of this summary report is to inform members of the first responder and emergency communities about continuing activities, initiatives, and lessons learned from the Chemical Weapons Improved Response Program (CWIRP).
Abstract
The Domestic Preparedness Program (DPP) is a congressionally mandated program. The Department of Defense (DOD) was appointed as the executive agent for coordination assistance from Federal agencies through the States to enhance first responder preparedness. One of these initiatives is the establishment of a program to improve the civilian response capability to chemical and biological (C/B) terrorism. The Improved Response Program (IRP) was created to identify and improve systematic deficiencies in the ability of a community to effectively respond to a C/B terrorist incident. The city of Baltimore, Maryland volunteered to be the test-bed location for efforts of the Chemical Weapons Improved Response Program (CWIRP). The CWIRP created a number of exercises, called Baltimore Exercise (BALTEX), which presented information concerning the potential for terrorist use of chemical warfare agents and, with other working groups to identify problems with their response to a chemical event. The four working groups, Emergency response, Law Enforcement, Health and Safety, and Emergency Management formed committees to develop solutions and recommendations for improving civilian response capability. In 1997-1998, the Domestic Preparedness Summary Report outlined major activities and accomplishments of the first 18 months of the CWIRP. In 1999, the Chemical Weapons Improved Response Program Summary Report outlined the major activities of the second year of the program. The 2000 Summary Report addressed activities in the final mandated year of the program. A summary of these activities is included in chapter two of this report, which included the Baltimore Exercise (BALTEX) X, CWIRP Support to TOPOFF 2000, Dover, Delaware CWIRP Workshop, Baltex XI and Crime 2000. Chapter three contained CWIRP products, and chapter four included the ongoing technical study initiatives. A comprehensive outline of recommendations for responding to a chemical weapon of mass destruction (WMD) event is also provided. The CWIRP conducted a number of tabletop exercises and one functional exercise to show the efficacy of operational concepts and procedural guidelines developed within the functional groups. One major highlight of the year came when the Department of Justice requested CWIRP advisory support for the largest domestic terrorism exercise ever attempted by the United States, Top Officials (TOPOFF) 2000. In the meantime, participants in the program continued to identify important issues requiring in-depth discussion. As a consequence, several additional efforts were developed and addressed in a series of workshops. List of acronyms included