AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Federal, state, and local authorities will be teaming up for a series of exercises simulating a "major radiological incident" in the Austin area this week.
Dubbed "Cobalt Magnet 22", the effort is being led by the National Nuclear Security Administration.
The exercise, which officials have been planning for 18 months, will simulate a radiological attack, allowing federal, state, and local partners to practice response measures to protect public safety, provide relief to affected populations, and restore essential services.
The effort is part of a regular program of training, exercises and planning by which NNSA and federal, state and local partners prepare to protect public health and safety.
According to NNSA officials, you may see field teams in protective clothing using radiological monitoring and detection equipment. Low-flying aircraft will also be gathering data as a part of the exercise, and you may notice first responders being staged in various locations around the area.
“The men and women of the Nuclear Emergency Support Team – or NEST – are trained to provide decision-makers with timely, actionable scientific advice during fearful events,” said Jay Tilden, DOE’s Deputy Under Secretary for Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation. “Saving lives and reducing the impact of a nuclear incident requires a full understanding of what happened, who will be affected, and what the optimal response should be. NEST’s bread and butter is providing that information to local, state, and federal leaders as rapidly as possible.”
