RECORD NUMBER OF STATES, CITIES PARTICIPATE IN DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES

September was National Preparedness Month (NPM), a nationwide effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks. The goal of NPM, now in its fifth year, is to get the public involved and ultimately to increase the level of basic preparedness across the nation.  More than 3,200 public and private organizations partnered in the effort last month, including a record number of national, regional, state and local government organizations.  The Hauer Group recognizes NPM by working with states and cities to highlight the importance of disaster preparedness. Our focus is on raising awareness of the risk of, and response to, a deliberate or accidental release of an organophosphate/chemical nerve agent.   

CHEMICAL SECURITY A KEY CONCERN FOR DHS, DOT OFFICIALS 

The security of chemical facilities has been a concern since 9/11, as has the security of chemicals and other hazardous materials being transported by truck, rail and barge. 

In November 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finalized its long-awaited chemical security regulations.  The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards are intended to prevent terrorists from accessing and using hazardous chemicals.  It contains a list of approximately 300 chemicals, including nerve agents Sarin and VX, and orphanophosphorus pesticides Malathion and Parathion.  The regulations require facilities, agribusinesses and farm operations that exceed threshold levels of critical chemicals of interest, to register with DHS and provide information about their use of these chemicals and potential security vulnerabilities.   

Terrorist threat aside, the U.S. transportation system is particularly vulnerable with respect to chemicals and other hazardous materials.  Each day, millions of tons of hazardous materials are transported across more than 200,000 miles of highway, track and inland waterways.  The transport of these materials is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).  Agricultural chemicals are considered hazardous materials because of their high level of toxicity. In the event of a truck or rail accident in Connecticut involving an organophosphate, there would be clear and imminent danger to the operator, emergency response teams and the surrounding communities. 

LOGISTICS COMPLICATE RESPONSE TO NERVE AGENT POISONING 

In the event of an organophosphate poisoning, individuals who have been poisoned may have only minutes to receive the antidote, and emergency medical personnel may be unable to assist everyone in need.  Modeling scenarios predict a serious chemical event could result in hundreds to a few thousand casualties depending on level of toxicity, length of exposure, atmospheric dispersion and persistence.  Given the rapidity of symptom onset, and the logistical challenges of providing immediate medical assistance to potentially large numbers of victims – particularly if the antidote is not readily available – the response is likely to be too little, too late.  To further complicate matters, federal government stockpiles of chemical nerve agent antidotes would not be accessible for immediate use, as they are intended for replenishment purposes only. 

EMS SYSTEM NOT FULLY PREPARED FOR DISASTERS, TERRORISM 

Studies and reports continue to show barriers to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) readiness for large-scale emergencies such as natural disasters and terrorist attacks.  Preparedness challenges have been linked to gaps in federal funding, education and training, equipment and supplies, and planning and coordination between agencies.  Most first responders report feeling vastly underprepared and underprotected for a disaster involving a chemical, biological or radiological agent/weapon. And the level of personal protection equipment available to emergency responders for these threats varies widely by region and service.

FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE ACCESS TO NERVE AGENT ANTIDOTES 

EMS personnel across the U.S. have access to auto-injectors that contains atropine and pralidoxime chloride, first-line antidotes for organophosphate and chemical nerve agent poisoning.  These FDA-approved chemical nerve agent antidotes have been supplied to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations since 1958 and to state and local first responders since the 1990s.  The DuoDote Auto-Injector, which has replaced the Mark I Nerve Agent Antidote Kit, is a single, pre-filled, dual chambered auto-injector containing both atropine and pralidoxime chloride.   

State and city homeland security officials, EMS directors and fire and police chiefs are encouraged to review their chemical disaster response protocols to ensure personal protective equipment and antidotes are easily and quickly accessible to first responders.  They are also encouraged to evaluate their inventory of antidotes in local stockpiles and on ambulances to ensure there is an adequate, in-date supply. 

DuoDote is eligible for purchase through DHS grants, which fund a wide range of preparedness activities, including equipment purchases and training.  FY 2008 grant information is provided below and at the DHS web site:  http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/grant-program-overview-fy2008.pdf. 

PARTNERSHIP IS KEY TO MAMIXIZING PREPAREDNESS

There has been measurable progress in this nation’s readiness since 9/11, thanks to strong collaboration between federal, state and local governments and their allies in the academic, health care, non-profit and private sectors.  Partnership is the key to success in this endeavor, because it allows response agencies to leverage their resources, while strengthening citizens’ confidence in their state and local authorities to respond to disasters. 

For more information on preparing for chemical disasters, or accessing federal grants to purchase antidotes, please contact Jerome M. Hauer, Chief Executive Officer of the Hauer Group LLC, at 703-768-3838 or email jhauer@hauergroup.net.