[HCRA] TOPOFF Details

[Daniel Sullivan]

OK last one on this thread. It gives a lot more detail about what each venue 
hopes to accomplish and learn and how the pieces fit together at the local, 
state, federal and international levels. Also some good preparedness tips 
for chem/bio self protection.

Anyways, any of you folks that are taking part have fun and let me know how 
it goes.

Dan S.
KO1D

http://www.bigmedicine.ca/education.htm

TOPOFF 3 New Jersey & Connecticut Venues [Mar 29 Washington DC]--Top 
Officials 3 (TOPOFF 3) is the most comprehensive terrorism response exercise 
ever conducted in the United States. The full-scale exercise, taking place 
in the United States from April 4-8, 2005, will involve participants from 
international, federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector agencies 
and non-governmental organizations. In the United States, participants will 
respond to simulated, simultaneous and multi-point attacks taking place in 
Connecticut and New Jersey.

TOPOFF 3 is a congressionally mandated exercise series managed by the 
Department of Homeland Security’s Office of State and Local Government 
Coordination and Preparedness.

New Jersey Participation in TOPOFF 3

The state of New Jersey is one of the two state venues selected to 
participate in TOPOFF 3. During the week of April 4-8, 2005, New Jersey will 
be testing the ability of its state and local government to plan for and 
respond to a biological attack.

Specifically, the exercise will test the state’s ability to coordinate 
inter-agency preparedness and response plans to a biological response, 
conduct epidemiological investigations, criminal investigations, supply 
medication to ill patients and deploy assets statewide.

New Jersey will use this full-scale exercise to examine the preparedness and 
response plans at the state and local levels, as well as interactions with 
the Federal government and private sector.

A Snapshot of the New Jersey Venue

New Jersey will be the first state ever to have statewide participation in a 
TOPOFF exercise. Although the exercise will initially focus on Union and 
Middlesex counties. Participation will include more than a dozen 
municipalities and all 21 New Jersey counties.

State participation is sponsored by the Domestic Security Preparedness Task 
Force, the state body responsible for developing New Jersey’s homeland 
security policy and for coordinating its implementation. State agencies 
participating include the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Attorney 
General/Department of Law and Public Safety, the New Jersey State Police, 
the Department of Health and Senior Services, the State Office of Emergency 
Management, the Officeof Counter Terrorism, the Office of the State Medical 
Examiner, the Office of Information Technology, the Department of Military 
and Veterans Affairs, the Department of Environmental Protection, the State 
Board of Public Utilities, the Department of Human Services, the Department 
of Corrections, the Department of Transportation, the Department of 
Treasury, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of 
Agriculture.

Eighty four hospitals, 22 Local Information Network Communications Systems 
(LINCS) agencies, all 21 counties, and hundreds of local health departments, 
government agencies, law enforcement agencies, first responders, academic 
institutions and businesses will participate.

For More Information:

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services www.nj.gov/health
New Jersey Homeland Security www.njhomelandsecurity.gov

Connecticut Participation in TOPOFF 3

The state of Connecticut is one of the two state venues selected to 
participate in TOPOFF 3. During the week of April 4-8, 2005, Connecticut 
will be testing the ability of its state and local government to plan for 
and respond to a chemical attack.

Specifically, the exercise will test the state’s ability to coordinate 
inter-agency preparedness and response plans to a terrorist-generated 
chemical incident, provide decontamination of large numbers of victims, test 
the surge capacity of the hospital system state wide, conduct criminal and 
environmental investigations, and exercise the states newly formed Urban 
Search and Rescue Team. Connecticut will use this full-scale exercise to 
examine the strengths and weaknesses of states’ preparedness and response 
plans.

A Snapshot of the Connecticut Venue

TOPOFF is the cornerstone of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s 
Training and Exercise Program, and for the planning period, has become the 
cornerstone of Connecticut efforts as well. This program will bring a wealth 
of national and international expertise and resources to the state of 
Connecticut. Lessons learned form this experience will be shared with every 
community across our state to leverage the experience and the overall 
preparedness of the state.

The United States Department of Homeland Security and the Connecticut 
Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) have 
responsibility for oversight of the TOPOFF exercise in the State of 
Connecticut. Effective, January 1, 2005, this new Connecticut agency brings 
together the Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security, the 
Military Department and the Office of Emergency Management. The University 
of Connecticut’s College of Continuing Studies is partnering with of the 
State of Connecticut and DHS in the implementation and evaluation of the 
exercise, assuming the lead coordination and administrative role within the 
state.

The following State, local, and private agencies and organizations have 
participated in the planning and implementation of TOPOFF; Office of the 
Governor, Department of Public Health, Department Environmental Protection, 
Department of Public Safety, Department of Mental Health and Addiction 
Services, Department of Transportation, the Military Department, 
representatives from local and regional first responder agencies, 32 state 
hospitals, the 211 emergency information center, as well as many private and 
not for profit organizations.

For More Information:

Connecticut Office of Emergency Management www.ct.gov/demhs/


TOPOFF 3 Background, Biological Agents [Mar 29 Washington DC]--Biological 
agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate people, 
livestock and crops. The three basic groups of biological agents that would 
likely be used as weapons are bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Most biological 
agents are difficult to grow and maintain. Many break down quickly when 
exposed to sunlight and other environmental factors, while others, such as 
anthrax spores, are more durable and have long lives. They can be dispersed 
by spraying them in the air, or infecting animals that carry the disease to 
humans, as well as through food and water contamination. Person-to-person 
spread of a few infectious agents is possible. Humans have been the source 
of infection for smallpox, plague, and the Lassa virus.

Examples of Biological Agents

Anthrax – Anthrax is a serious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a 
bacterium that forms spores. The three types of this agent affect the skin, 
lungs, or digestive system. Anthrax is considered a Category A agent, which 
means that it poses the greatest possible threat to public health and it may 
spread across a large area; therefore an attack with this agent may require 
a great deal of planning to protect the public’s health. Generally, early 
treatment with antibiotics can cure coetaneous anthrax. Gastrointestinal 
anthrax is more serious and results in more deaths. Inhalation anthrax is 
much more severe. In 2001, about half of the cases of inhalation anthrax 
ended in death.

Plague – Plague is a disease caused by Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), a 
bacterium found in rodents and their fleas in many areas around the world. 
Pneumonic plague occurs when Y. pestis infects the lungs. Infection can 
occur by breathing in Y. pestis particles, which could happen in an aerosol 
release during a bioterrorism attack. Pneumonic plague is also transmitted 
by breathing in Y. pestis suspended in respiratory droplets from a person 
(or animal) with pneumonic plague. Respiratory droplets are spread most 
readily by coughing or sneezing. Becoming infected in this way usually 
requires direct and close (within six feet) contact with the ill person or 
animal.

Smallpox – Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious 
disease. There are two clinical forms of smallpox. Variola major is the 
severe and most common form of smallpox, with a more extensive rash and 
higher fever compared with Variola minor, a less common presentation of 
smallpox and a much less severe disease. There is no specific treatment for 
smallpox, and the only prevention is vaccination. Generally, direct and 
fairly prolonged face-to-face contact is required to spread smallpox from 
one person to another. Smallpox can also be spread through direct contact 
with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects, such as bedding or 
clothing. Smallpox is not known to be transmitted by insects or animals.

How To Prepare for a Biological Attack

Talk to your doctor to ensure all required or suggested immunizations are up 
to date.
Assemble a disaster supply kit, including the following:
- Battery-powered commercial radio with extra batteries.
- Non-perishable food and drinking water.
- First aid kit and sanitation supplies, including soap, water, and bleach.

What To Do During a Biological Attack

Listen to your radio for instructions.
If you are instructed to remain indoors, you should:
- Turn off all ventilation.
- Seek shelter in an internal room, preferably one without windows.
- Avoid the furnace or utility room as an area to shelter-in-place.
- Do not use any major appliances in your shelter-in-place.
- Remain in the protected area and be sure to take your battery-operated 
radio with you.
If you are caught in an unprotected area, you should:
- Attempt to get up-wind of the contaminated area.
- Attempt to find shelter as quickly as possible and listen to your radio 
for official instructions.

What To Do After a Biological Attack

Pay close attention to all official warnings and instructions on how to 
proceed. The delivery of medical services for a biological event may be 
handled differently to respond to increased demand. If your skin or clothing 
comes in contact with a visible, potentially infectious substance, you 
should remove and bag your clothes and personal items and wash yourself with 
warm soapy water immediately. Put on clean clothes, and seek medical 
assistance.

For more information, visit the Emergency Preparedness & Response section of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site: www.bt.cdc.gov.

CDC Anthrax Information www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/anthrax/index.asp

CDC Smallpox Information www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/index.asp

CDC Plague Information www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/plague/index.asp


TOPOFF 3 Background, Chemical Agents [Mar 29 Washington DC]--Chemical agents 
are poisonous vapors, aerosols, liquids or solids that have toxic effects on 
people, animals or plants. They can be released by bombs, sprayed from 
aircraft, boats, or vehicles, or used as a liquid to create a hazard to 
people and the environment. Some chemical agents may be odorless and 
tasteless. They can have an immediate effect (a few seconds to a few 
minutes) or a delayed effect (several hours to several days). While 
potentially lethal, chemical agents are difficult to deliver in lethal 
concentrations. Outdoors, the agents often dissipate rapidly. Chemical 
agents are also difficult to produce.

Examples of Chemical Agents

Cyanide – Cyanide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that 
exists in many forms. Exposure can occur from breathing air, drinking water, 
eating food, or touching soil that contains cyanide. This agent prevents the 
cells of the body from using oxygen. It is most dangerous in an enclosed 
space.

Sulfur mustard – Sulfur mustard is a manufactured chemical that exists in 
many forms. Exposure is usually not fatal, but symptoms may not occur for 2 
to 24 hours. Mustard can last from one to two days in average weather 
conditions and from weeks to months in very cold conditions. Extensive 
exposure causes blistered skin, long-term respiratory or digestive problems, 
and potential blindness.

Sarin – A human-made chemical warfare agent, sarin is a clear, colorless, 
and tasteless liquid that has no odor in its pure form. Sarin can evaporate 
into a vapor (gas) and spread into the environment. This and other nerve 
agents prevent the proper operation of the chemical that acts as the body’s 
“off switch” for glands and muscles. Without an “off switch,” the glands and 
muscles are constantly stimulated. They may tire and no longer be able to 
sustain breathing function. Complete recovery is possible with short-term 
exposure, but long-term exposure is usually fatal.

Ricin – Ricin is a poison that can be made from the waste leftover from 
processing castor beans. It can be inhaled, ingested or injected, and works 
by getting inside the cells of a person’s body and preventing the cells from 
making the proteins they need. Without the proteins, cells die. Eventually, 
this is harmful to the whole body, and death may occur.

How To Prepare for a Chemical Attack

Talk to your doctor to ensure all required or suggested immunizations are up 
to date.
Assemble a disaster supply kit, including the following:
- Battery-powered commercial radio with extra batteries.
- Non-perishable food and drinking water.
- First aid kit and sanitation supplies, including soap, water, and bleach.

What To Do During a Chemical Attack

Listen to your radio for instructions.
If you are instructed to remain indoors, you should:
- Turn off all ventilation. - Seek shelter in an internal room, preferably 
one without windows.
- Avoid using a utility room or a room containing a furnace as a 
shelter-in-place.
- Do not use any major appliances in your shelter-in-place.
- Remain in the protected area and be sure to take your battery-operated 
radio with you.
If you are caught in an unprotected area, you should:
- Attempt to get up-wind of the contaminated area.
- Attempt to find shelter as quickly as possible.
- Listen to your radio for official instructions.

What To Do After a Chemical Attack

Immediate symptoms of exposure to chemical agents may include blurred 
vision, eye irritation, difficulty breathing and nausea. A person affected 
by a chemical or biological agent requires immediate attention by 
professional medical personnel. Remove all clothing and other items in 
contact with the body. Contaminated clothing should be placed in a plastic 
bag, and any part of your body exposed should be decontaminated with soap 
and water.

For more information, view the Information on Agents and Threats section of 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website: www.bt.cdc.gov

CDC Cyanide Information www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/cyanide/index.asp

CDC Sulfur Mustard Information www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/sulfurmustard/index.asp

CDC Ricin Information www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/ricin/index.asp

CDC Sarin Information www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/sarin/index.asp


TOPOFF 3 Exercising International Preparedness [Mar 29 Washington 
DC]--Global terrorism knows no boundaries. To prevent terrorism, and to 
respond effectively if an incident does occur, international cooperation is 
essential. Recognizing this important need, the United States, the United 
Kingdom and Canada are participating in interrelated exercises that develop 
an internationally streamlined and coordinated response to a series of 
simulated terrorist incidents.

The three interrelated exercises will all take place during the first week 
of April: TOPOFF 3 in the United States, ATLANTIC BLUE in the United 
Kingdom, and TRIPLE PLAY in Canada. Together, the exercises offer a 
realistic test of the three nations' framework for collaboration and 
communication.

Working Toward Shared Objectives

The United States, Canada, and the UK have worked together throughout a 
two-year planning process to achieve shared objectives in four key areas:


Incident management: To test the full range of existing procedures for 
domestic incident management of a terrorist event and improve, through 
practice, top officials’ capabilities in affected countries to respond in 
partnership.
Intelligence/investigation: To test the handling and flow of operational and 
time-critical intelligence.
Public information: To practice strategic coordination of media relations 
and public information issues in response to linked terrorist incidents.
Evaluation: To identify lessons learned and promote best practices.


United Kingdom Participation: ATLANTIC BLUE

The United Kingdom will be involved in TOPOFF 3 through exercise 'ATLANTIC 
BLUE', which will be played at command post exercise (CPX) level only. This 
will allow the United Kingdom to focus specifically on communication across 
international borders at a strategic level and test simultaneous responses 
to linked terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom, United States, and 
Canada.

The Metropolitan Police Service is the host force for the United Kingdom 
working closely with the Home Office and other government departments and 
London agencies on planning and delivery. ATLANTIC BLUE provides the United 
Kingdom an invaluable opportunity to enhance their well-established domestic 
exercise program by working with their United States and Canadian 
counterparts to test their capability to respond to the specific challenges 
of an international terrorist incident.

Training exercises are a vital part of counterterrorism, as they ensure 
preparedness for response to any kind of terrorist attack and confirm 
counterterrorism arrangements are tried and tested. As with all exercises, 
the lessons learned from ATLANTIC BLUE will be incorporated into future 
contingency planning. It is important to emphasize that this exercise has 
been planned and designed to enhance international emergency preparedness 
and in no way reflects a specific threat to any of the participating 
nations.

Canada Participation: Triple Play

Canada will be involved with TOPOFF 3 through TRIPLE PLAY, which will 
exercise, test, and validate protocols and procedures that support and are 
used by select Federal and Provincial top officials in response to a 
terrorist event. Spanning a timetable of several months, TRIPLE PLAY 
involves a series of training sessions, seminars and tabletop exercises of 
increasing complexity to build and gauge participants’ growing knowledge and 
experience. It begins with the command post exercise that will assess 
Canada’s ability to put the National Emergency Response System into effect 
to act quickly and decisively in the event of a terrorist attack or other 
emergency. Following the exercise in April, Canada will conclude the TRIPLE 
PLAY exercise with Canada’s first Large Scale Game to review response 
actions and their relationship to after-action initiatives and recovery 
policy development.

The Government of Canada is committed to working closely with other 
countries to strengthen their ability to deal with any form of terrorism and 
its consequences. Canada’s National Security Policy identifies the 
development of an exercise program as a priority, committing the government 
to “regular national and international exercises involving civilian and 
military resources to assess the adequacy of the national system against 
various emergency scenarios.” In addition, Canada has made commitments under 
the 1999 Canada-U.S. Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) 
Guidelines and Smart Border Accord to engage with the U.S. in joint 
counter-terrorism training activities, including exercises.

In keeping with its mandate to demonstrate leadership in national security 
and emergency preparedness, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada 
is leading the planning for TRIPLE PLAY. This effort is being supported by a 
working group with representatives from 18 federal departments and agencies.


TOPOFF 3 Exercising National Preparedness [Mar 29 Washington DC]--Top 
Officials 3 (TOPOFF 3) is the most comprehensive terrorism response exercise 
ever conducted in the United States. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of State and Local Government Coordination 
and Preparedness (SLGCP), TOPOFF 3 is the third exercise in the TOPOFF 
Exercise Series, a congressionally mandated exercise program. The exercise 
is designed to strengthen the nation’s capacity to prevent, protect against, 
respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass 
destruction (WMDs). Joining the Department of Homeland Security and other 
federal agencies in this important effort are the states of Connecticut and 
New Jersey, as well as two international partners, the United Kingdom and 
Canada. These countries will conduct simultaneous, related exercises.

A Weeklong Full-Scale Exercise

The TOPOFF 3 Full-Scale Exercise (T3 FSE), which will take place from April 
4-8, 2005, is the culmination of a two-year cycle of seminars, planning 
events, and exercises. The exercise will involve more than 10,000 
participants representing more than 200 federal, state, local, tribal, 
private sector, and international agencies and organizations, as well as 
volunteer groups.

In the United States, participants will respond to attacks in Connecticut 
and New Jersey. Simulated terrorist incidents will originate in New London, 
Connecticut (chemical incident) and Union and Middlesex Counties in New 
Jersey (biological incident). Real weapons will not be used, yet the 
response will be mounted as if they had been. Numerous federal departments 
and agencies will actively participate, providing a first opportunity to 
validate the recently released National Response Plan, and to exercise 
protocols of the National Incident Management System. As the full 
international dimensions of the simulated crisis are revealed, related 
exercises will take place in the United Kingdom (ATLANTIC BLUE) and Canada 
(TRIPLE PLAY). Planners from all three countries have collaborated in the 
exercise design to achieve shared objectives.

Meeting Crucial Preparedness Objectives

To meet these shared objectives, the T3 FSE focuses on four critical areas:

Incident management: To test the full range of existing procedures for 
domestic incident management of a terrorist event and improve, through 
practice, top officials’ capabilities in affected countries to respond in 
partnership.
Intelligence/investigation: To test the handling and flow of operational and 
time-critical intelligence.
Public information: To practice strategic coordination of media relations 
and public information issues in response to linked terrorist incidents.
Evaluation: To identify lessons learned and promote best practices.

Challenging the Entire Homeland Security System

Exercises such as TOPOFF are an important component of national 
preparedness, helping to build an integrated federal, state, local, tribal, 
and private sector capability to prevent terrorist attacks on the homeland, 
and rapidly and effectively respond to and recover from any terrorist attack 
or major disaster that does occur.

The full-scale exercise offers agencies and jurisdictions a way to test 
their plans and skills in a real-time, realistic environment and to gain the 
in-depth knowledge that only experience can provide. Participants will also 
exercise intelligence gathering, which is critical to preventing terrorist 
attacks.

Lessons learned from the exercise will provide valuable insights to guide 
future planning for securing the nation against terrorist events.

The Scenario

T3 FSE begins as terrorists, planning attacks in the New York and Boston 
metropolitan areas, suspect their plans are compromised. They react by 
accelerating their original schedule, deploying a vehicle-based biological 
agent dispersal device in New Jersey. Seriously ill patients begin to 
overwhelm local hospitals. As the scenario unfolds, every county in New 
Jersey will need a Point of Dispensing (POD) for antibiotics. Meanwhile, the 
chemical weapon attack originally planned for Boston is also accelerated and 
executed in New London, Connecticut, augmented with a vehicle-based 
improvised explosive device.

Issues to be addressed include public health and safety, contamination, 
criminal investigation, and patient care. As the events continue, federal 
agencies implement the National Response Plan, and international aspects of 
play emerge.

T3: Building From Past TOPOFF Exercises and the Events of September 11, 2001

The TOPOFF 3 Full-Scale Exercise extends the learning derived from earlier 
TOPOFF exercises and 9-11 in several ways:

Increases international and private sector participation in prevention and 
investigation.
Emphasizes terrorism prevention — an opportunity to piece together an 
intelligence puzzle and “capture” the enemy before the attack occurs.
Emphasizes risk communication and public information — participants will 
explore approaches to public communications in times of high public anxiety 
and confusion.
Focuses on long-term recovery and remediation issues.