US Congressman Says US Unprepared for Chemical Attack

US Congressman Christopher Shays (Connecticut) has gone on record indicating that US public emergency services are not fully prepared to deal with a chemical or biological attack. In doing so, he contradicts US Health Secretary, Tommy Thompson.

Speaking in an interview today with CNN, Congressman Shays reported that important recommendations made by the National Security Committee over a year ago had still not been implemented.

The recommendations, which were made after simulated chemical and biological attacks in two US cities, in an exercise named Topoff, identified the need for better teaching and equipping of emergency first responders and a streamlined decision making process. The US, Congressman Shays said, would be overwhelmed by any substantial attack.

US Health Secretary Tommy Thompson has previously indicated the US was well prepared to deal with a biological attack but has said little about chemical attacks. The Topoff exercise included a simulated attack on Denver with anthrax.

Congressman Shays comments echo similar views made recently in the UK by a former Duty Officer with the UK National Chemical Emergency Centre. The former NCEC Duty Officer, Peter Doyle, has said the UK Centre, which is now in the private ownership of AEA Technology, should immediately be returned to public ownership given the new international situation. Further information

The litttle publicised UK National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC), is Mr Doyle says, the primary centre of scientific and safety advice to public emergency services (police, fire) and the MOD (including bomb disposal) together with road, air, ship and rail transport operators for advice in the event of chemical emergencies. Its Duty Officers deal, as might be expected, with the full range of chemical incidents - from those that occur on oil rigs and ships, to industrial fires and road and rail transport accidents. The Centre was previously operated under public ownership within the UK Atomic Energy Authority until 1996.

The operational management of the UK National Chemical Emergency Centre under private ownership, will eventually, according to Mr Doyle, prove inadequate if the UK were to experience an increased or sustained terrorist threat involving chemicals. Mr Doyle considers it essential, given the increased threat, that government should return management of the NCEC to public ownership and operation.