CBRN and Hazmat Incidents at Major Public Events: Planning and Response

SCENARIO C

Radiation Detection and Radiation Alerts

BACKGROUND

Screening techniques at the entrances to major-event venues are a very useful countermeasure against an internal release of a covertly implanted radiation source. One way to counter the RDD threat is to conduct a wide-area detection operation looking for radiation sources.

There are many ways to accomplish such a mission, and none of the tactical options are very effective on their own. The way to achieve some measure of security is to use a layered approach. Fixed radiation detectors, handheld detectors in the hands of security and police staff throughout the area, and various vehicle-based systems all have a role to play.

If you are going to do radiation detection on a wide-area basis (outside the perimeters of the event venues), then you will quickly discover that this sort of exercise is a complex business. It will require labor and equipment. If done poorly, an area-survey operation will have very limited security value, and that labor and equipment will have been squandered.

Radiation detection in a complex urban environment is not easy. Background radiation varies widely due to building materials, geology, and the presence of legitimate industrial or medical radiation sources. The potential for false alarms is very high if proper procedures are not developed and implemented.

THE SCENARIO

A major international sporting event is being hosted in your city. Three different stadiums are being used for the events. ...