REAC/TS participates in Y-12 emergency management exercise

The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) recently supported an emergency exercise hosted in and around the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. The U.S. Department of Energy facilities in Oak Ridge conduct regular emergency management exercises. Such exercises test the ability of emergency personnel to respond quickly and effectively to emergency situations and ensure that the public, Y-12 employees, and the environment would be protected in the event of an actual emergency.

During the exercise, Methodist Medical Center (MMC) contacted REAC/TS for assistance with 12 exercise patients from Y-12. This involved Registered Nurse Kristy Diffenderfer-Stewart discussing triage and decontamination with the MMC staff while Health Physicist Meghan Dieffenthaller surveyed the exercise patients for contamination. REAC/TS Director Dr. Carol Iddins  also discussed the samples needed for the exercise patients and considerations for potential use of countermeasures.

REAC/TS also had the opportunity to test their “Home Team” communications procedures with Team Member Gail Mack-Bramlette coordinating with the Oak Ridge Operations Call Center to notify the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Nuclear Incident Team Operations and the NNSA Radiological Assistance Program’s Region 2 Regional Program Manager of REAC/TS’ participation.