TEAM RESPONSE TO POSSIBLE WMD INCIDENT Sr-90 INCIDENT KENNETH CITY, FL JULY 2002

TEAM RESPONSE TO POSSIBLE WMD INCIDENT

Sr-90 INCIDENT

KENNETH CITY, FL

JULY 2002

RAY DIELMAN

• FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

• BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL

• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER

• TAMPA INSPECTION OFFICE

• 813-873-4831

• ray_dielman@doh.state.fl.us

INITIATING EVENTS

• June 27, 2002 U. S. Customs Service, Miami• Package from Thailand to Tennessee• July 9, 2002 U.S. Customs Service, Miami• Package from Thailand to Kenneth City• FBI, FDLE notified• BRC responded• Package contained RAM • Confirmed to be Sr-90

MATERIAL IN PACKAGE

MATERIAL IN PACKAGE

TAMPA’S RESPONSE

• July 12 2002 BRC and FBI visit home in Kenneth City

• FBI searched premises for “bad guys” and interviewed residents

• Surveyed FBI personnel and residents

• BRC performed initial radiation safety survey of premises

CONTACTS MADE

• DOH Lawyer

• BRC Management

• Pinellas County Health Department

• Kenneth City Police Chief

FLORIDA STATUTES

• 404.071 Inspection :The right to enter any public or private property.

• 404.091 Emergency Orders: Issue an emergency order without a hearing.

• 404.101 Impounding Sources of Radiation

• 381.0012(5) Law Enforcements Duty to Assist

COULD BE ANYONE’S HOME?

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS

• Second residence

• Local Pool Hall

• No contamination was found at either location.

DENNIS MITCHELL

• FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

• BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL

• ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST

• TAMPA INSPECTION OFFICE

• 813-873-4831

• dennis_mitchell@doh.state.fl.us

CONTAMINATION FOUND

• Throw rugs, carpet, door mats

• Chair

• Bedding

• Dice and other gambling devices

• Auto touch-up paint and brushes

• Floor tiles

RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL

RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL STORAGE

EMERGENCY ORDERS

• QUARANTINE 7/12/02• Signed by the Director of Pinellas County

Health Department• Posted on door• NEW CONSENT TO QUARANTINE

7/19/02• Signed by property owner• Gave right to change locks

SECURITY

• Break in on 7/14/03: found to be residents getting diapers and baby formula

• Kenneth City Police Department unable to provide 24/7 surveillance

• 7/15/02 Met with residents to ensure they understood the need to stay out

• Surveyed additional clothing and baby supplies prior to releasing them to the residents

• 7/18/02 returned to take samples found door unlocked again.

CARE OF RESIDENTS

• Discussion of potential hazards

• Whole body surveys

• Survey of food and food prep areas

• Urine samples taken

• No positive results in any test

• Sr-90 urine samples should be done with in 4days of exposure

Mitigation

• 7/23/02 HSERE (environmental lab) personnel and Tampa inspector began clean-up

• Removed Radioactive materials

• Surveyed home

• Called the Pinellas Health Department to release emergency order

ORLANDO CREW

HOT AND HUMID WORK

HOT SEAT

KITCHEN FOOR TILE

BABY’S ROOM

BACK BEDROOM

HOT BEDROOM

HOT BEDROOM

THIS SUCKS

HOT PAINT

HELPING OTHERS

• Interviews with an informer led to the recovery of contaminated dice in GA.

• Thailand Police arrested three people involved fined them 10,000 bhat!!!!

• $235.00 in U.S. money

LESSONS LEARNED

• Interagency cooperation

• Need for logistic support

• Need for improved communications

• Need for specialized instrumentation

• Roles can change during an incident

CHARLES ADAMS

• FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

• BUREAU OF RADIATION CONTROL

• ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER

• ORLANDO ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION CONTROL OFFICE

• 407-297-2096

• charles_adams@doh.state.fl.us