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The TOPOFF 3 Full-Scale Exercise
Most Realistic Test Yet
The TOPOFF Full Scale Exercise (T3 FSE) will take place from April 4-8, 2005, and involve more than 10,000 participants representing more than 200
Federal, State, local, tribal, private sector, and international agencies and organizations and volunteer groups. The FSE offers agencies and
jurisdictions a way to exercise a coordinated national and international response to a large-scale, multipoint terrorist attack. It allows
participants to test plans and skills in a real-time, realistic environment and gain the in-depth knowledge that only experience can provide.
TOPOFF 3 In Brief:
Full-scale exercise: April 2005.
Five venues: Interagency, Connecticut, New Jersey, United Kingdom, Canada.
New Jersey scenario: Simulated biological attack in Union and Middlesex Counties.
Connecticut scenario: Simulated chemical attack in New London.
Exercise Scenario
The TOPOFF 3 scenario will depict a complex terrorist campaign and drive the exercise play through the homeland security system, beginning in
Connecticut and New Jersey, and leading to national and international response.
Over the course of several days fire personnel will conduct search and rescue, hospitals will treat the injured (played by role players),
subject-matter experts will analyze the effects of the attack on public health, and top officials will deploy resources and make the difficult
decisions needed to save lives.
I wonder- what if there is a real threat- will they still think it is an exercise? Or will the current level 'yellow' change to orange or red?
Remember what happened the last time we had a terrorist threat? There were 3 or 4 war 'games' exercises going on then too.