NCJ Number
214858
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 54 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 40-44
Date Published
May 2006
Length
5 pages
Annotation
After describing Florida's seven Regional Domestic Security Task Forces and their annual mock terrorism exercise, this article provides guidance on how to conduct such an exercise.
Abstract
Florida's Regional Domestic Security Task Forces are designed to coordinate domestic security efforts and to ensure that all of the State's regions are properly trained and equipped for large emergencies. The article advises that any agency can stage a mock terrorism exercise. The grandeur of the exercise is less important than training each agency involved in the response to work with other responding agencies, so they will gain the practical experience of working together in responding to a terrorist incident. Each region answers to a multiagency oversight board that is in charge of coordinating training, responding to health and biological threats, coordinating law enforcement disaster response teams, monitoring terrorist groups, collecting and disbursing intelligence, and participating in the criminal investigation should there be an attack. To test northeast Florida's ability to respond to a terrorist attack, the Northeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force held 2 days of mock terrorism exercises. The staged events focused on the various agencies' ability to communicate with each other and their capacity to share information about the terrorist attack. A committee representative of all participants should begin planning the event about 6 months in advance. The committee should be composed of subcommittees in charge of specific areas of the exercise. During the exercise, evaluators should listen to the radios in order to assess the flow of information and the coordination of multiple activities. If possible, a camera crew should film the various phases of the exercise for later evaluation.