Chemical, biological threats get new focus

The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington have left cities and small towns scrambling to prepare for what U.S. officials say could be the next round of danger: biological or chemical attacks that most rescue workers are ill-equipped to handle.

Officials from emergency agencies throughout the country gathered Tuesday in Huntsville to learn about the latest rescue technology and to share information that could help cities survive a contamination of their water supplies or the release of deadly chemicals into the atmosphere.

Federal officials have told public health agencies to be on the alert for biological contaminations. Although there has been no evidence of bioterrorism in the United States, local officials are gearing up for the possible release of dangerous chemicals or biological agents that could sicken thousands of people within days.

Scientific advancements in robotics and chemical decontamination could greatly reduce casualties, but some cities might not have access to them because of financial constraints and the lack of specialized training, officials said.

“Some of what is needed does not require a lot of money, but it does require transferring information,” said Ted Jarboe, deputy chief of fire and rescue services in Montgomery County, Md. “Every department will not have the same level of response because they simply don’t have the resources, but that certainly does not relieve them of the responsibility of being prepared.

“It’s like the 1970s when the country first started realizing the need for specialized hazardous material management,” he said. “Everyone had to go through a learning curve and solidify resources by first making it a priority and then convincing the public that it was needed.”

Jarboe’s department has spent more than $500,000 on chemical suits, gas masks and other equipment needed in case of a chemical or biological attack. Most of the money came from federal grants, he said.

Robots have been used to some extent in New York this month, as rescue workers sift through the rubble of the World Trade Center. But several companies are developing new technology that could play a role in the war on terrorism.

Time Domain of Huntsville said it has made gains in wireless technology using wideband radio frequencies. The company received a $3 million contract from the Department of Defense this year to develop a radar system that can penetrate walls.

The lightweight device, called SoldierVision, produces a low-power signal that enables users to “see” through surfaces. Government officials said the equipment could help reduce casualties by acting as a surveillance tool, providing early warnings of an enemy attack and an accurate picture of the battlefield. Another product, called RadarVision, can penetrate walls and identify direction and distance of movement.

The two devices were among dozens on display during the three-day conference sponsored by the National Institute for Urban Search and Rescue, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based non-profit group that promotes the use of technology as communities recover from natural disasters and acts of terrorism.

Though research has been under way for years on robots and other technology, officials said the Sept. 11 attacks have helped to accelerate their production.

“We know now that bioterrorism is no longer a possibility, it’s a probability, a reality,” said Roland Monette of the search and rescue institute. “And the things these companies have been struggling along with for a long time all of a sudden have the spotlight on them.

“Some of the robots might cost $50,000 to $60,000 apiece. But that’s no more than the cost of a fire engine.”