Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 1-19-18

Feature
Fire Chief Talks About ‘Worst Case Scenario’ Of Nuclear Warfare
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
There has been ongoing friction between U. S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, Supreme Leader of North Korea for several months. The North Ko- rean Supreme Leader continues to develop an arsenal of nuclear weapons, despite condemnation worldwide.
In light of the threats made by Jong-un and the continued friction, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will host a meeting later this month. Although CDC calls a nuclear detonation “unlikely,” the meeting, which will be attended by representatives from around the country, will discuss the effects of such an attack.
The Sentinel reached out to Thomas Forward, M.A.M., B.B.A, Tampa Fire Chief and Emergency Manager. The question posed to him was ‘How is Tampa prepared in the event of a nuclear detona- tion?’
His response was as follows: “First and foremost, the likelihood of a nuclear explosion or detonation in the Tampa Bay Community is ex- tremely remote. Nuclear weapons are highly regulated and the ability for an individual to manufacture a bomb or weapon incorporating radioactive or ionizing radiation producing materi- als is extremely unlikely. However,
we must, as a community and as a re- sponsibility of public safety, prepare to respond to our community’s ‘worst case scenario.’
“As it pertains to the concerns of a nuclear detonation, our greatest considerations will be the size or quantity, location or distance from the detonation, and quality or type of radioactive material we will be deal- ing/exposed.
“Since the most common radioac- tive materials we have studied pres- ent as either Alpha, beta, Gamma, or Neutron rays, having a particular knowledge of the radiation emitted will better afford emergency response personnel the ability to make a more informed decision how to best pro- tect members of our community from the hazards of the radiation expo- sure.
“In the event of a detonation the three factors for protecting individu- als from radiation and the subse- quent fallout are time, distance, and shielding. Fallout radiation loses its intensity fairly quickly. In time, if you were inside of your home or a pro- tected shelter, you will be able to leave the shelter and venture outside in a matter of days after a detonation. Conventional wisdom reports that ra- dioactive fallout poses the greatest threat to people during the first two weeks, by which it
has declined to
about 1 percent of
its initial radiation
THOMAS FORWARD M.A.M., B.B.A, Fire Chief, Emergency Manager, Tampa Fire Rescue
level.
“Second, the more distance be-
tween you and the fallout particles, the better. An underground area such as a home or office building base- ment offers more protection than the first floor of a building. Subsequently, the heavier and denser the materials- thick walls, concrete, bricks, books and earth, between you and the fall- out particles, the better. Any barrier protection, however temporary, is better than none at all, and the more shielding, distance and time you can
take advantage of, the better. “During a Nuclear blast members of our community need to listen for official information and follow the in- structions provided by our Mayor and emergency response personnel. If an attack warning is issued, take cover as quickly as you can, below ground if possible, and stay there until instructed to do otherwise. If this is not possible, find the nearest building, preferably built of brick or concrete, and go inside and avoid any
radioactive material outside.
“If better shelter, such as a multi- story building or basement can be reached within a few minutes, go there immediately. Go as far below ground as possible or in the center of a tall building. During the time with the highest radiation levels it is safest to stay inside, sheltered away from the radioactive material outside. Ra- diation levels are extremely danger- ous after a nuclear detonation, but levels reduce rapidly. Expect to stay inside for at least 24 hours unless
told to do otherwise by authorities. “When evacuating is in your best interest, you will be instructed to do so. All available methods of commu- nication will be used to provide news and instructions to our community
during this incident.”
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2018