The RERT is part of Iowa’s Radiological Emergency Response program. This group provides field monitoring, technical consultation and initial accident assessment in coordination with the Iowa Department of Public Health.
The team also works with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division to prepare for the unlikely event of an act of terrorism or an accident at one of the four nuclear power plants in or near Iowa. The role of the Hygienic Laboratory’s RERT is to evaluate the extent to which radioactive materials have been released from an incident.
In Iowa, responding organizations to a radiological emergency communicate, share and aggregate data through the RadResponder Network. Chainbridge Technologies maintains this network. Its staff participated in the RERT field team training to share best practices and better understand how Iowa uses the network. This interaction led to improved utilization of RadResponder and provided an opportunity to suggest modifications that address needs unique to Iowa.
Federal guidelines require emergency planning for areas within a 10-mile and a 50-mile radius of a nuclear power station. The laboratory also provides the following services:
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