NCJ Number
193749
Date Published
October 2001
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This document describes the abilities of a chemical biological Helpline (1-800-368-6498) for emergency responders nationwide.
Abstract
The Helpline is a non-emergency resource available for use by emergency responders across the United States. The Helpline provides general information on all of the Office for Domestic Preparedness Support (ODP) programs and information on the characteristics and control of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) materials, defensive equipment, mitigation techniques, and available Federal assets. The Helpline provides customer intelligence that will aid State and local jurisdictions in building capacity in their communities to respond to a WMD terrorist incident. The Helpline provides the service that with only one 800 number the State and local response community and support agencies can reach all of the following ODP available services. These services include WMD training and centralized scheduling capability (a point of contact database for scheduling training), WMD exercises, and equipment grants. The Nunn-Lugar-Domenici (NLD) Domestic Preparedness Program provides general information on services available to the NLD designated cities for equipment, training, exercises, and technical assistance. Technical assistance provides general information on services available for assistance in enhancing the ability of State and local jurisdictions to develop, plan, and implement a program for WMD preparedness in three specified areas: General Technical Assistance, State Strategy Technical Assistance, and Equipment Technical Assistance. The Domestic Preparedness Equipment Technical Support Program provides technical support to jurisdictions in the utilization, sustainment, and calibration of detection equipment. The Domestic Preparedness Support Information Clearinghouse provides information on domestic preparedness, counterterrorism, and WMD information available to State and local jurisdictions, which includes the ability to order publications and videos. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) provides general information on OVC’s mission, Federal funding of formula and discretionary grants for programs designed to benefit victims, and OVC’s efforts to respond to victims of WMD, terrorism, and mass violence.