Answer to Question #4908 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

I heard that there is a federal program which gives used but working radiation detection equipment to emergency responders and that the Health Physics Society trains them to use such. Please send me information about the equipment part of the program. Our chapter will provide the training.

The radiation detection equipment supplied to states and territories is part of the Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse (HDER) Program, a collaborative arrangement between the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the United States Department of Energy, the Health Physics Society (HPS), and the United States Navy. The Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) is the group within the DHS that directs the HDER Program. First responder agencies contact their state point of contact (POC) and request types of equipment. Here is where HPS chapters can assist first responder agencies in selecting the equipment that fits their needs. The state POC then places an order with the ODP HDER coordinator. Shortly thereafter the order is delivered to the state POC. The first responder aAgency then picks up the equipment (or arranges with the state POC to have it shipped to the first responder agency) and the local HPS chapter can then work with that agency in field checking the equipment and training first responders. For the past several HPS midyear and annual meetings, the DHS has sponsored workshops and meetings for Society members to learn more about the HDER Program. Thus far, HDER has distributed equipment worth in excess of $5,000,000.

An excellent discussion of the HDER Program can be found at the ODP Web site and on an HDER Fact Sheet. Also go to a Kansas Highway Patrol Web page for a list of equipment that was available for FY 2006 Q4.

You can call ODP at 1-800-368-6498 and ask for Greg Bernard, HDER Program Manager. He can facilitate the chapter's efforts.

George Anastas, CHP