Module 10:

Hazardous Materials/WMD 
Detection and Consequence Management

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Learning Objectives

•Identify the role of threat and risk assessment involving 
hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction 
when planning for the security of major special events.
•Identify local, state, and federal agencies with expertise 
in hazardous materials and/or weapons of mass 
destruction detection and response.
•Recognize special considerations for fire, EMS, and 
medical care as they relate to major special events and 
the critical importance of interagency coordination.


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WMD Planning for 
Special Events

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Four Primary Planning Objectives

•Have hazmat/WMD subject matter experts (SME) 
available for rapid assessment of any threats received.
•Have measures in place to protect the venue from any 
hazardous materials or WMD. These include detection 
equipment, barriers, and policy restrictions.
•Develop assessment teams that can respond to reported 
hazmat incidents in and around the venue.
•Develop response and protective action plans for law 
enforcement in the event of a hazmat incident.


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Other Relevant Planning Issues

•Training of event staff and first responders
•PPE and other response equipment
•Who has governance over the event?


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Incident Commander?
Assessing the Threats

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Explosive Materials

•Statistically the most likely form to be used by a 
terrorist group
•Easy to acquire
•Can be blended with other materials (radioactive, 
chemical, or biological) to increase impact


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Text Box: “Kill one, frighten ten thousand.” Sun Tzu
Chemical Materials

•Readily accessible
•May already be near venue site
•Toxic industrial chemicals (TIC) more likely to be used 
than chemical warfare agents (CWA)


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Biological Materials

•Detection delay effect
•Can include toxins and 
pathogens (viruses)
•Simple dissemination 
techniques


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Radiological Materials

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Available Resources

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Local Resources

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•Fire department hazmat teams
•Police department special response teams
•Police department bomb squads
•Public health department
•Emergency medical services
•Hospitals
•Public works
•Private sector resources
•Local search and rescue teams
•Department of transportation

State Resources

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•Emergency management office
•State public health department
•State police/highway patrol
•State bureau of investigation
•Department of transportation
•State medical assistance teams (SMAT)

Federal Resources

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•Federal Bureau of Investigation
•United States Secret Service
•Department of Homeland Security
•American Red Cross
•Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms and Explosives
•Centers for Disease Control
•Department of Transportation
•National Institute of Standards and 
Technology

Interagency Coordination

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Preparedness

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Text Box: Interagency preparedness is the key to effective incident management

Conclusion

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Tabletop Exercise:

Continuation of Module 1 Tabletop Exercise, 

“Pre-Planning for Major Events”

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BREAK

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