FREEHOLD — The Monmouth County Health Department, in conjunction with the Office of Emergency Management, county and municipal agencies, hospitals, military bases, utilities and the state Department of Health and Senior Services will be participating in an international exercise known as TOP OFF 3. The exercise will be held the week of April 4.
According to a press release from the county’s public information office, TOP OFF is a congressionally mandated exercise series that tests the homeland security system as a whole at the federal, state, local and international levels. Each TOP OFF exercise involves a two-year cycle of planning, seminars and training activities leading to a full-scale exercise.
A simulated biological terrorist incident is planned for the state of New Jersey, and all of New Jersey’s 21 counties and 22 Local Information Network Communication System (LINCS) agencies will be involved in a demonstration of mass prophylaxis (prevention of disease). The objective of the Monmouth County Health Department is to test the ability to distribute massive amounts of preventive medication to first responders and essential personnel in a very short time.
TOP OFF 3 is being conducted in cooperation with federal, state, local, international and private sector partners. Lessons learned from previous TOP OFF exercises have been incorporated into the design, according to the press release. New Jersey, Connecticut, the United Kingdom and Canada have been selected to participate in the full-scale exercise. It is expected that 10,000 participants in more than 200 agencies will contribute to this real-time national and international response.
Beginning April 4, residents and visitors to Monmouth County will see an increased level of participation of county and local agencies coordinating their efforts in this exercise. This includes the use of emergency vehicles, professional actors performing in role playing, and personnel dressed in protective gear.
“It is important that the public not be alarmed, and to understand that while this exercise may cause some level of inconvenience, the drill is necessary to help prepare us for a biological terrorist attack,” Freeholder Robert D. Clifton said. “Living just 30 miles south of New York City, we know all too well that the risks posed by international terrorists are real. It is comforting to know that our emergency management and health professionals have been working hard on this project to ensure the safety of our residents in the event of a terrorist attack.”
According to Lester W. Jargowsky, the Monmouth County health officer and bioterrorism coordinator, “Preparations for the TOP OFF 3 exercise have been ongoing for months. This intense real-time program has given the Office of Emergency Management team a valuable opportunity to sharpen their skills and revisit existing operational plans. It is expected that the magnitude of this simulated terrorist event will be such that we will have to ask for state and federal assistance.”
The Monmouth County Health Department is asking members of the public for their cooperation while this exercise is in progress, according to the press release.