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Radiological/Nuclear Response and Recovery Portfolio

The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) is a federal laboratory organized within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. NUSTL manages a portfolio of Radiological/Nuclear Response and Recovery (RNRR) Research & Development (R&D) projects dedicated to improving radiological response and recovery capabilities at the state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT), and federal levels, and to advancing the understanding of impacts and risks of a radiological or nuclear incident within first responder agencies nationwide. 

The RNRR R&D program works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Office of Emerging Threats, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Office of Nuclear Incident Response, and other federal agencies to identify radiological and nuclear emergency response capability gaps at the SLTT levels. The program then invests in developing emergency response guidance, trainings, research, and software-based tools that will enhance the readiness of first responders and SLTT governments to save lives after a radiological or nuclear attack—and keep themselves safe while they do it.

Most of RNRR’s final products are provided to other federal agencies, such as FEMA and DOE, who then post them on their public-facing websites, ensuring RNRR’s work is broadly accessible to state, local, tribal, and territorial jurisdictions. The RNRR-developed products described below were provided to federal partners and are available via their websites linked here.

Completed Products from the RNRR Portfolio

Emergency Response Guidance

  • RDD Immediate Response Guidance: Developed based on extensive scientific research and experimentation conducted by the DOE National Laboratories, this guidance identifies key missions and tactics for first responders and emergency managers to execute immediately following a radiological dispersal device (RDD) detonation.
  • RDD Immediate Response Guidance Corresponding Videos: Created as a training tool to accompany the RDD Immediate Response Guidance, this suite of videos provides responders with animated training aids for each of the 10 tactics.
  • Planning Guidance for Responding to and Recovering from RDD Incidents: Written to pick up where the RDD Immediate Response Guidance ends, this guidance informs planners on how to strategize and navigate challenges associated with responding to the early, intermediate, and late phases of an RDD incident. It also covers strategies to plan for long-term recovery.
  • Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation: This guidance supports responders’ understanding of impacts and hazards of a nuclear detonation and what actions they should plan to take to protect themselves and the public.
  • 72-Hour Nuclear Response Guidance: This operationally focused guidance outlines actions first responders and emergency managers should take to save lives during the first 72 hours after a nuclear detonation.
  • Nuclear Detonation Visualizations: A suite of nine training videos to accompany the two nuclear detonation guidance documents named above, the visualizations depict the effects of nuclear detonations and lifesaving emergency response tactics using a fictional urban environment.
  • Using Preventive Radiological/Nuclear Detection (PRND) Equipment During Consequence Management: These job aids describe procedures for how to effectively use first responder PRND equipment when conducting consequence management operations after a release of radioactive material.

Software-based Tools and Information

  • The nucCPR (City Planner Resource): An interactive web-based planning and exercise tool, nucCPR provides realistic visualizations of nuclear detonation effects and impacts in 63 U.S. jurisdictions to help planners understand how an incident may unfold, its impacts, and possible response actions. The tool is available via FEMA’s Preparedness Toolkit.
  • Nuclear Hazard Zone (NHZ) Tool: An operational tool for use immediately after a nuclear detonation, the tool produces hazard zone predictions that help determine where critical protective actions are needed. SLTT jurisdictions interested in access to the NHZ tool should contact FEMA’s Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC).
  • Radiological Recovery Logistics Tool (RRLT): This tool supports planners in identifying appropriate commercial and public works equipment for use to mitigate, remove, and contain radiological contamination during response and recovery from a radiological incident.
  • Rad Decon Tool: An application available via CBRNResponder, the tool serves as a decision aid in prioritizing decontamination strategies after large scale radiation incidents.

Trainings

  • RDD Train the Planner: This course teaches planners the key components of the RDD Immediate Response Guidance to support their development of jurisdiction-specific plans that cover public messaging, using CBRNResponder, and coordinating elements required for a multi-agency response.
  • Radiological Operations Support Specialist (ROSS): A FEMA-managed program that trains a cadre of radiation professionals to integrate seamlessly into the incident command system. RNRR developed a series of job aids and training course materials to support completion of the ROSS Position Task Book.
  • The ROSS Toolkit: Available via CBRNResponder, this toolkit contains reference materials, tools, and job aids organized for ROSS, with the goal of improving access to information that they may need to prepare for and/or respond to a radiological emergency and fulfill their role in data analysis and decision support.

Enhancements to Existing Planning and Response Software

  • Resource Library in CBRNResponder: A resource library that provides CBRNResponder users access to key radiological/nuclear response planning guidance, technical guidance, and public information officer (PIO) tools and resources.
  • Exercise Scenario and Simulation Tools: RNRR developed these three new tools, available through IMAAC, that offer emergency managers, first responders, and exercise coordinators several options to access plume models and interactive simulations for exercises, trainings, and emergency planning activities.
  • Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center (FRMAC) Support Enhancements: A request for information web portal in the DOE’s COSMOS software tool, this simplifies SLTT responders’ access to FRMAC technical expertise. RNRR also developed training for SLTT radiation technical experts on advanced TurboFRMAC concepts, and updated features to help inform critical decisions regarding radiation impacts.

Fact Sheets for RNRR Projects

Below is a list of fact sheets that describe some concluded and ongoing RNRR R&D projects in greater detail. 

Ongoing and Completed Projects:

Please reach out to RNRR at NUSTL@hq.dhs.gov for more information on RNRR projects, or if you are interested in collaborating on future work.

Last Updated: 03/26/2025
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