This document is a white paper prepared for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It provides a scientific basis for a communications action plan on the subject of radiological dispersion devices (RDDs), sometimes referred to as dirty bombs.
The paper builds on previous studies and draws heavily on the ANS/DHS Workshop, "The Scientific Base for Risk Communications About Radiological Dispersion Devices."
The white paper deals with several time periods - before an event (preparation), immediately after an event (response), and in the days that follow (change and recovery). The paper discusses technical issues, basic principles for communications, and recommended enhancements to tools and resources that can be used in any time period.