DHS calls Southern Exposure a success

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security says a recent exercise evaluating the Southeast corridor's response to radiological and nuclear threats was a success.

The DHS recently concluded an exercise conducted by the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office called Southern Exposure. The full-scale exercise was an effort to test the readiness capabilities of emergency response authorities in the southeast United States and their response to a radiological or nuclear threat along the interstate highway system, the DHS reported.

The nearly two-week exercise included participants from nine states, the District of Columbia and the Port of Charleston in South Carolina, along with federal and local emergency response departments.

"This full-scale exercise demonstrated the enhanced coordination and capabilities that the Southeast Transportation Corridor Pilot has implemented in the region," Vayl Oxford, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office director, said in a statement.

"We will review the valuable lessons learned from working with state and local law enforcement that can be used to extend radiological/nuclear detection capabilities to other areas of the United States."