By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

AS THE place where America’s day begins, Guam has the privilege of kicking off the weeklong TopOff 4 exercise, which starts this morning with the simulated explosion of a radiological dispersal device, or “dirty” bomb, at Ypao Point.
TopOff 4 is the nation’s premier exercise in terrorism preparedness and Guam is one of three domestic venues that will take part in the exercise, which will last until Oct. 18.
The governor’s office and the Department of Homeland Security said the public should not be alarmed when they see exercise participants doing realistic drills at TopOff 4 venues such as Ypao Point, Guam Memorial Hospital and the port.
The public is advised of the following road closures and rerouting of traffic in Tumon and parts of the Tamuning area during the duration of the TopOff 4 exercises from 5 a.m., Oct. 16, through 12 noon, Oct. 20:
• Cook Street, also known as Father Duenas Street, will be closed to the public, but open to limited local traffic and emergency vehicles; and
• Route 14 westbound traffic headed toward San Vitores Loop will be rerouted through Ypao Road.
According to Shawn Gumataotao, the governor’s spokesman, the island’s various hotels have also been informed about the exercise and have been advised to tell their tourist guests about the exercise so as not to alarm them.
The simulated attack will involve the detonation of a radiological dispersal device, or RDD, causing casualties and widespread contamination in a populous area and having both a short- and long-term impact.
Specifically, the exercise will test Guam’s:
• Inter-agency preparedness and response plans for terrorist-generated RDD;
• Evacuation/shelter in place considerations;
• Ability to provide decontamination and mass care of victims;
• Search and rescue operations;
• Ability to conduct criminal and environmental investigations; and
• Large-scale recovery and remediation issues for populous areas.
The exercise involves top officials at every level of government, as well as representatives from the international community and private sector.
Guam is the first U.S. territory to participate in the TopOff series, providing an opportunity to practice coordinated prevention and response activities between the continental U.S. and a U.S. territory.
Just about every major and supporting GovGuam agency will be participating in this full-scale exercise, including law enforcement, fire and emergency management, medical, infrastructure and public works.
The number of participants involved in the exercise will be in the hundreds and includes participants at all levels of government, from the governor to the mayors, local fire, EMS, police and search-and-rescue personnel, law enforcement professionals, public health and public communications professionals, as well as members of the private sector.
Top officials from Guam will include Gov. Felix P. Camacho, members of his administration, Lt. Gov. Mike Cruz, the Guam Homeland Security adviser, the Adjutant General of the Guam National Guard, and the Commander of Naval Marianas Guam.