February 8, 2008 -- Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking Member Susan Collins, R-Me., Friday moved forward in their broad inquiry into the nation’s preparedness to prevent, respond to, and recover from a nuclear attack on the homeland. Friday, the Senators asked relevant agencies to provide information about their roles and responsibilities for preventing and responding to a terrorist nuclear attack.

The Committee sent letters requesting information from 15 agencies with responsibilities under the National Response Framework to respond in the event of a nuclear or radiological incident. The letter seeks information on a variety of issues – for example, about evacuation, medical care, intelligence, forensics, and tracking fallout -- to assess current capabilities and responsibilities in the event of a nuclear attack.

The letter notes, "While the responsibility for responding to most small and medium-sized disasters naturally begins at the local level, planning and responding to a large-scale disaster, such as the detonation of a nuclear device in the United States, clearly require a robust Federal role. The destruction and devastation of such an attack would present humanitarian and logistical challenges that would overwhelm the capabilities of cities and states and require the Federal government to quickly marshal all of its assets and capabilities, as well as those of other States, localities, the private sector, and non-profits."

Agency responses are requested to be provided by February 29th and the Committee plans to hold a series of hearings on the the nation’s preparedness to prevent, respond to, and recover from a nuclear attack on the homeland.