Simple Tabletop Exercise
Scenario 2
Security Breach
Witness Account

As discussed in the Response Protocol Toolbox, the threat warning, or the occurrence or discovery that indicates a potential contamination threat that triggers an evaluation of the threat, can come from several sources. In this scenario, the threat warning originates as a witness account, meaning an individual has observed suspicious activity.

This scenario involves an incident where a climber scales a Zenith City water storage tank as a stunt. He overcomes a fence and ladder guards, ascends to the top of the tank, and breaks into the hatch. He then repels down the side of the tank and flees. A water department employee performing her routine inspections of the Zenith City water utility facilities discovers the open hatch and a pair of latex gloves (left behind by a painting contractor prior to the break-in). She reports the security breach to her superiors. The utility must notify all relevant parties, isolate the tank, and cooperate with police, HAZMAT and laboratory workers to isolate the crime scene, collect water samples, and attempt to determine whether the water supply has been contaminated.

The following are some useful links to Salmonella information:

Disease Information: Salmonellosis (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Disease)
Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook: Salmonella spp. (Source: Food & Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition)

The following are some useful links to water-related gastrointestinal disease information:

Drinking Water Contaminants (Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Groundwater & Drinking Water)
Infectious Disease Information: Water Related Diseases, Contaminated Drinking Water (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Infectious Diseases)

The following is a useful link to food-related gastrointestinal disease Information:

Disease Information: Foodborne Illness (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases)