County to Use Vehicle to Detect Radiation, Toxins

Using federal grant money it might otherwise lose, county officials are creating a “weapons of mass destruction” equipment vehicle to respond to a nuclear, biological or chemical attack.

The vehicle will detect radiation and chemical and biological agents, and will be available to anyone who needs it, officials said.

The county will use $163,234 to build the unit and to buy a second vehicle to respond to spills of hazardous materials. The county will get $110,000 from federal grants. Officials hope a future grant will completely equip the second vehicle.