Thousands Join Radiological Response Exercise

More than 70 U.S. and Canadian agencies participated in Cobalt Magnet 25, a major radiological emergency response exercise held March 14–21 across southeast Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario. Led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the exercise involved over 3,000 personnel and simulated a notional nuclear power plant accident.

Participants practiced radiological monitoring, public health protection, emergency relief, and service restoration. The Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST), part of NNSA, supported the effort with scientific assessments and threat identification. Cobalt Magnet 25 marked the culmination of 18 months of planning and was conducted in partnership with Michigan State Police and other agencies to enhance readiness and coordination.

“The Nuclear Emergency Support Team – or NEST – is trained to provide decision-makers with timely, actionable scientific advice during radiological incidents,” said Dr. Wendin Smith, the DOE Deputy Under Secretary for Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation. “We exercise to validate our ability to quickly determine the extent and severity of radiological hazards, whether and how the public is affected, and enable the optimal response. If such a scenario did take place, this would save lives and reduce public impacts. NEST’s core mission is providing this critical information to local, state, and federal leaders as soon as possible.”