Few places in the United States can imagine as well as New York City the effects that a terrorist act could have on a company's supply chain. To help its members better prepare for that possibility, the New York City local roundtable of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) is partnering with the Metropolitan Resilience Network to run a tabletop exercise on May 17 that will explore the potential impact of a "dirty bomb" attack on the region's supply chains.

According to the organizers, this interactive exercise walks participants through the potential supply chain impacts of a so-called dirty bomb, which combines radioactive materials with conventional explosives. The three-hour simulation will help participants think about how to prepare for and prevent such an attack and identify gaps or weaknesses in their plans, policies, and procedures. It will also encourage public and private organizations to work together to plan for, and test, their continuity plans in the face of such a disruption.

The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the New York University Campus-Manhattan and will include time for lunch and networking. It will cost US $65 for CSCMP members and US $80 for nonmembers.

The event's co-sponsor, the Metropolitan Resilience Network (MRN), is a public/private initiative hosted by the International Center for Enterprise Preparedness at New York University. Championed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the group works to enable better preparation for, response to, and recovery from emergency disruptions.

Interested parties can learn more about the event and register for it at the NYC Roundtable's website.