Counterterrorism planning using the Hazardous Substances Events Surveillance system.

The Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system was developed in 1990 and is maintained by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, a public health agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. HSEES data can be used for hazard vulnerability assessments. Baseline patterns of hazardous substance releases can be used by local emergency planning committees to (1) identify substances that cause serious injuries, (2) improve monitoring and control of access, and (3) assess the preparedness of responding agencies. HSEES is an active surveillance system that can be useful in the early detection of unusual occurrences involving hazardous substances.