Agency to conduct aerial surveys of Tampa ahead of Super Bowl
January 25, 2021 - People who live or work in downtown Tampa might notice an unusual amount of helicopter traffic between Feb. 1 and 3 as the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration conducts aerial surveys to get a sense of the area’s levels of naturally occurring background radiation. The low-altitude flights are part of standard security preparations for major public events such as the Super Bowl, which takes place Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. By calculating the normal amount of radiation occurring in an area, the NNSA’s Nuclear Emergency Support Team is able to quickly recognize unusual levels before, during or after an event.