O'Toole is best known for her disaster response exercises. She was a principal author and producer of Dark Winter (2001) and Atlantic StormAtlantic Storm, Center for Biosecurity (2005), both of which simulated a covert outbreak of smallpox in the United States. Many experts applauded these exercises for publicizing the country's surprising vulnerabilities, including a vaccine shortage."U.S. Called Vulnerable to Biological Attack," Washington Post (July 24, 2001) Critics charged that these exercises exaggerated the bioterror threat, leading to an unnecessary increase in the number of research labs."DHS’ New Chief Geek Is a Bioterror ‘Disaster,’ Critics Charge," Danger Room (May 6, 2009)
