Military, agencies train for disaster
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With a goal of improving the response to a major disaster, military authorities and Quad-City public safety agencies took part all this week in a first-of-its-kind training session.
The session, involving all of the major law enforcement and fire departments in the area, state agencies and Army units from Arsenal Island, is intended to better position military officials in the event they need to assist with a local emergency.
Since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, local public safety authorities and Arsenal agencies have met regularly to share potential threat information and to exchange ideas.
However, the meetings held this week in Moline were aimed at gaining greater familiarity with the capabilities of local, state and federal agencies, and how to access and coordinate them.
Scenarios, such as an earthquake, a flu pandemic and a nuclear strike were simulated in tabletop exercises. “Once you learn the system, how it operates, you can learn more quickly how to get those assets to the site,” said retired Maj. Gen. Mike Taylor, a leader of the exercise.
Davenport Fire Chief Mark Frese said he gained a greater understanding of the federal resources available. “We knew they were out there, but the understanding of where they’re at and how we get them is one of the most important things we learned this week,” he added.
The course is a product of the Department of Defense and the Texas-based U.S. Army North, a unit of the Army that is charged with homeland security and civil support missions.
“It’s our responsibility to bring the support they need,” said Lt. Col. Jayne Jansen, who is attached to the Arsenal-based Army Sustainment Command and participated in the training.
Ed Tibbetts can be contacted at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.
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