Photo By Staff Sgt. Cory Grogan | Capt. Richard Hosmer, a Nuclear Medical Science officer with the Oregon National...... read more read more
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EUGENE, Ore.—The Eugene SWAT team responds to information regarding suspected terrorists who are ready to act. After apprehending the individuals, they learn there is an imminent chemical threat at Autzen Stadium where the Oregon Duck’s football team plays.
An emergency management contingent including local first responders and the the Oregon National Guard’s 102 Civil Support Team immediately responds. They identify the threat, remove the substance, and decontaminate victims.
It is unlikely an emergency response to chemical, nuclear, biological, and radiological or a high yield explosive incident will be needed at Autzen Stadium; however, an elaborate training exercise, Aug. 16, shows a plan is in place if it does.
The exercise included Eugene Emergency Management, Eugene SWAT, Eugene HAZMAT, Eugene Fire Department and the Eugene Police Department.
“Responders are training for any emergency situation,” said Maj. Wyatt Welch, 102 CST Commander.
He said that in Eugene, city services are ready to work with the Oregon National Guard for a quick emergency response.
Based in Salem, the 102 CST is a unit of more than 20 full-time Army and Air National Guard members that can be rapidly mobilized anywhere in Oregon to assist civil authorities. The team uses detection and analysis capabilities for chemical, biological or nuclear incidents. Their goal is to minimize the impact on civilian populations and facilitate requests for emergency and military support by civil authorities.
“The event at Autzen Stadium demonstrates how an interagency cooperative effort is possible in case of emergency,” Welch said.
He said he is glad University of Oregon agreed to sponsor the event because utilizing a venue like Autzen Stadium is what makes quality training possible.
“Having the University of Oregon allow this is huge because it gets everybody on the same piece of ground learning exactly what our overall capabilities are,” he said.
Sandy Barr from the City of Eugene Emergency management explained that the activity, which included multiple role players, was organized in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Trials.
“Everyone works together to evacuate and decontaminate the role players and it takes a lot of communication and teamwork,” she said.
Welch and Barr agree communication is vital so each agency understands strengths and weaknesses to rely on the best subject matter experts and work more efficiently as a team.
“The cooperation was fantastic, the 102 CST and city of Eugene have built a great rapport over time,” Capt. Richard Hosmer, the nuclear medical science officer for 102 CST, said.
He said the organizations have state of the art equipment and good people working together to ensure resources are used to the best of their capability.
“This shows us how important communication is and it allows us to address that need,” said Capt. Rod Cullen, an entry team leader with the Eugene Fire Department HAZMAT team.
Maj. Demian San Miguel, 102nd CST Deputy Commander, is former member of the Eugene Police Department and lives in Eugene. He said that as a citizen of Eugene he has a unique perspective on the exercise.
“It’s comforting knowing police, firefighters, the National Guard, and other local agencies have a plan in place to keep us safe,” he said.
| Date Taken: | 08.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.13.2011 15:23 |
| Story ID: | 76965 |
| Location: | EUGENE, OR, US |
| Web Views: | 404 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Oregon National Guard works with City of Eugene on emergency response, by SSG Cory Grogan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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