Army National Guard MPs rehearse tsunami jail evacuation with Hoquiam Police Department

Photo By Maj. Kimberly Burke | Spc. Jessica Farringer of the Washington National Guard’s 506th Military Police Detachment, finds a contraband pen, one that has been made more rigid and could be used as a weapon, at the Hoquiam jail, June 9, 2016. After assisting with the movement of the jail’s inmates, the 506th joined the Hoquiam police and police services officers in a full, top-to-bottom search of the jail. The inmate movement exercise was part of a Cascadia Rising exercise designed to test the security procedures and speed at which the Hoquiam Police Department could evacuate the jail should a tsunami hit the city. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Capt. Colette Muller, Western Air Defense Sector)  

HOQUIAM, WA, UNITED STATES

06.09.2016

Courtesy Story

122nd Theater Public Affairs Support Element

by Capt. Colette Muller, Western Air Defense Sector

HOQUIAM, Wash.—Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard’s 506th Military Police Detachment aided Hoquiam police and police services officers Thursday as they simulated an evacuation of the Hoquiam city jail as part of the Cascadia Rising earthquake preparedness exercise.

The Hoquiam Police Department is located in the identified tsunami zone in the event of a 9.0 earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The city of Hoquiam would have 20 to 30 minutes to evacuate before the 80-100 foot wall of water would potentially inundate the community. “Just like we need to move our staff and we urge citizens to move to high ground, we are responsible for the inmates, so we have to figure out a way to move them to high ground,” said Jeff Meyers, Hoquiam chief of police.

“Having a National Guard MP unit here, it was a great fit, they were already activated because of the Cascadia Rising drill and this gives us a little extra cushion of protection and security for this operation,” said Meyers. “Just moving the jail without any calls in the field will take all of our personnel present.”

Eight MPs provided general security and checked blankets for hidden contraband while the police and police services officers patted down all 26 inmates before escorting them outside to holding vehicles. “The National Guard is here to assist local law enforcement and MPs are a natural fit for that. We already have the military experience, we have the police and law enforcement experience, and we integrate well with our civilian counterparts,” said Capt. Drew Nevins, 506th MP commander.

The drill was the first time the Hoquiam Police were able to practice the full procedure, which until now, was part of a formal written process but was never able to be fully exercised. “This is not only an evacuation drill for the Cascadia Rising exercise but it is also an evacuation drill we may need for a fire alarm or some sort of problem or issue here at the jail. We have to be able to move the inmates in a rapid manner,” said Meyers.

After all of the inmates were moved, the soldiers assisted the Hoquiam jail with a sweep of the facility. “Today, since we have the opportunity to move all of the inmates out, we will then utilize the National Guard MP unit to shake down the jail itself,” said Meyers.

“The entire jail, top to bottom, which we don’t often get to do because it’s hard for us to move all of the prisoners out. We are looking for contraband; we’re looking for security risks; we are looking for any type of utility issues that have been compromised by the inmates.”
The soldiers and police officers, working side by side, were able to clear the facility quickly, finding several unauthorized items, repairing many inoperable light fixtures, and clearing toilet paper from clogged audio surveillance vents. “This is the most thorough search we’ve ever done,” said Deputy Chief Dan Wertanen.

“We’re here to help in any way that we can,” said Nevins. “For us it’s a chance to assist the local law enforcement with conducting a drill they otherwise would not have the manpower to do. They can do it in a safe manner with us here. They can do a lot more with the amount of personnel that we bring, and in the case of an actual disaster, we are building relationships now that we wouldn’t have to build in the middle of a crisis.”

• Date Taken: 06.09.2016
• Date Posted: 06.10.2016 15:07
• Story ID: 200658
• Location: HOQUIAM, WA, US