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Posted: Monday, 02 November 2009 1:50PM
National Guard Conducting Disaster Drills in Tonawanda
WBEN Newsroom Reporting
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Buffalo, NY -- Starting today, about 1300 members of the New York National Guard and emergency response professionals from across Western New York and Southern Ontario will take part in a weeklong series of disaster drills. Guardsmen from about a dozen other U.S. states and territories, and troops from Canada and South Africa will also take part in "Exercise Vigilant Guard."
It will be a test of how well the international, civilian and military teams can work together, and of how well-prepared this region is to respond to a large-scale disaster, says Lt. Col. Paul Fanning.
"When you go through these things, you test systems -- your plans, your doctrines, your equipment -- and see what works, and if you can learn from things you might need to make improvement on. And, of course, you do this when the risk is low and lives are not at stake, because you're just practicing. And that's why this is such an important exercise," Fanning says.
The former site of the Spaulding Fibre plant in Tonawanda has been staged as a mock-earthquake zone. First responders will practice search and rescue operations there; they'll also recover actors posing as victims and airlift them to the Niagara Falls Air Force Base for medical treatment. Separate hazardous material containment drills will be conducted in Niagara Falls and Lockport. Residents will definitely notice the military presence, and Fanning wants everyone to be aware, this is only a drill.
"This is just an exercise, and we hope you'll take some comfort to know that civilian and military professionals think in these terms and prepare in these terms, and plan for the potential incidents that could threaten lives and property."
The earthquake scenario was chosen as a way to test Erie County's recently-revised natural disaster contingency plan. But Fanning says the training will equip first responders to deal with any major disaster, natural or otherwise.
Click here to hear Rachel Kingston's report
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