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Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and FEMA/MERS Bothell Det Conduct Drill

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100610-10
6/10/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nardelito Gervacio, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Whidbey Island, Det. Northwest

OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, along with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)/Mobile Emergency Response Support (MERS) Bothell Detachment conducted a readiness exercise at the NAS Whidbey Island Seaplane Base June 8-10.

The drill, dubbed Exercise Island Escape 2010, included members of the Department of the Navy, FEMA/MERS Bothell, the combined Navy Region Northwest Fire and Emergency Services and Oak Harbor Fire Department hazardous material (HAZMAT) team, Naval Hospital Oak Harbor (NHOH), and NAS Whidbey Island's emergency management, security and training teams.

"We are doing three days of exercises to respond to and deal with all hazards events," said Jeff Kirkey, emergency management officer at NAS Whidbey Island.

Exercise Island Escape 2010 demonstrated FEMA/MERS Bothell's capability to deploy to a fixed site and, operating as a detachment, respond to a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) environment according to William King, disaster preparedness officer for MERS Bothell Detachment.

"The purpose of this exercise is to utilize equipment that we were supplied through the guardian installation program as well as other equipment we have on station," said Kirkey. "We are using this as an integrated exercise between federal agencies; the Department of the Navy and FEMA/MERS Bothell, along with our fire, security, hospital emergency management and chain of command engagement, so we can work [through] these scenarios with subject matter experts on both sides to use it as a learning and training evolution over the course of the week."

The first day consisted of members from the FEMA/MERS Bothell detachment locating radiation and reporting their findings to base headquarters followed by the implementation of the required steps to contain the site. It also integrated NAS Whidbey Island security for perimeter control and decontamination in their personal protective equipment.

"We are required to do a CBRNE exercise annually. What level of exercise and what type of exercise is largely up to us to determine, whether it be a table top exercise, functional exercise or a full scale exercise; which is what we are doing. When we have the opportunity to do a full-scale, we get everything out and put in place just as we would do in a real-life event," said Kirkey.

The second day involved members of the fire department, Navy security, NHOH and emergency management interacting with the MERS Bothell detachment, in which they set up decontamination lines for members who had simulated exposure to nerve agents.

"This training gives us an opportunity to practice our operation together and get some feedback from everyone evolved. This training demonstrated how [well trained] everyone was. It was a seamless operation; we were able to set up our operation and perform everything under forty minutes, and that's pretty impressive for HAZMAT," said Sean Merrill, battalion chief for NRNW Fire and Emergency Services.

The MERS Detachment is required to respond according to the National Response Framework (NRF) to fulfill their mission of setting up telecommunication, life support and HAZMAT response.

"Everyone has been working very well together, integrated very well, shared assets and provided each other with positive feedback regarding technique and policies in support of the different functions that we are doing," said King. "What this exercise is doing is enhancing our capabilities to respond to an actual event. We've improved significantly; we had a base line capability when we came here, but the intent has been achieved as far as learning a little more about the other agencies that are out there and how best to integrate our capabilities."

In response to nationally declared disasters, the FEMA/MERS Bothell detachments provide mobile telecommunications, operational support, life support, and power generation assets for the on-site management of disaster and all-hazard activities.

"Whether it be from the Navy side, the FEMA/MERS Bothell group, the highest level all the way down to the lowest; we had total integration with both of our teams," said King. "We support each other. We are learning from each other. That's the most important thing. There been no issues as far as things we've not been able to work through."

The MERS teams provide communications support to the Joint Field Office. They operate satellite uplinks, computers, and telephone and power generation at a staging area near a disaster so that the responders can communicate with the outside world.

"If anyone wants to be proficient, you need to keep practicing. Practice does not make perfect; practice make consistency and that's the idea," said Joel Williams, logistic management specialist for MERS Bothell Detachment. "It's an important exercise for us to get the cobwebs out and find out what we are not doing."