Blackhawks will be flying overhead today in Kenai as part of a HAZMAT drill involving the Fire Department, Police Department and the Air National Guard Civil Support Team.
Battalion Captain Tony Prior said crews have been flying in from Guam and Hawaii as part of the statewide Alaska Shield drill…
Capt. Prior: “They’re simulating having a natural disaster and having a local area or state that exhausts their resources really quick and where they need to come up.”
The drill started at 8am with a simulated breach of the Kenai Airport fence. Two Police officers responded to a “suspect” and a report of a possible weapon of mass destruction.
At that point, the additional resources were called in. Prior said the drill will help the local crews and those coming from elsewhere learn how to adapt to serious disasters…
Capt. Prior: “Pulling these teams that have no general knowledge of the area that they’re working with and yet be able to come in, set up, and conduct an operation as quickly and efficiently as they can. That’s exactly what they’re trying to do with these Alaska Shield exercises.”
The drill will run through early this afternoon.
