Hampton Roads Exercises Will Test Emergency Response

By Amber Lester Kennedy Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Local, state and federal government will test its collective ability to respond to emergencies this week in Hampton Roads.

The 2011 Hampton Roads Full-Scale Exercise will test anti-terrorism capabilities and emergency responses to maritime, hostage and mass casualty scenarios from May 17 to 19. Planning for the events began more than a year ago, and the events will be held throughout Hampton Roads, involving more than 400 participants and actors.

The three-day exercises will simulate different response scenarios. On May 17, responders will coordinate actions to respond to a staged maritime terrorist threat. On May 18, a fictional hostile group will take hostages in a building. On May 19, a fake mass casualty event will occur, requiring victim extraction operations, triage and treatment. Approximately 75 actors will play wounded hostages.

The York County Department of Fire and Rescue will support the exercise with some of its hazardous materials response team resources.

“An exercise of this magnitude will stretch the boundaries of the Commonwealth's ability to act before and during attacks as well as natural disaster emergencies,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs & Homeland Security Terrie Suit. “Our goal is to test ourselves now, so that if an emergency actually does occur, we are ready to respond to the situation.”

Funding for the exercise comes from the Department of Defense 2010 Appropriation Act. Congressman J. Randy Forbes along with Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner worked to acquire the $2.3 million in funding for the HRFSE. The Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs & Homeland Security was responsible for the facilitation of the expenditures in partnership with overall management from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. The Naval Post Graduate School’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare provided overall planning and coordination to deliver the final exercise series.