FEMA Focuses On Improving Response Capabilities As It Kicks Off Second Week Of Determined Promise 2003 Exercise
Release Date: August 21, 2003
Release Number: R9-03-59
» 2003 Region IX News Releases
Las Vegas, NV -- In the second week of the mock plague release portion of the Determined Promise 2003 (DP '03) exercise conducted from August 18 to August 29 at various locations, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a part of the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will focus on improving response capabilities.
"Our objective is to make the exercise as realistic as possible so we can test all aspects of the federal response plan, " said Jeff Griffin, regional director of FEMA Region IX. "FEMA is looking to see how we can do things quickly enough - address critical needs, relay critical messages - and effectively. Yet, with respect to public health and safety, in situations such as this one we must also urge caution."
Battling the mock bio-terror attack in Clark County, Nevada, FEMA will open its initial operating facility and conduct response operations during the second week. There will be mission assignments made to any number of the 26 federal agencies that can be called upon to protect life and life-sustaining structures, including the American Red Cross. In support of the DP '03 exercise, the Bothell, Wash.-based Mobile Emergency Response Support detachment will show two of its vehicles that support the early stages of a disaster response.
FEMA also will engage in refining terror-response lessons such as when and how to preemptively protect healthcare workers and keys to distributing medicines after a bio-terror attack. Another important issue is disseminating information to the public.
"Exercises give us a chance to identify problems, improve our lines of communication and strengthen our partnerships with state and local responders - regardless of the type of incident," said Griffin.
The main focus of DP '03 is on a simulated bio-terror attack in Clark County, Nevada. The two-week scenario begins with undiagnosed cases of flu-like symptoms in Las Vegas that rapidly escalate into a simulated outbreak of pneumonic plague. Soon determined to be a terrorist attack, the disaster response involves first the county depleting its resources, then requesting state support, and finally the state requesting federal assistance.
Determined Promise is an annual exercise conducted by U.S. Northern Command and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. During DP '03, FEMA is playing its role as the nation's all-hazards incident manager.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 21-Aug-2003 15:59:17