News>Yokota Airmen participate in Emergency Response Aviation Help Drill
Photos
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- A UH-1 Huey helicopter aircrew from the 459th Airlift Squadron checks their route on a map during a pre-flight briefing, Feb. 5, 2013 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Airmen from Yokota participated in an emergency response aviation help drill in Shizuoka Prefecture, southwest of Yokota. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE, Japan -- A UH-1N Huey helicopter crew from the 459th Airlift Squadron flies over the Shin-Tomei Expressway in the Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, during an emergency response aviation help drill, Feb. 5, 2013. The Shizuoka Prefectural Government hosted the drill, which required the practice of using expressway's service area as an emergency landing zone for helicopters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Arturo Fernandez, 459th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, looks out the open door of a UH-1N Huey before landing at the Ogasa-Yama park by the Shin-Tomei expressway in the Shizuoka prefecture, Japan, Feb. 5, 2013. The Shizuoka Prefectural Government hosted the drill, which required the practice of using expressway's service area as an emergency landing zone for helicopters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE, Japan -- From left to right, Staff Sgt. Leslie Charles, 374th Medical Operations Squadron independent duty medical technician, and Staff Sgt. Arturo Fernandez, 459th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, walk around a simulated emergency landing zone at the Shin-Tomei expressway's service area, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Feb. 5, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
SHIZUOKA PREFECUTRE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Leslie Charles, 374th Medical Operations Squadron independent duty medical technician, greets a member from the Shizuoka prefectural government after the UH-1N Huey helicopter landed at the Shin-Tomei expressway's service area in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Feb. 5, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE, Japan -- From left to right, Staff Sgt. Arturo Fernandez, 459th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, and Staff Sgt. Leslie Charles, 374th Medical Operations Squadron independent duty medical technician, talk to a member from the Shizuoka Prefectural Government after landing the Shin-tomei expressway's service area by a UH-1 Huey at Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Feb. 5, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
SHIZUOKA PREFECUTERE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Arturo Fernandez, right, 459th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, thumbs-up after completing an emergency landing drill to the UH-1N Huey pilots at Shin-Tomei expressway's service area, Shizuoka Prefecture, Feb. 5, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE, Japan -- U.S. Air Force Maj. Hank Luke, 374th Operations Group deputy chief of standardization and evaluation, flies over the Shin-Tomei Expressway at Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, during an emergency response aviation help drill, Feb. 5, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
ABOVE SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE, Japan -- Aerial view of a helipad at Enshu Mori-machi Parking Area on the Shin-Tomei Expressway, Shizuoka Prefecture, Feb. 5, 2013. The helipad is designed for use during an emergency response or mass casualty situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Osakabe Yasuo)
by Osakabe Yasuo
374th Airlift Wing public affairs
2/7/2013 - SHIZUOKA PREFECTURE, Japan -- A UH-1N Huey helicopter crew from Yokota Air Base participated in the Emergency Response Aviation Help Drill in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, Feb. 5. The Yokota helicopter crew supported first responders from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Japan Coast Guard, Shizuoka Prefectural Police, Shizuoka City Fire Department, Japan Disaster Medical Assistance Team and U.S. Forces, Japan.
This was the first time U.S. Forces, Japan participated in the drill and assisted in performing a simulated mass casualty evacuation utilizing a UH-1N Huey helicopter from the 459th Airlift Squadron at Yokota.
"Being asked to participate in a Japanese civilian exercise is a great honor. If our Japanese partners ever need assistance, this exercise proves that we are ready and willing to help. It is great training for us as we get to fly in a different area of the country and land at new sites," said U.S. Air Force Maj. Hank Luke, 374th Operations Group deputy chief of standardization and evaluation.
Yokota's involvement with the exercise began to take shape when the Shizuoka Government asked how Yokota could help if a disaster happened. In January, Maj. Luke briefed the Governor on Yokota's airlift capabilities and was invited to participate.
The scenario simulated the emergency response efforts required in the event a devastating earthquake or tsunami occurred in Shizuoka Prefecture. After a natural disaster, mountain areas can be isolated by the cutoff of roads, and coastal areas can be isolated following a tsunami. First responders can encounter difficulty accessing these areas by land routes when conducting search-and-rescue and disaster relief operations.
Airlift support is an important component to relief efforts in the region. The Shin-Tomei Expressway is the major road for relief and has installed helipads in the service and parking areas as hubs between airlift and ground support areas.
"It was great that there were helipads on the highway, because in an emergency, it is the easiest place for an ambulance to drive and relief efforts (to occur)," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Laslie Charles, 374th Medical Operations Squadron independent duty medical technician.
The Tokai region--which includes Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu and Mie Prefectures--experienced a devastating earthquake in 1854, known as the Magnitude 8.4 Ansei-Tokai earthquake. Since then, seismic activity has been quiet in the region for almost 160 years.
The prefectural governments regularly prepare for potential earthquakes by conducting rescue training.
"Today's event was a proof of concept type of exercise. The next phase of participation will be to actually load casualties or carry supplies to landing zones. Exercises such as this are an important part of strengthening our relationship with the Japanese people. Yokota Air Base is already planning on participating in the next drill," Luke said.
