Local First Responders Use WASABE IV to Improve Integration

Story & Photos by SGT Dan Purcell   -   Posted Aug, 2005

Local first responders worked side by side with Washington National Guard personnel

The three-day event integrated members of the 10th CST and emergency first responders, to include representatives from local Clark County sheriffs, police and fire departments in an effort to provide a coordinated response to a biological terrorist attack scenario in Camas Washington.

According to Lt. Col. Benjamen Zerface, 10th CST commander, the overall goal of the exercise was to introduce the 10th CST members, their equipment and their capabilities to local first responders.

Lt Col Zerface commented that So much of what we do on these exercises is about building relationships, emphasizing the close coordination practiced during this exercise.

10th CST survey team members inspect a device believed to be emitting a biological agent into the area

The scenario was centered on a phased response to the discovery of a device releasing an unknown biological agent at a boat launch along the Columbia River.  As the situation escalated, the 10th CST was called in to augment Clark County first responders as they tried to contain and identify the unknown agent.

In augmenting local emergency teams, the 10th CST is able to bring experience, equipment and capabilities that are not always available on a local level.

Our purpose as part of the National Guard homeland defense is to serve as an asset to the local incident commander, from whom we take our direction, explained 1SG Bill Spaulding, 10th CST non-commissioned officer in charge who has served with the unit for many years.

Local emergency first responders arrive at the scene of a potential biological incident during Exercise WASABE IV

We are able to bring a mobile laboratory and communication package that allows us to analyze and transmit our test results to larger labs and agencies quickly, thereby providing a faster response to the emergency, Spaulding added.

In addition to the training, Exercise WASABE IV provided the 10th CST with another opportunity to demonstrate their community partnership program by reaching out to first responders throughout the state.

 

 

 

Once a sample of the agent is obtained it is then taken to a mobile laboratory where it is tested and identified for further analysis

The exercise worked out very well for us because the local first responders not only heard but now they have seen what we (the 10th CST) can do as well, Zerface concluded.  It also gave us an opportunity to see how other first responders worked together and the types of equipment they were using.