Emergency management exercise tests base's response time

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samantha S. Crane
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  (Editor's note: The following is an account of a recent emergency management exercise held at Mountain Home Air Force Base.) 

While out on a training mission, an F-15E Strike Eagle goes down somewhere on the Saylor Creek Range and only one parachute was seen coming from the aircraft. The fuel tanks were jettisoned before the crash and are not hazardous, but a fire was sparked, and multiple military members on the ground sustained injuries.

Now what?

During the base's emergency management exercise June 10, the base demonstrated its ability to respond to a major disaster should one arise.

The day began with the simulated crash on Saylor Creek Range around 8 a.m. Shortly after the crash, the base was notified and jumped into action. First responders flew to the scene on a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter provided by Gowen Field Air National Guard Base, Boise, Idaho, while other responders arrived shortly after in dozens of vehicles.

"We also had members of the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office and the Bruneau and Grandview emergency management teams respond," said Master Sgt. Travis Dyer, 366th Fighter Wing superintendent of wing plans and assessments, or XP. "This is the first time we've worked with downtown agencies since we implemented the Air Force Incident Management System after Hurricane Katrina."

Back on base, the emergency operations center was activated and initiated communication between the base and crash site in order to pass along pertinent information.

Various scenarios, or injects, used to test the base's ability to respond to a myriad of possible scenarios, were introduced throughout the day and included range fires, media calls, concerned families seeking answers, self aid and buddy care tests, additional casualties and members experiencing emotional trauma.

After all teams demonstrated they could correctly respond, the exercise ended at 3:30 p.m.

"This was one of the largest exercises we've done in several years," said Master Sgt. Stuart Smith, 366th FW XP noncommissioned officer in charge.

The ungraded exercise gave Gunfighters a chance to ask questions and familiarize themselves with how to respond to a major accident in a controlled situation.

"While it is a requirement, we also use EMEs to make sure we're trained in case a real-world disaster hits the base," said Sergeant Dyer.

"We want to demonstrate our capability and show we are ready to go," added Sergeant Smith.

The EME satisfied many requirements, including responding to an off-base incident, working with hazardous materials, clearing munitions and search and recovery exercises.

For the wing XP office, preparation for the exercise began two months before with the writing of the script and coordination for off-base support. On the day of the exercise, after they kicked it off, their only responsibility was to observe and drop injects throughout the day.

"We get it started and then see how everyone responds to the situations we throw at them," said Sergeant Smith.

XP also attempted to make the exercise as real as possible.

"There was very little simulation," said Sergeant Dyer. "In some exercises, a lot is simulated, but during the EME, they demonstrated almost everything. There were more than 75 personnel working at the scene."

EMEs are also used to prepare the base for natural disasters and other major accidents.

"We do these to identify problems in our procedures and checklists," said Sergeant Dyer. "While the exercise identified a few areas we need to fix, overall, it was a smooth exercise."

"The base agencies worked together to reach a common goal and there was great participation by outside agencies," said Chief Cliff Lewis, base fire chief and on-scene commander.