Eielson AFB Airmen join university for emergency management exercise

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AFNS) --  First responders and plans and programs teams here joined staff members from the University of Alaska and local emergency management teams July 27-28 to conduct emergency management exercise at the UAF campus.

The university's first large-scale exercise tested emergency responders the first day and emergency operations centers' capabilities the second. Volunteers from here participated in the exercise as scenario actors as well as exercise evaluation team members, bringing their emergency management expertise to assist in the exercise.

Numerous Eielson AFB Airmen and their dependents attend UAF, exercise planners said. Given that college campuses have recently been targets of violence, the exercise allowed a good overview of what different agencies have to offer in terms of resources and what they can bring to the fight.

"If something were to happen there, we need to know how to respond and what the local community would need from Eielson (Air Force Base)," said Tech. Sgt. Clifford Benson, a member of the 354th Fighter Wing plans and programs team. "It is important to exercise the response to keep both civilians and Air Force members safe when attending these facilities for furthering their educational goals."

According to Rick Forkel, the UAF emergency preparedness coordinator, the exercise helped the school adapt to today's culture, and it actually exceeded standards set by the department of higher education.

"The most significant outcome of this exercise was that regional and community based multi-organizational alliances and partnerships, across disciplines, jurisdictions and sectors, happened in an unprecedented way," Forkel said.

Forkel assists campuses across Alaska in creating specific emergency evacuation and emergency response plans. He also helps provide training and certification requirements needed for campus points of contact and aids in the development and execution of on-campus and university exercises.

The purpose was to evaluate and validate the ability of community agencies to come together to meet or exceed the objectives and requirements of the exercise planner, he said.

"This large scale exercise allows emergency managers, first responders, front line supervisors and managers, exercise players and even the appropriate agency's leadership a point of view perspective," Benson said. "This allows them to see where they have met their objectives or fallen short. Exercises that are planned and executed in accordance with applicable instructions and plans allow for a truthful snapshot of where that agency is in terms of compliance."

Eielson AFB's participation in events like this is critical to building and maintaining a strong working relationship with the local community, he said.

"In times of need or crisis, we will have to work together to manage and overcome emergency situations," Benson said. "Joint participation allows us to build a strong foundation."