Emergency personnel prepare for disaster

Due to the increasing concern for homeland security and the possibility of terrorist attacks, a desktop exercise, sponsored by the Monmouth County Emergency Planning Council, was held in December to test and evaluate the capabilities of the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management Operations Center.

According to a press release from Monmouth County, a scenario was created with specific guidelines that included a theoretical massive explosion with crowds and contributing weather conditions.

The objectives of the exercise were to identify the incident, demonstrate the ability to notify response agencies, mobi­lize emergency personnel, direct and co­ordinate emergency response activities, establish and maintain communications and train the Emergency Planning Committee in the implementation of re­sponse plans and procedures for any emergency situations that might occur.

The exercise was attended by approx­imately 30 persons representing the FBI, the New Jersey State Police, Fort Monmouth, Departments of Emergency Management, Division of Engineering/Roads, Police Radio, EMS, Social Services, Mental Health, Fire Marshal, Sheriff, Prosecutor, Health Care Facilities, Human Services, Public Information, JCP&L, local water compa­nies and the Red Cross. All attendees contributed their time, talents and ex­pertise as part of continuing efforts to increase the protection and counter-ter­rorism capabilities in Monmouth County, according to the press release.

The exercise was overseen by Barbara and Mike Ruane of the James Thomas Group, a consulting firm specializing in counter-terrorism, weapons of mass de­struction and emergency planning.

Operating in a "real-time" mode, all participants were called to the opera­tions center 90 minutes after the "initial bomb" was detonated. The members of the various operations teams were called upon to establish procedures, such as the response to 911 calls to police radio, es­tablishing an incident command site with bomb squad and Hazmat personnel, fire departments, EMS units and notifi­cation to five nearby hospitals.

The exercise included rerouting traf­fic, establishing police perimeters, ob­taining transportation for the injured and the evacuation of local civilians to emergency shelters.

At the end of the day, Emergency Management Coordinator Harry Conover said he was very pleased with the results of the exercise.

"Except for a few minor wrinkles, it showed us that the emergency services in Monmouth County are prepared to handle most catastrophic events," he said.