CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah –
The Utah National Guard’s Domestic Operations Office in conjunction with the Utah State Emergency Operation Center, Division of Emergency Management, is conducting a multi-agency training event at Camp Williams in Bluffdale, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022.
This exercise provides an opportunity for military, state, and civilian agency partners to conduct joint disaster response training. During the event, elements of the Utah National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Task Force; the 2nd General Aviation Support Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment; Department of Public Safety; Civil Air Patrol; Utah Task Force One; Utah County Search and Rescue; and Riverton Hospital will train on providing a coordinated response to a catastrophic event.
“This training event is a steppingstone, preparing for a larger training event scheduled in May of 2023,” said Col. Erick Wiedmeier, commander of the Region VIII Homeland Response Force. “The last two years have taught us that our organizations must stay practiced in coordinating resources in order to respond quickly to natural or man-made disasters, enabling lifesaving efforts to flow more smoothly. I look forward to working with the many great emergency responders throughout the state.”
The agencies involved will respond to a simulated earthquake requiring the State Emergency Operation Center to coordinate state assets in support of agency rescue operations in a declared disaster area.
Crews from the 2-211th Aviation will transport members of the Utah National Guard and Task Force One’s Urban Search and Rescue teams into a collapsed structure to provide first responder care and then will coordinate with Riverton Hospital to provide follow-on care, transporting patients on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to the Riverton Hospital helicopter pad to be treated at the emergency room.
The Department of Public Safety aviation will support the event searching for lost or injured personnel as well as train on hoisting injured personnel to safety. Civil Air Patrol will also use their aviation assets to search for lost and injured personnel in the damage area.
The event will train the interoperability between military and civilian agency to provide initial and follow-on care to stranded and injured citizens in the event of a natural or manmade emergency.
The Utah National Guard has unique capabilities and skills and has a proven track record of answering the call to assist civil authorities during emergencies.
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Media Notes: Media desiring to attend this event needs to register to be placed on the credential list, by sending an email to ng.ut.utarng.list.pao@army.mil or via text at 801-716-9063 by 3 p.m., Friday, Nov. 4, 2022.
On Saturday, Nov. 5, those attending the event need to arrive at Camp Williams by 10:30 a.m. to convoy to the venue site. A four-wheel drive vehicle (SUV or truck) is recommended but not required. Camp Williams is located at 17800 S. Redwood Road, Bluffdale, Utah.