Federal, state and local agencies working together

Photo By Sgt. Alfonso Corral | Spc. Steven Williams right and Pfc. Tyisha Williams from the 92nd Chemical Company 83rd Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Battalion, pull a push a victim to medical after victim was decontaminated in the decontamination line during Vibrant Response 13-2, a major field training exercise, is conducted by U.S. Northern Command and led by U.S. Army North (Fifth Army). Approximately 5,700 service members and civilians from the military and other federal and state agencies are training to respond to a catastrophic domestic incident. As a component of U.S. Northern Command, USARNORTH coordinates timely federal military response to disasters in the homeland to help the American people in time of need. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Alfonso Corral, 318th Press Camp Headquarters)  

CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, UNITED STATES

08.15.2013

Story by Sgt. Matthew Alford 

318th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. - U.S. Army North (Fifth Army) from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, oversee the training of military and agencies from local, state and federal governments prepare in the event of a national disaster during exercise Vibrant Response 13-2, July 27 to Aug. 17.

This type of training allows the different facets of emergency services and the military to learn how to communicate and work together in the event that disaster does happen.

Col. Lawrence H. Madkins, director of Operations, Plans and Training for ARNORTH, said training with groups such as Federal Emergency Management Agency and state police is important because when America has a national disaster, such as a nuclear, chemical or biological attack, America needs to be ready to help its citizens survive.

“Because of training like this,” said Madkins, “if the day ever comes, we will be able to support the citizens of this nation.

“Just for my unit,” said Sgt. Matthew A. Kelly of Army North Defense Coordinating offices, Region 5, Chicago, “it took months of planning to be able to be ready for this training.”

Kelly is a communications specialist working to ensure that the military can communicate with the civilian emergency services.

“Communication will be the key to helping people if a disaster occurs,” said Madkins.

Communicating better will help shorten the time it takes to get help to the affected citizens.

If America is going to survive a national disaster of this nature then everyone is going to have to work together and communicate clearly with each other, said Daryl Kinman, deputy G7 of ARNORTH, a Department of the Army civilian.

This is the kind training that will teach the military and all of the emergency services to do just that.

• Date Taken: 08.15.2013
• Date Posted: 08.16.2013 16:03
• Story ID: 112123
• Location: CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, US
• Hometown: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, US