Each year, Sector Mobile simulates a disaster that would require them to evacuate their normal facility, relocate, and resume mission operations. The exercise is designed to ensure the outlined processes and procedures work seamlessly as well as ensures the IT connectivity works across agencies.

This year, USCG members reported to their normal facility like any other day of work. They were then briefed about a hypothetical incoming hurricane. A team of approximately 50 USCG members activated and relocated to the DRC. The following four-hour exercise tested pre-developed plans and agreements for both USCG and NOAA. Although the After Action Report is in the process of being written, preliminary discussion revealed a successful exercise.

Those of us in the emergency management field know all too well that a plan that sits on the shelf and never gets tested is just a document. In order to be prepared, we must continually test and train our emergency plans so they become second nature in the time of a disaster.  

For further information, contact Katherine.Krushinski@noaa.gov.

Return to OR&R Weekly Report.