SPECIAL REPORT Urban Shield 2015
Urban Shield 2015 involved over 55 scenarios in fi ve counties of the Bay Area. The Bay Area Urban Areas Secu- rity Initiative (UASI) involves ‘Yellow Command,’ which is involved with the Regional Catastrophic Planning Grant Program established by the U.S. Con- gress to enhance preparedness for catas- trophes in certain high-risk, urban areas, with an emphasis on regional planning. The funding the Bay Area received as one of 10 awardees of these grants requires a full-scale exercise. First re- sponders learn to mobilize and deploy to different exercises and scenarios that are hosted by various agencies. Eight plans were produced involving such comprehensive, regional activities as preparedness, surveillance, crowd control, investigation, multi-discipline procedures, debris removal, mass fatali- ties, catastrophic events, interim hous- ing, mass transportation, evacuation, mass shelter, hazardous materials, urban search and rescue, communications, and even management of volunteers. The 2015 Yellow Command engaged Emergency Operations Centers within the Bay Area in a mock terrorist attack. The ex- ercise emphasized regional coordination, resources, mutual aid, regional transit, sit- uational awareness, communications, and critical infrastructure assessments. The 48-hour exercise involved 10 oper- ational ‘Area Commands’ in 35 individ- ual events ranging from active shooter to detection of radiological devices. Throughout the individual scenarios, the various teams were confronted with one or more hours of testing in their train- ing, preparation and decision-making. Debriefi ng and evaluation followed. The San Jose Fire Department hosted scenarios based on hazardous materi- als on land and water, and search and rescue incidents with a connection to a terrorism threat. All scenario sites were within a 10-minute travel distance to make maximum use of the time spent in interaction in the scenarios. Urban search and rescue, canine teams, haz- ardous materials teams, and maritime fi re/rescue services were involved. The scenarios often include testing and use of technological tools such as robots, render safe equipment, and per- sonal protective gear, and the activities are sometimes at more unusual sites
54 LAW and ORDER I May 2016
such as aboard aircraft or large vessels. Urban Shield has a medical branch that assists with monitoring and assess- ing the health of teams and individuals in the exercises. The medical branch also trains team members in trauma care, bal- listic injuries, and other emergencies. Also a part of the 2015 event was the Regional Preparedness Seminar, which presented a variety of discussions and workshops.
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were the focus of Robert Whitehurst,
Multi-Jurisdictional IED Security Plan- ning Unit Chief at the Department of Homeland Security Offi ce for Bombing Prevention/Protective Security Coordi- nation Division, as he presented informa- tion about the effects, trends, and tactics of IEDs in domestic and global incidents. Participants learned about device con- struction and effects, and were intro- duced to the Department of Homeland Security’s Offi ce for Bombing Prevention. Planning for response and recovery from regional catastrophes was the topic
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