Cal EMA Acting Secretary Praises Orange County Firefighters following MOBEX
*The following news release was issued by Cal EMA on Monday, December 5, 2011.*
MATHER – California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) Acting Secretary Mike Dayton today said the experience gained by first responders from Orange County agencies that participated in this past weekend’s Mobilization Exercise (MOBEX) at the Orange County Fire Authority Regional Training Center in Irvine will benefit residents of Orange County, the state and the nation.
“Following a major earthquake, terrorist attack or other major emergency, firefighters and other first responders serving the affected communities will be the first ones on the scene, but will need a significant amount of assistance,” said Dayton, who observed part of the exercise with California State Fire and Rescue Chief Kim Zagaris and other fire officials. “Knowing how to access additional resources as well as put out fires and find, rescue and treat survivors will help save lives in future emergencies.”
The exercise was based on a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Catalina and an ensuing tsunami affecting the mythical city of Patterson.
The response began with the deployment of personnel from the Orange County Fire Authority and subsequently required support from the Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach Fire Departments, as well as California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5. CA Task Force 5 is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team that is composed of specialists representing the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as well as fire departments and fire protection districts from Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim, Chino Valley, Long Beach, Montebello and Boeing.
Other resources utilized during the exercise, which was evaluated by a group of experts assembled by Cal EMA, included a Cal EMA Type-2 Urban Search and Rescue trailer assigned to the Newport Beach Fire Department that was obtained through a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
During the exercise, participants demonstrated a variety skills that could be required after a major earthquake, hurricane or terrorist attack, including establishing a base of operating, searching for and extracting trapped victims, removing collapsed concrete and other debris and treating the injured.
“California is fortunate to have dedicated and well-trained firefighters, law enforcement personnel and other emergency responders, but we will need additional resources following a major earthquake, terrorist attack or other catastrophic event,” said Dayton. “That’s why it’s important California agencies practice accessing additional resources as well as practicing the first-response skills during exercises. The ability to utilize California’s Mutual Aid system will be critical to obtaining assistance from agencies outside affected area.
The quadrennial exercise was evaluated by a group of experts assembled by Cal EMA and funded by the State Legislature through Cal EMA Fire and Rescue Division and the California Fire Training Authority. Results of the evaluation will be shared with participating agencies and sent to the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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