Fort Leonard Wood rocks earthquake exercise

By Mr. Robert P Johnson (Leonard Wood)June 26, 2014

Fort Leonard Wood rocks earthquake exercise
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

More than 200 years ago, the strongest earthquake to hit the United States was centered in Missouri, and on June 17 and 18, Fort Leonard Wood personnel conducted an exercise to better prepare if the New Madrid Fault were to flex its might again.

The exercise was conducted as part of a multi-state drill to prepare community first-responders to a disaster of catastrophic proportions, said Lisa Stewart, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security chief of plans and operations and exercise coordinator. The exercise, CAPSTONE 2014, focused on a 7.7 magnitude Missouri earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks. The drill for the installation was to test first response and how the fort would transition to become an Incident Support Base support installation.

"The scenario we used was developed at the state level, and they sent updates and activities to us that would require the staff to coordinate responses. In addition, we wrote some local actions into the scenario to test our local first responders," Stewart said. "We used 30 Soldiers from the post detail as part of a mass casualty event on Young Street. While that 'gas leak' allowed us to train our personnel, it also allowed us to test and train some of our mutual aid responders, such at the St. Robert Fire Department."

The second day continued to test the emergency personnel on the potential problems with a hiker having fallen off a cliff during aftershocks. Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Emergency Services conducted a rescue operation that required air, water and mountain rescue assets.

"This (the training) is based on a real-world requirement. A few years ago, the fire department had to conduct nearly this same rescue for an individual. He had fallen off the ledge at Miller's Cave and had to be located, secured and lowered to medical personnel on a boat on the river," said Buddy Glover, Fort Leonard Wood assistant fire chief.

The exercise is part of an annual installation requirement, but smaller exercises designed to maintain readiness for disasters and address potential issues occur on a more frequent basis.

"This was just one of 16 potential scenarios that IMCOM (Installation Management Command) allowed us to choose from for our full-scale annual exercise. We picked the natural disaster because it was also being conducted across the region at the same time, which allowed us to coordinate with those outside agencies," Stewart said.

"But we conduct dozens of smaller exercises each year. In a couple weeks, we will be conducting another that just focuses on food shortages that would occur in the event of a large-scale disaster such as the earthquake. It was a problem that we had not thought through and now realize it is an area where we need contingency planning," she added.

The process of preparing for disasters, whether man-made or mother nature created, is an ongoing requirement, Stewart said. Plans that would work five years ago, have to be re-evaluated as the installation changes with time.

"In the Incident Support Base planning, we realized that we have a lot more options now for staging equipment and personnel as we have added several new facilities during the past few years. It's good to have more options, but it is even better to have those options pre-planned and organized," Stewart said.

As for those conducting the exercise, the training was extremely valuable.

"It was great to work an actual shift change in the Emergency Operations Center," said Becky Haas, DPTMS chief of operations. "We tend to have turnover in the manning portions, so it was equally important to train, not only the first team, but also the alternates and second shift personnel. We learned things, like there will be food shortages -- not if. We now realize how important that small detail can be and have to plan to address it."

"We can't waste time learning during an actual emergency," Haas said.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood