FORT BENNING, Ga., (Feb. 10, 2016) --Jan. 28 didn't start out as a normal Fort Benning morning when a high-speed chase ended with a wreck near the Sand Hill exit and a suspect tried to evade capture.
The Chattahoochee County Sheriff's Office called the military police at 5:08 a.m. when it became apparent that the high-speed chase that started in Richland, Georgia, would enter the military reservation. The suspects were driving on U.S. Highway 280/State Route 520 toward Columbus and Interstate 185. They crashed about 5:30 when they failed to negotiate the turn and hit the cement Jersey barriers at the top of the ramp.
One subject was injured and remained in the vehicle until emergency first responders arrived. He was apprehended by military police, while the second subject fled the scene toward the woodline and Patton Village.
In Patton Village, the second person invaded a home to steal a vehicle.
By 6:17, Fort Benning authorities were in pursuit of the stolen vehicle, which was seen near Wildcat and Buena Visita roads. The second person was apprehended by 7:00 a.m.
That's a pretty quick turnaround - roughly 2 and one-half hours from Fort Benning involvement to capture by Directorate of Emergency Services officials. However, there were some negative comments posted to social media about notifying neighborhoods and cantonment areas.
Fort Benning is actively committed to communicating with and notifying residents when there is an emergency. But in a very fluid situation, what's known changes as rapidly as the reports come in, said Monica Manganaro, Fort Benning Garrison Public Affairs director.
"It's our job to make sure we keep residents informed when an incident takes place, and the installation has several methods of warning installation personnel."
The Mass Warning Notification System, often referred to as the Giant Voice, provides sirens and audio messages during emergencies. It broadcasts throughout the installation, most often when there is a tornado warning issued.
The AtHoc system sends messages to government desktop computers, emails personal computers, texts a message to mobile phones and calls landlines with a recorded message.
Tina Sandell, an operations specialist with Emergency Management, attends the weekly newcomers meeting to inform new residents about the system.
"It's a great system, but it only works when people sign up for the notifications," Sandell said. People who don't have a common access card can sign up for the notifications at https://warnings.army.mil/SelfService/2538145.
The Public Affairs Office notifies the local media when appropriate and posts information through social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
"Social media is useful for follow-on information during an emergency situation," Manganaro said. "It's immediate and allows for facts to be released to a widespread audience."
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