The garrison's annual full-scale exercise provides an opportunity for first responders and emergency management personnel to hone their skills while validating plans and procedures. This year Lion Response will take place on Caserma Ederle the morning of May 10.
While the exercise is designed to validate and exercise the garrison's response capability, it should also be a reminder to understand individual responsibilities in the event of an emergency situation such as an attack, natural disaster or major accident.
During emergency situations, community members will be given instructions to take protective measures. These measures include lockdown, evacuation and shelter-in-place.
Lockdown procedures are usually implemented in a situation where authorities have determined it is safer for people to stay in their workplace, homes or other indoor locations and out of plain view.
When told to "lockdown," those not directly involved in the emergency response should remain indoors or get inside a building, lock all doors and windows, turn off all lights and stay away from doors and windows; stay low to the ground/on the floor. Set cell phones to silent and turn off any other devices that could alert someone that rooms are occupied.
Maintain these measures until either a supervisor or law enforcement official provides an indication that it all is clear. Be certain to verify the authenticity of the "all clear" message. Cooperate fully with law enforcement.
In an emergency event, authorities may direct an evacuation. In case an evacuation order is given, know the designated assembly area and go there for accountability, unless directed to assemble elsewhere.
Taking action to stay put is called "shelter in place" and might be directed if extreme weather is expected or air outside is potentially contaminated.
After ensuring coworkers or family and pets are inside, lock doors, close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers. Turn off fans, air conditioning and forced air heating systems. Gather your emergency kit and supplies, and move everyone to an interior room with no or as few windows as possible. Seal all windows, doors and air vents with plastic sheeting and duct tape. If you've planned ahead, the material is already cut to size and stored in the interior room for easy access.
Continue to monitor the situation via TV, radio or internet for official news and instructions. Report in or contact others, if possible, for personnel accountability.
Individuals on post the morning of the exercise should expect to participate in exercise directed actions briefly in their workplaces such as shelter in place or a lock down.
During the exercise on Caserma Ederle, expect direction to come over the base network as an AtHoc message, or over the giant voice loudspeaker system preceded and ending with 'exercise, exercise, exercise', through unit phone notifications and via AFN radio and garrison Facebook announcements. Community members may experience delays, gate closures, the presence of emergency vehicles and more.
Lion Response is designed to validate and test emergency response and management plans, procedural agreements, and interoperability between U.S. and Italian emergency response agencies, while improving coordination and building relationships between the garrison and local communities. Those who happen to be on Caserma Ederle once the exercise begins should be aware of what's happening, and respond accordingly.
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