Community exercise supports PBA mission

By Rachel SelbyApril 2, 2026

Exercise supports PBA
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Representatives from Union Pacific Railroad talk about a simulated train derailment scenario during a community exercise April 1 in White Hall. Other members of leadership at the table included Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers, White Hall Mayor Noel Foster, Pine Bluff Arsenal Commander Matthew C. Mason and Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods. (Photo Credit: Hugh Morgan) VIEW ORIGINAL
Community exercise supports PBA mission
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers speaks during a mock press conference at the conclusion of the exercise April 1. (Photo Credit: Hugh Morgan) VIEW ORIGINAL
Community exercise supports PBA mission
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pine Bluff Fire Chief Paul Wade speaks during part of the scenarios during a community exercise April 1 held at the White Hall Community Center. Leaders from local government, law enforcement, utilities, emergency services and the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation collaborated on scenario based planning, including a simulated train derailment and communications outage. (Photo Credit: Hugh Morgan) VIEW ORIGINAL

The City of White Hall and Pine Bluff Arsenal conducted a Pine Bluff Arsenal Military Installation Readiness Review tabletop exercise April 1 at the White Hall Community Center. The exercise was part of ongoing readiness preparedness efforts in support of the installation.

“The City of White Hall has partnered with the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) to sponsor this exercise with the focus being to support the ongoing mission of the Arsenal,” said Larry Wright, who is the consulting engineer for the city. “This exercise is intended to talk about enhancing and offering critical support during various scenarios.”

Attendees included leadership from PBA; federal, state, regional and local officials; senior staff from OLDCC; infrastructure/local utility representatives; law enforcement and other emergency responders; and other disaster response stakeholders.

Key leaders representing surrounding cities, the county and the Arsenal were present, including Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods; Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers; White Hall Mayor Noel Foster and Arsenal Commander Col. Matthew C. Mason.

“Thanks to everyone for coming. I have known a lot of you for a long time,” said Foster. “Everyone in this room is important to this program, and to me. They are important to this community, to our nation’s defense and the Army. I am humbled that you are all here. You must have everyone in the room and feed them good.”

Scenarios throughout the event included modules with a train derailment, communications outages, including the control of messaging from Arsenal leadership and key external stakeholders. Participants also discussed coordinated communications efforts across jurisdictions and within participating agencies and governments. Representatives from law enforcement, fire services, public works, utilities and communications contributed to the discussions.

The day concluded with a mock news conference featuring key leadership addressing the scenario outcomes and taking questions mock media.

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