Mock terror attack staged tomorrow

Operation Safe Harbor, a full-scale exercise involving a mock chemical Weapon of Mass Destruction and an explosive attack, unfolds tomorrow at 8am at the Charlie Dock.

The exercise, expected to conclude at 4pm, is hosted by the Emergency Management Office in coordination with the EG&G Technical Services.

A statement released by EMO yesterday said the exercise intends to evaluate first responders and response agencies protocols in responding to a weapon of mass destruction terror incident.

“The operation will provide an opportunity for team training of local agencies. [It will] assess coordination and response functions under the Incident Command and Unified Command systems. [It will] assess mutual aid agreements,” according to the statement.

EMO director Rudy Pua advised the public not to be alarmed during the conduct of the exercise.

“There will be an explosion, but the public should not be alarmed as it is part of the exercise,” he said. “We would have police officers monitoring traffic, and [they] will stop traffic during the time of the explosion.”

The statement indicated that during the exercise, responders will perform victim rescue, triage, treatment and decontamination, assessment, agent identification, site security and crowd control, render-safe procedures on devices or weapons, monitoring for contamination, contamination control, and waste material packaging.

Pua said the operation is funded through the State Homeland Security Grant Program by the Office for Domestic Preparedness under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He did not clarify the approximate amount that was granted.

“In fiscal year 2003, the Office of Domestic Preparedness provided millions that was broken down into four categories—planning, training, exercise, and equipment. We still have funds, and it will be used for the operation,” he said.

Pua said the exercise would be conducted annually.

“The goals of Operation Safe Harbor are to validate the CNMI Emergency Operations Plan, Terrorism Response Annex, and Hazardous Material procedures. The evaluators will also look at the community and local entities’ roles, responsibilities, and plans and procedures in response to an act of WMD/terrorism,” he stressed.

Agencies involved in the operation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, American Red Cross, the Department of Public Safety, Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Quality, Department of Mental Health, Commonwealth Health Center, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting, Division of Customs, and the Department of Pubic Works.