Past Performance  Hawaii CERFP EXEVAL Send To Friend

Hawaii CERFP EXEVAL
December 13, 2010 - KEY EVENT

Dec. 13 - 18, 2010 Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Bellows Air Force Station, Hawaii

The Army and Air Force Hawaii National Guardsmen, All-hazards Response Team conducted a CBRNE (chemical, biological, nuclear, high-yield explosive) Enhanced Response Force at Bellows Air Force Station in order to be evaluated by the Joint Inter-Agency Training and Education Center.

The CERF team conducted six days of exercises and role-playing based on a scenario created to mimic a large scale disaster striking Hawaii. The scenario created for the team was conceived as a "blast" from a dirty bomb containing Sarin gas, a powerful nerve agent. Search and extraction, decontamination, and medical treatment on the "victims" were carried out by the team as part of this scenario.

The CERF Team, established in 2004 is evaluated biennially with a primary mission is Homeland Defense, but they typically respond to earthquakes, floods, or storm cleanup. Since the Army's team changes when a whole unit deploys, regularly going through the validation as a joint exercise is particularly valuable. The Guard's primary. Although there has never been an incident with weapons of mass destruction in Hawaii, the Hawaii National Guard CERF taskforce has special equipment training and readiness in addition to their Federal and "go to war" missions.

SRI constructed the CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (NGCERFP) Structure Collapse Venue Support (SCVS) also known as a "rubble pile" and the five training lanes used for the Search and Evacuation (S&E) portion of the joint exercise and evaluation. SRI also provided recognized instructors from several certifying organizations, such as FEMA, ODP, IAFF, experienced in structural collapse; emergency building shoring; heavy breaching and breaking; steel burning and welding; crane operations and rigging; lifting and moving; confined space rescue; and trenching and excavation rescue and rope rescue. Many in our leadership and staff have been deployed to incidents of National significance such as the World Trade Center Collapse and multiple Hurricane disasters around the world. Through the efforts of our team, SRI has been able to provide a solid educational experience for the CBRNE responders participating in this exercise.

"SRI feels privileged to have been a part of the team involved in the Hawaii National Guard's successful management of these exercises. We're proud to have been a major part of this exercise and have supported the needs of the Guard," stated Project Manager John Garland. "It's an important accomplishment for these medical responders to obtain their certifications, knowing that they have been trained to the highest quality standards, not only for the sake of the Guard units themselves, but for the communities they serve in the event of disaster."