State to join test of catastrophic disaster response

By Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published May 02, 2008

The state is participating in a national-level training exercise to hone the response of local, state and federal agencies in the event of a catastrophic human-caused or natural disaster.

The exercise is unique because it enables local and state officials to work with federal agencies — the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the federal Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Northern Command, the joint military organization responsible for homeland defense.

"It gets us prepared for these large-scale events," said Rob Harper, spokesman for the state Emergency Management Division. "This is an opportunity that doesn't come along too often for us to do that."

The exercise, known as National Level Exercise 02-08, started Thursday and concludes next week.

Fort Lewis will host a scenario Monday where attackers have blown up a chemical plant near the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle and a secondary blast kills numerous first responders.

The two other scenarios that will be played out in the Northwest are the release of toxic chemicals at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in northeast Oregon on Monday, and the simulated crash of a tanker truck carrying 4,000 gallons of a deadly liquid in Whatcom County on Tuesday.

The state will activate its emergency operations center for three days as part of the exercise, Harper said. Citizen-soldiers from the Washington National Guard will participate.

Harper said while the scenarios are centered on human-caused disasters or terrorism, the training will improve the response and coordination of officials to natural disasters, such as a earthquakes, floods or a volcanic eruption.

Christian Hill covers Lacey and the military for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5427 or chill@theolympian.com.