TERRORISM DRILL TESTS REGION’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE

 
Local Agencies Respond to Mock Dirty Bomb Explosion for Golden Guardian 2010

The County of San Diego and various city and local agencies responded to simulated acts of terrorism across the County May 18 as part of the Golden Guardian 2010 statewide disaster preparedness exercise. 

“Since 9/11, our region has developed and refined terrorism response plans, conducted training, and purchased equipment to better prepare us in the event of an attack. Today’s exercise is the culmination of those efforts and validates the preparedness of every agency involved in the exercise. The exercise also provided agencies in our region with the opportunity to work together in coordination for a disaster. We will incorporate the lessons learned from this exercise into our future planning and training,” said Ron Lane, Director of the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services on Tuesday.

In the events on May 18, first responders and emergency managers coordinated a vast multi-agency response to a scenario in which terrorists detonated a dirty bomb in the city of San Marcos.  As part of the disaster exercise, hazardous material teams, law enforcement, fire services, and the region’s Metropolitan Medical Strike Team assisted with decontamination of a radiological incident and medical treatment of mock patients in the field. Area hospitals and clinics were also involved to test their ability to respond to a mass casualty incident involving trauma, burn and radiation exposure and detection.

County agencies including the Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Environmental Health, Health and Human Services, and the Office of Emergency Services participated in the exercise.  The exercise also included participation from all 18 cities, six state agencies, six federal agencies, 27 hospitals and clinics, and several non-government and private sector organizations such as the American Red Cross, San Diego Gas & Electric, California State University San Marcos and 2-1-1.

For video of the events at Cal State San Marcos, see County Television New's coverage here http://bit.ly/awdxDQ.