‘Strong Winds’ exercise strengthens personnel emergency response

  • Published
  • By Cason Soat
  • 88th Air Base Wings Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Exercise 'Strong Winds '09' was conducted by exercise office officials here Mar. 25-27 to test and improve personnel response in possible emergency situations. 

The exercise began with a simulated on-ground hijacking of a C-5 Galaxy on the runway here in which an armed man held hostages on-board. Security forces members under Dayton SWAT guidance participated in simulated negotiations attempting to recover the two on-board hostages. Lt. Robert Chabali, SWAT commander with Dayton police, and Sgt. Joseph Wiesman, hostage negotiator for Dayton SWAT, were brought in to train and assist military forces in the exercise. 

"We worked very well with the Dayton SWAT team," said Capt. Karl Blinkinsop, incident commander for the hijacking exercise. "We met all of our objectives alongside the base fire department and we learned a lot." 

The conclusion of the three-day exercise tested the bases ability to respond to a tornado touchdown at Bass Lake resulting in casualties and serious injuries. During the exercise the base experienced increased emergency vehicle operations, sirens and increased force protection measures. 

"These exercises not only test the abilities of our first responders and critical personnel, we are also given the opportunity to test our emergency notification equipment such as our sirens and 'Giant Voice' system," said Carmen Riches, chief of exercises here. 

At the onset of the Bass Lake tornado exercise, sirens and notifications over the 'Giant Voice' indicated that an exercise tornado warning was in place. Shortly afterwards the exercise tornado struck. First responders, consisting of security forces, fire department and medical personnel, on the scene at Bass Lake worked around overturned picnic tables to care for simulated injured victims who had wounds ranging from lacerations to impalements. 

"All organizations are engaged during these exercises. Every person at Wright-Patt must know how to respond, not just the First responders," said Riches. 

Riches added, even though these quarterly exercises are mandated by Air Force instruction, it is the protection and safety of the base that drives officials to pour time and effort into emergency exercises. 

"We begin to plan these exercises months in advance," said Riches. "It is necessary that we make sure we are prepared for any emergency that may occur." 

According to Riches, the exercise scenarios were very realistic for the base's geographical location on the edge of tornado alley. 

During the exercise, involved organizations carried out their emergency operating procedures while being observed by an exercise evaluation team. The team will use their findings to provide feedback and reports on the exercise effectiveness.