ER Responders Prep for Cyber Attack, Earthquakes
Thousands of emergency responders in Wisconsin are launching large-scale disaster drills that will cover a host of scenarios ranging from cyber attacks to earthquakes, The Associated Press reports.
Nearly 3,000 federal, state and local responders will participate in the exercises dubbed Vigilant Guard ’11 across nine sites around the state this week. Scenarios will include a cyber attack on Madison’s power grid, chemical spills, flooding, a mysterious ship on Lake Michigan rigged with a bomb, among others.
The drills are conducted four times every year in different regions of the country and is sponsored by NORTHCOM and the National Guard Bureau.
Brig. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin, said in a release he was proud of the Wisconsin National Guard’s Joint Staff for its support, planning and preparation for this exercise, as well as Wisconsin Emergency Management for its assistance and coordination.
“Our homeland security strategy builds upon existing training and programs and culminates with a periodic capstone training event,” he said. “This is that capstone event – we have designed this exercise to stress our emergency management response network and provide the opportunity to identify any weaknesses.”
However, not all citizens were as enthused with the news of the multistate drills.
“Is this some kind of sick joke? ‘Vigilant Guard’?” wrote one commenter who posted posted under the name Steve. “I wonder if the skies will be clear and bright over Madison on Tuesday morning. I would stay off public transportation and call in sick to work this week.”
Related posts:
1 Comment
Pings and Trackbacks