Surprise Training

North Dakota's National Guard 81st Civil Support Team, conducts surprise training with the Bisma...  More »

North Dakota's National Guard 81st Civil Support Team, conducts surprise training with the Bismarck Fire Department. The training was divided into three parts the scenerios. The First part took place early this morning when the Civil Support Team (CST) was told of a potential hazard within their own headquarters. Bismarck Fire department was deployed to aid C S T. The Mission of the Civil Support Team is to support local and state agencies in recognizing hazardous materials advising on response measures as well as assessing consequences. The point of the exercises is to rehearse communications protocol with local authorities like the Bismarck Fire Department. (Kermit Schaefer/Asst. Chief Operations)What we need to do from our end is the joint field operations. When we have CST actually on the scene there's several other things that have to happen behind the scenes before we actually get them here, but once they're here we're trying to unify some communications we're unifying at the command level and then out in the field with the HAZMAT people who are actually going gin and doing an entry, the medical end of it, we're working side by side with their people and our people. After the fake attack on CST headquarters this morning the Civil Support Team was ordered to head to Fargo to investigate a scenario involving the Fargodome. (Daryl Roerick/Deputy Commander)I-94 to Fargo. Got halfway to Fargo, got the phone call back that said, no it was a false alarm, turn around and come back to Bismarck. And we got notified to come here. And now with this process right now, we've conducted commander link-up so that we know what the fire department's objectives are. The Bismarck Fire Department and the Airport emergency crews secured the scene. In this case two helicopter pilots became sick from radiation. CST arrived on scene a few moments later to evaluate. And to perform their duties. Since the start of the Civil Support Team, the members have participated in intensive training exercises similar to this to prepare for potential missions, including emergencies at the State Capital and the water treatment plant.  « Less