LIHU‘E — County, state and other emergency responders will continue joint training and exercises on Kaua‘i.
Exercises started last week with the Hawai‘i Air National Guard’s 93rd Civil Support Team.
Officials are asking for the public’s cooperation by staying clear of any obvious or marked areas and exercise-related vehicles, equipment and personnel.
Trainings are ongoing at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center in Puhi, the former Foodland store in Waipouli Town Center and the Kaua‘i Fire Department’s Kaiakea fire station.
On Thursday, July 14, a full-scale weapons of mass destruction exercise will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the KCC campus. Access to the KCC Campus Center, fine arts auditorium and overflow parking lot will be limited to exercise staff and participants for the duration of the exercise.
Participating in the various events include the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency, KFD, Kaua‘i Police Department, KCC, state Department of Health, Wilcox Medical Center, Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital and Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital. Various training events will occur leading up to the full-scale exercise.
“The exercises aim to ensure that Kaua‘i’s first responders will be better prepared for WMD events as well as a broad spectrum of natural and man-made disasters,” said KEMA Administrator Elton Ushio.
“The skills learned will also be applicable to hazardous-materials incidents as well as events that require multi-agency, multi-discipline coordination and interoperable communications.”
For more information about the exercise, call KEMA at 808-241-1800.
“We are grateful to the participating agencies for dedicating their time and expertise in these crucial emergency exercises,” said Mayor Derek Kawakami. “The skills that are practiced and lessons learned during this training will benefit our first responders and the people of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.”
