LOS ANGELES - On May 20 & 21, 2014, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) will be testing the Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) System through a multi-team deployment exercise. The 2014 Western Region Multi-Task Force exercise, commonly referred to as the MOBEX (mobilization exercise) Drill, is a real time deployment exercise designed to test the readiness and effectiveness of the US&R response system within our State of California.
Many of California's elite Urban Search & Rescue teams and members have responded across the nation to catastrophic events such as, New York City for the 9-11 attacks, the Gulf coast for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike, Floodings, Mudslides and Terrorist attacks.
The US&R teams are comprised of two 70-member teams of men and women who are highly trained to conduct search and rescue operations in the most extreme conditions.
The following agencies are participating in the 2014 MOBEX Drill:
- CA-TF1 (Los Angeles Fire Department)
- CA-TF2 (Los Angeles County Fire Department)
- CA-TF5 (Orange County Fire Authority)
- CA-TF7 (Sacramento Fire Department)
- FEMA Incident Support Team (IST)
- FEMA Main US&R Office Heads
- Cal OES (California Office of Emergency Services) Chief Officers
- LAFD Field Incident Management Team
While this is not a public event, the 2014 MOBEX Drill will formally begin with a press conference on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. at the Los Angeles Fire Department's Urban Search & Rescue Building, at Fire Station 88 in Sherman Oaks.
The drill will commence at approximately 10:00 a.m. with a 9-1-1 response to an earthquake scenario that has affected the Los Angeles region, taxing local resources. First responders and US&R personnel will be dispatched in real time with escalation procedures according to the State's Master Mutual Aid System and FEMA's emergency response procedures.
Disaster exercises will be conducted throughout the day, starting at 11:00 am on May 20 and continue until 2:00 p.m. on May 21, 2014. This drill will take place at four separate locations requiring US&R technical rescue operations:
The 2014 MOBEX Drill is a great opportunity for FEMA US&R Task Forces to train and work together in a simulated catastrophe. We hope this exercise educates the public on disaster preparedness and how the Emergency First Responders perform during major disasters. We also hope this large scale team exercise can provide a sense of comfort to the public, knowing their firefighters are highly trained and well prepared to handle a catastrophic event. Are you and your family prepared?
Continual and updated information regarding the 2014 MOBEX Drill can be found by clicking and following these Social Media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. Hashtag: #MOBEXdrill.
Submitted by Erik Scott, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department
500 East Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
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