Not all disasters come at the hands of terrorists. In fact, most are the product of Mother Nature.
That was the emphasis of the recent Local Emergency Management Operations Course (LEMOC) conducted from June 29 to July 1. For this exercise the scenario was an extreme heat wave that theoretically knocked out all electrical power throughout the region.
Staged under the combined aegis of the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Alexandria's Emergency Management Coordinator, Mark Penn, the drill involved representatives of most city departments and the Sheriff's Office.
Conducted at Lee Center, the program consisted of two days of emergency management training followed by an Emergency Operation Center (EOC) drill on July 1.
"The instruction was tailored specifically for Alexandria by the Emergency Planning Team. Each department with EOC responsibilities provided staff to operate in the EOC," according to Penn.
The drill also included representatives of the Alexandria Chapter of the American Red Cross. "Our role, in any type of disaster, is to provide shelters for those impacted," said Julia Wright, executive director. In this scenario the Red Cross established two shelters with limited generators for cooling.
DESIGNED AS A learning tool in the operation of an EOC for an extended period of time, the exercise simulated a change in shifts, so that the maximum number of personnel could participate in the training, according to Penn.
The heat emergency drill was chosen because it represented a "real world" potential. It was representative of "an actual event that occurred in the United States in recent years."
It was emphasized, "This exercise is designed to include only City of Alexandria resources. No outside assistance will be available due to the complexity of the event."
For that reason, each participant was "expected to perform as they would in normal operating conditions." They were specifically informed to not change how they normally do business.
"Part of the design of this training and exercise includes an evaluation of current policy, procedure, and operational methodology. This will facilitate identifying any potential changes that may enhance the ability of the city to respond to any type of emergency or disaster," the participants were told.
In the late 1990's a severe heat wave struck the City of Chicago killing at least a dozen people. Many of them died in their homes from heat stroke and dehydration. Air conditioning and refrigeration was minimal due to power outages.