Las Cruces Sun-News
SANTA FE — As part of an ongoing full scale exercise code named Operation Aztec, state, local, and federal entities will conduct a series of activities next week to test and enhance coordinated response capabilities to wide-spread threats. While citizens in Las Cruces, Estancia, Deming Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Roswell may see increased police and National Guard activity between July 23-25, this is only an exercise and does not involve any risk to the public.
Participants in the exercise include the New Mexico Air National Guard, the New Mexico Army National Guard, the New Mexico Department of Health, the U.S. Marshal Service, New Mexico Department of Public Safety & State Police, New Mexico Corrections Department, New Mexico Medical Reserve Corps, the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHSEM), the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, Valencia County, Torrance County, Luna County, and Chaves County.
“It is important to continuously be testing and enhancing our capabilities as a state with local and federal partners,” DHSEM Secretary Greg Myers said. “Full scale exercises are large endeavors and we are thankful to all of the participating agencies and entities for helping to improve our ability to keep New Mexicans safe.”
The purpose of the exercises is to demonstrate capabilities and identify weaknesses in the ability of the state, federal and local entities to respond to a statewide incident with national implications.
Among the objectives during the exercise will be to meet interoperability military and civilian requirements, identify future training needs, and develop and refine standard operating procedures.
“The New Mexico National Guard is excited about this training exercise. A small planning cell developed the numerous scenarios that will test and challenge all the participants,” New Mexico National Guard Public Affairs Officer Colonel Michael Montoya said. “Although we have experience working with local, state and federal agencies with fires, floods, search and rescues operations and other real events, this will be the first large scale training exercise with this many agencies and municipalities ever attempted in New Mexico. The end result is a better understanding of how all participants complement each other’s capabilities to protect the citizen’s of our great state.”
The exercise scenario involves the theoretical spread of a pathogen that requires the coordination of state, local, and federal resources. The beginning phases of the exercise began in January and will conclude July 25, with the publically visible components of the exercise taking place between July 23-25.
“The Department of Health is well prepared to respond to a public health emergency, and this statewide exercise will allow us to evaluate and make improvements to how the state will provide services to a large number of people in a short period of time,” said Cabinet Secretary of Health, Catherine Torres, M.D. “The Department’s Epidemiology and Emergency Response Division, Bureau of Health Emergency Management, Public Health Division and the Scientific Laboratory Division are well trained to identify new diseases quickly and get valuable and possibly life saving treatment and information to the public.
“In an emergency, it is critical that state and federal agencies are able to coordinate a response that will help keep the public safe and healthy. This exercise is important tool to help New Mexico achieve that goal.”
Citizens will see large truck trailers as part of a convoy involving the Department of Health, the National Guard, and New Mexico State Police. The transportation will originate in Albuquerque and conclude in Las Cruces, Estancia, Santa Fe, Deming, Albuquerque, and Roswell.
The Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management leads the state’s response to emergencies and disasters while providing for the safety and welfare of its citizens. Emergencies and disasters can be defined as something caused by natural or human-made events or any other circumstances determined by the governor. When necessary, the state assists local jurisdictions whose capabilities are overwhelmed serving as the conduit for assistance from the Federal government.
Copyright 2012 Las Cruces Sun-News, a MediaNews Group Newspaper