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Airport supports Crisis
Salina, Kan., (June 23, 2009) - Hundreds of local and state emergency
responders came together for the largest crisis exercise to date this past
week at the Great Plains Joint Training Center's Crisis City.
Police, firefighters, hazmat responders, search and rescue teams, K-9
units, National Guardsmen and Red Cross workers came together for the
Vigilant Guard 2009 exercise. They brought with them everything they
would need in a disaster from chicken salad sandwiches to hard hats, and
unmanned aerial systems to C-130s.
"This is the maiden voyage of our Crisis City operation,"
explained Brig. Gen. Deborah Rose, director of the Kansas National Guard's
Joint Forces Headquarters. "We are a part of a much bigger
nationwide exercise called Ardent Sentry."
Kansas is leading the way in search and rescue, and UAS technology, she
said to Salina area officials. "I would call this group a high
performance team."
A big part of the team's efficiency is due to the venue's mere eight mile
proximity to the Salina Municipal Airport.
"The nice thing is that we can bring in huge lifts," said Col.
Joe Wheeler, Chief of the Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters
Kansas. "Less time in the air means we have more time on the
ground training."
It also means the planes burn less fuel and save more money.
"The most important piece in this is the airport," said Lt. Col.
Jeff Jordan, GPJTC deputy commander. "I can't say enough about
how much they do for us."
While hundreds of U.S. first responders were on the ground at Crisis City
digging through rubble and containing chemical spills, Canadian Air Force
CF-18s and AlphaJets, along with U.S. C-130s were on the airport flight
line a stone's throw away.
"Salina and Crisis City is the perfect spot for first responders to
train," said Tim Rogers, A.A.E., Salina Airport Authority executive
director. "We have a 12,300 foot runway, new hangar facilities
and community support for large-scale training exercises."
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