Phoenix, AZ. - The Arizona National Guard's Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD CST) was activated at 1 p.m. today and dispatched to the location of the explosion that occurred at the intersection of 101 and 202 freeways, as well as parts of the surrounding communities to determine the extent of possible radioactive contamination.
The 22-member team of Army and Air National Guardsmen assesses hazards, advises civil authorities, and facilitates military support during emergencies and incidents of suspected weapons of mass destruction.
The team's mission is to support civil authorities at the incident site by identifying chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear agents and substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response measures, and assisting with appropriate requests for state support to facilitate additional resources.
CSTs are highly effective National Guard resources available 24 hours a day, deployable within 90 minutes, and receive more than 600 hours in high-tech training by agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Citizens with questions are encouraged to call the Arizona 2-1-1 Emergency Call Center at 602-231-6207 or 602-231-6299. Current updates are available at http://www.training.az211.gov (username: training, password: topoff)