CENTENNIAL, Colo. - The Colorado National Guard will facilitate a large-scale, multi-state, multi-agency emergency response exercise in the Denver and Colorado Springs metropolitan areas July 22-26.
Named "Vigilant Guard," the exercise is focused on interagency coordination in preparation for domestic emergencies and catastrophic events.
The exercise scenario, which has been in planning since 2011, is based on a wildland fire with urban interface, and will include severe weather including tornadoes.
Just as they would in real life, these notional events will create a number of consequences that will require emergency intervention.
Participants will exercise their knowledge of and expertise in storm damage assessment; hazmat identification, abatement and decontamination; search and rescue; patient extraction; triage; medevac and other emergency-response measures.
Sponsored by U.S. Northern Command in conjunction with the National Guard Bureau, the exercise will provide the Colorado National Guard and supporting military units an opportunity to improve cooperation and operational relationships with their local, state, private sector, non-governmental organizations and federal partners.
National Guard units from Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming will be participating.
Locations for the exercise will be:
July 22: Colorado National Guard Joint Operations Center, Fort Carson Airfield and U.S. Air Force Academy Fire Department
July 23 Media Day: Colorado National Guard Joint Operations Center, North Metro Fire Training Complex, Denver Health Medical Center, Community College of Aurora, Exempla St. Joseph Hospital and Bonfils Blood Center
More specific details about this day, including the most visually stimulating events and times, will be released separately.
July 24: Colorado National Guard Joint Operations Center, North Metro Fire Training Complex, West Metro Fire Training Center, North Suburban Medical Center, University of Denver, Denver International Airport, Community College of Aurora
July 25: Colorado National Guard Joint Operations Center, North Metro Fire Training Complex, Porter Adventist Hospital, Pepsi Center, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
July 26: Colorado National Guard Joint Operations Center