JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga., - In a series of communications, logistics, and operations exercises, the Georgia National Guard took a big step forward in preparedness to serve Georgia communities during an emergency by conducting a live hurricane exercise.
Hurricane Exercise 2010, conducted “on location” at Jekyll Island, tested communications systems and synchronized logistics and operations plans developed over years of hard work.
Participating agencies included the Georgia Army National Guard, the Georgia Air National Guard, the National Guard Bureau, the Georgia State Defense Force, the Coast Guard, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Chatham Emergency Management Agency, the Glynn County Emergency Management Agency, and the Savannah Ports Authority. Also participating were observers from the country of Georgia.
“This exercise has allowed us to test and align our plans across the breadth of the organization,” said Army Maj. Gen. Terry Nesbitt, the adjutant general of Georgia. “Your detailed planning will allow us to serve the State on very short notice, should an emergency be declared.”
Should a major hurricane strike Georgia, several thousand Georgians are prepared to mobilize in support of local governments. In such a mobilization, interagency coordination will be essential to de-conflict operations as well as to match Georgia Guard capabilities to local needs. Including local EMAs in the exercise helped to align the plans and needs of participating organizations.
“We are ready,” said Army Col. Michael Scholes, director of operations for the Georgia Guard. “No plan really survives contact. But the work and relationship building we’ve accomplished in the last few years has yielded us a great framework to be able to rapidly respond to any disaster to support the citizens of this state.”