For Immediate Release

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Northern Virginia Emergency Response System Full-Scale Exercise Sept. 26

Arlington exercise to take place in Crystal City area

For more information, contact:
City of Alexandria: Luis Santano, 703-403-6386
Arlington County: Carol Saulnier, 703-228-3567
Fairfax County: Willie Bailey, 703-246-3963
Loudoun County: Dustin Sternbeck, 703-777-0333
Prince William County: Pat Collins, 703-792-5828

WHAT:
The Northern Virginia Emergency Response System’s (NVERS) – formerly known as the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) – upcoming Full Scale Exercise (FSE) will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26. This is the third in a series of three exercises. A tabletop exercise was held in April 2008, with a command post exercise held in September 2008. This full scale exercise will use the same scenario as the previous exercises – simulated multiple bombings in the region. All radio communications will clearly indicate that this is a training exercise.

This exercise will involve participation of responders from the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County. Other regional, state and federal resources will also participate. 

The exercise will have four active venues during the exercise:

• In Arlington/Alexandria, there will be a simulated vehicle-based bomb, targeting a large group of people in the vicinity of train tracks, creating multiple victims. 
• For Fairfax City and Fairfax County, a simulated police chase that originates in Loudoun County ends at the Route 50/Fairfax County Parkway interchange with a box truck that overturns. Upon inspection, there are several bombs and chemicals in the back of the truck. 
• The Loudoun County event will simulate a bombing at a Park and Ride near the Dulles Greenway.
• The Prince William County event will have a simulated bombing at the Rippon VRE station with numerous victims.

WHEN:
Saturday, Sept. 26 (note specific times below)

WHERE:
Several Northern Virginia locations:

City of Alexandria and Arlington County Joint Field Operation

Time: 7 a.m. to noon – Exercise play begins at 9 a.m.
Location:  CSX tracks north of Crystal City (between Roaches Run and Pentagon)

The scenario designed to exercise Arlington County and the City of Alexandria involves the simulated detonation of a vehicle-based improvised explosive device (VBIED) near the rail tracks north of Crystal City (an area known as the “RO”), creating a mutual aid response. The simulated explosion creates a mass casualty situation with many burn patients. To add to the complexity of the incident, the scenario dictates that a CSX rail car was damaged in the explosion, creating a hazardous materials situation. In all, the scenario is designed to test the capabilities of incident management and coordination of pre-hospital and medical surge resources.

The exercise will begin at 9 a.m. and will run for approximately three hours. Area residents may notice a number of public safety vehicles in the vicinity during the exercise. The Joint Field Operation for the Crystal City incident will include:

• Fire, Police and Emergency Management personnel from Arlington County and City of Alexandria
• Fort Myer
• Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA)
• American Red Cross
• CSX
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers

Notes to media:

• The exercise is open for media coverage and will offer a number of visuals.
• All reporters must be escorted at all times during the exercise; you must sign a waiver at the scene and follow all stated safety procedures.
• You will have access to a small hill, which offers good views of the train tracks and the incident scene.
  • TV trucks must park on 6th Street South and you can run cables (approx. 700 feet) to the incident scene. (See map)
• All reporters must park on S. Clark Street or Old Jefferson Davis Highway and wait on the corner of 6th Street South and South Ball Street to be escorted into the scene. You will be able to leave whenever you wish.
• At the scene, please note the terrain is rocky, uneven, and could be quite muddy, so please dress appropriately.
• You are welcome to cover exercise pre-staging, which begins 7 a.m. in the Pentagon north parking lot.

Arlington media contact: Carol Saulnier, 703-228-3567, csauln@arlingtonva.us
Alexandria media contact: Luis Santano, 703-403-6386, luis.santano@alexandriava.gov

Fairfax City/Fairfax County

Time: 7:30 a.m. to noon – Exercise play begins at 9 a.m.
Location: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department Academy, 4600 West Ox Road, Fairfax, Va.  22030

The Fairfax scenario is designed to exercise the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, the City of Fairfax Fire Department and the Fairfax County Police Department’s ability to respond to a vehicle-based improvised explosive device (VBIED) that is complicated with a hazardous material event.  In all, the scenario is designed to test the capabilities of incident management, multi-agency coordination, emergency communications and other tactical objectives based in an explosive ordinance device (EOD)/hazardous materials scenario.

The exercise will begin at 9 a.m. and will run for approximately three hours.  The Joint Field Operation for the Fairfax County/Fairfax City incident will include:

• Fire, Police and Emergency Management personnel from Fairfax County
• Fire personnel from the City of Fairfax
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Notes to media:

• The exercise is open for media coverage and will offer a number of visuals.
• All reporters must be escorted at all times during the exercise; you must sign a waiver at the scene and follow all stated safety procedures.
• You will have access to a vantage point that will offer a good view of the incident scene.
• TV trucks will be directed where to park and you will be able to run cables (approx. 500 feet) to the incident scene.
• All reporters must park in the academy parking lot and be escorted into the scene. You will be able to leave whenever you wish.
• At the scene, please note the terrain is uneven and could be quite muddy, so please dress appropriately.
• You are welcome to cover exercise pre-staging, which begins at 7:30 a.m. in the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center (MPSTOC), 4890 Alliance Drive, Fairfax.

Fairfax County media contact: Captain Willie Bailey, 703-246-3963 willie.bailey@fairfaxcounty.gov

Loudoun County

Time: 7 a.m. to noon – Exercise play begins at 9 a.m.
Location: Dulles North Park and Ride (Old Ox Road/Dulles Greenway)

The scenario in Loudoun County involves the simulated detonation of a vehicle-based improvised explosive device (VBIED) in the parking lot of the park and ride. This explosion causes injuries to numerous victims, creating a mass casualty incident for first responders to manage. As with the other venues’ scenarios, this is designed to test the capabilities of incident management and coordination of pre-hospital and medical surge resources.

The exercise will begin at 9 a.m. and will run for approximately three hours. Motorists and businesses may notice a number of public safety vehicles in the vicinity during the exercise. The Joint Field Operation for the Loudoun County incident will include:

• Loudoun County Fire-Rescue, Emergency Management
• Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office
• Loudoun County Public Schools
• Loudoun County Mental Health
• Town of Leesburg Police Department
• Virginia State Police
• Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority (MWAA)
• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Notes to media:

• The exercise is open for media coverage and will offer a number of visuals.
• All reporters must be escorted at all times during the exercise; you must follow all stated safety procedures.
• You will have access to a small hill, which offers good views of the incident scene.
• At the scene, please note the terrain is rocky, uneven, and could be quite muddy, so please dress appropriately.

Loudoun press contact:  Dustin Sternbeck, 703-777-0333, Dustin.Sternbeck@loudoun.gov

Prince William County

Time: 7 a.m. to noon – Exercise play begins at 9 a.m.
Location: Rippon Virginia Railway Express Station (Intersection of Rippon Blvd. and Farm Creek Drive)

The scenario designed for Prince William County includes an improvised explosive device (IED) being detonated at the entrance of the walkway from the parking lot to the station platform. The simulated explosion is confined to the parking lot area and creates a mass casualty situation with many burn patients. The scenario is designed to test the capabilities of incident management and coordination of pre-hospital and medical surge resources.

The exercise will begin at 9 a.m. and will run for approximately three hours. Area residents may notice a number of public safety vehicles in the vicinity during the exercise. Operations for the Prince William County incident will include equipment and personnel from:

• Fire, Police and Emergency Management personnel from Prince William County
• Prince William County Department of Public Works
• •American Red Cross
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Community volunteers

Notes to media:

• The exercise is open for media coverage.
• All reporters must be escorted at all times during the exercise.
• Portable bleachers will be in place to provide a viewing platform.
  • TV trucks must park on the upper parking lot.
• All reporters must present press credentials at the traffic control point on Rippon Blvd. and park in the upper lot at the station. You will be able to leave whenever you wish.
• At the scene, please note that while the parking lot will provide a stable, level surface, weather conditions could require special attire/equipment. Please plan accordingly.

Prince William County contact: Pat Collins, 703-792-5828

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Related Links:
www.alexandria.gov
www.arlingtonva.us
www.fairfaxva.gov
www.fairfaxcounty.gov
www.loudoun.gov
www.pwcgov.org

Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.