Nebraska National Guard Civil Support Team to conduct a Full-Scale Validation Exercise at multiple Omaha-Area sites, July 28 – August 1.
The Nebraska National Guard’s Bellevue-based 72nd Civil Support Team – in concert with local emergency management, first response agencies and other National Guard Civil Support Teams – will conduct a full-scale exercise at multiple locations within the Omaha and Bellevue area, July 28 – Aug. 1.
During the exercise, the public may see increased activity – including military “blue” vehicles and National Guardsmen wearing “all hazards” suits – on Tuesday (July 29) and Thursday (July 31) at the following locations: Durham Railyard, SumTur Amphitheater, Charles Schwab Field, Nebraska Public Health Laboratory at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Nebraska National Guard’s North Omaha Readiness Center and Offutt Air Force Base.
This increased activity is part of the exercise.
Exercise “Operation Torrent Rising,” is a scenario-driven training event focused on presenting multiple all hazard CBRN situations within the Omaha area that would drive the deployments of local responders and multiple National Guard Civil Support Teams (CSTs) to protect residents in the event of a major emergency.
Also participating in the exercise are Omaha Fire Department Hazmat Team, Papillion Police Department, Papillion Fire Department, Bellevue Fire Department, Radiological Assistance Program 5 based out of Chicago, Nebraska Public Health Laboratory at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Union Pacific, Offutt Emergency Management and Hazmat team, SumTur Amphitheater, Douglas County Emergency Management, Sarpy County Emergency Management, Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority, FBI-WMD Coordinator, Department of Homeland Security, as well as National Guard CSTs from Iowa, Alabama, Kansas, South Dakota, Georgia, Guam and Utah.
Members of the Nebraska National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield explosive Enhanced Response Force Package (CBRNE) will also be supporting the exercise.
The exercise sites are not open to the public.
