HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Between Jan. 19 and Feb. 9, Hanscom AFB will conduct a base-wide exercise to evaluate readiness and emergency response.
According to organizers, there will be a number of scenarios, including a hazardous materials incident and active shooter. Personnel should anticipate disruptions to daily activities, such as building lockdowns, restrictions or evacuations. Activities may also result in traffic delays both entering and exiting the installation. Delays and disruptions to normal operations, including customer service functions, may occur both during and after normal duty hours.
"It is more important than ever to prepare for real-world situations, and having these types of exercises does just that," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Mierz, 66th Air Base Group inspector general. “It allows us to evaluate how prepared we – as an installation - are.”
Organizers recommended that non-essential visitors and meetings that require participation by personnel coming from off-base be limited during the exercise period.
Safety was emphasized to all those involved in the scenarios, and if any real-world emergency takes place, the exercise will immediately be stopped. Wing Inspection Team members will be monitoring all events, and if Hanscom personnel see an unsafe practice during the exercise, they should report it immediately to a WIT member, identifiable by blue vests.
Also, if members of Team Hanscom participate in a portion of this exercise where they would normally call 911, they should only call the WIT white cell at extension 5-1322.
For questions or additional information, contact Lt. Col. Diane Burch, exercise manager, at 781-225-1331.