Published on June 03, 2024
LĪHU‘E – County and state agencies and other emergency response partners are conducting joint training and exercises across the state this week with the Hawai'i National Guard’s 93rd Civil Support Team (CST).
On Friday, June 7, a full-scale weapons of mass destruction (WMD) exercise will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor. Access to portions of the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor and overflow parking lot will be limited to exercise staff and participants for the exercise duration. Port Allen Small Boat Harbor and the commercial pier will remain open during this exercise.
“We are grateful to the participating agencies for their dedication of time and expertise to these vital emergency exercises,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. “The skills practiced and lessons learned during this training will benefit our first responders and the residents of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.”
Officials are asking for the public’s cooperation by staying clear of any obvious or marked areas and exercise-related vehicles, equipment and personnel.
“The exercises are designed to make sure that first responders in Kaua‘i are well-prepared for WMD events and a wide range of natural and man-made disasters,” said Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio. “The skills they learn will also be useful for dealing with hazardous materials incidents and events that require coordination between multiple agencies and disciplines, as well as interoperable communications.”
For more information about the exercise, please call the Kaua'i Emergency Management Agency at 808-241-1800.
(File photo: courtesy / Kaua‘i Fire Department) Hazmat Specialists from the Kaua‘i Fire Department’s Kaiākea fire station alongside KPD personnel and members of the 93rd Civil Support Team in a training exercise on Kaua‘i in July 2021.
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