Two major exercises, Amalgam Virgo 04 (AV04) & Determined Promise 04 (DP04), kick off this week for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command to test the commands' response to terrorist events on a national, state, and local level.
AV04 will evaluate NORAD in both live-fly and simulated exercises with a focus on air piracy, airborne terrorism, and cruise missile/ unmanned aerial vehicle defense. AV04 activities will take place in eastern and western Canada, Oregon, Southern California and the Gulf of Mexico/ Florida panhandle.
DP04 will test USNORTHCOM's ability to assist civil and federal authorities in a coordinated response to simulated chemical, radiological, and explosive hazards, conducted in California and Virginia.
The exercises will involve more than 4,000 Canadian and U.S. military personnel in three U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. The Virginia National Guard, under control of Governor Mark Warner, will deploy 303 personnel to the Hampton Roads/ Norfolk area. The California National Guard, under the control of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, will deploy 52 personnel to the Los Angeles, Ventura County and San Diego area.
The Southern California portion of DP-04 involves a simulated massive explosion of a radiological dispersion device in the Port of Los Angeles, resulting in casualties and thousands of resident exposures to the unknown substance "cloud," among several other events. State and federal partners, including the FBI, TSA, DoD, Department of Energy, the California National Guard Civil Support Teams, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will participate in the full-scale exercise.
In Virginia, the exercise will involve federal, state and local teams as well as those in the private sector. The exercise will test the abilities of Virginia's emergency managers and first responders to handle more than 12,000 deaths and 62,000 serious injuries arising from simultaneous simulated "terrorist" attacks including a cruise ship, a major auto race, a bridge and two tunnels in Hampton Roads, a large suburban Richmond shopping complex and a Richmond area elementary school.
AV/DP04 MEDIA EVENTS
Note: Please verify latest information with each event's contact
2 Aug - Press Briefing (Richmond)
What: Virginia Governor Mark Warner will announce the exercise and the value of multi-agency training in coordination and cooperation.
When: August 2, 11 a.m. (Eastern)
Where: Governor's Office, Richmond, VA
Contact: Press Office: (804) 786-2211
2 Aug - Press Briefing (Los Angeles)
What: LA Mayor James K. Hahn will announce the exercise and the value of multi-agency training in coordination and cooperation.
When: August 2, 10 a.m. (Pacific)
Where: Mayor's Office, Los Angeles, Calif.
Contact: Press Office: (213) 978-0741
4 Aug - Press Briefing (Colorado Springs)
What: NORAD/USNORTHCOM officials will give media an overview of the exercise, participants, and objectives.
When: August 4, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. (Mountain - 8 a.m. arrival at Peterson's North gate)
Where: Peterson AFB, CO
Contact: NORAD/USNORTHCOM Public Affairs (719) 554-6889
5 Aug - Media/VIP Day (California)
What: Media invited for an orientation of the Joint Information Center
When: August 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Where: Navy & Marine Corps Reserve Center, LA Harbor
Contact: LA Harbor JOC, (323) 441-1190
6 Aug - Media/VIP event (Calif.)
What: Media invited for an orientation/exercise update
When: August 6, 10 a.m. to noon (Pacific)
Where: Rancho Cordova JOC
Contact: California Office of Emergency Services Joint Information Center (916) 845-8400
6 Aug - Media/VIP Day (Virginia)
What: Media invited for an orientation of the Joint Information Center
When: August 6, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Eastern)
Where: Virginia State Police Compound, Richmond, VA
Contact: (804) 675-3253
9 Aug - Media/VIP event (Virginia)
What: Press invited to the Joint Information Center for an exercise update.
When: August 9, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. (Eastern)
Where: Sandston Armory, Richmond, VA
Contact: (804) 836-9406