Training Takes Place Aboard One of Duluth's Popular Ships
Posted at: 10/18/2012 5:58 PM
| Updated at: 10/18/2012 10:49 PM
By: Laurie Stribling
lstribling@wdio.com
The Minnesota National Guard's 55th Civil Support Team, along with local law enforcement, tested their response skills on top of the SUNDEW in Duluth's harbor. Their knowledge of radiation was put to the test during the drill.
The scenario was described as a medical call to an international boat where radiation was later detected. Officers had to respond to the incident, as if it were really happening, and practice protocol for radiation exposure.
The training also involved local agencies, like the Duluth Fire Department, and Captain Shawn Krizaj said it's beneficial for every department involved.
"One of the big skills that we work on for the fire department, personally, is actually slowing down," Krizaj said. "We're used to going into fires and everything is a rush. With monitoring of anything, especially radiation, we really have to slow down."
While many skills were tested during the training, the biggest lesson was practicing communication between agencies.
"It's very important for us because in Duluth we've got international seaport," Krizaj said. "So, there's a lot of jurisdictions that are always working together. We need to practice because we get isolated into our small groups and then we don't always communicate with each other."
The Civil Support Team holds trainings across the state for several different agencies. The training in Duluth included the Duluth Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, FBI, Department of Energy, Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Essentia Health.
 |
Print Story | | |  |
