FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas — Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) emergency response officials will conduct their annual full scale exercise May 22-24 centered on the theme of “Multi-Jurisdictional Improvised Explosive Device attacks.” Emergency response procedures will be in effect May 22 with ongoing recovery efforts and return-to-normal operations May 23-24.
The exercise consists of various incident sites; first responders from Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) and local law enforcement and hospitals will conduct the multi-jurisdictional IED exercise at several locations across main post, North Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) and West Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos). Participants and role players supporting the Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) incident will be onsite from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 22.
Routine traffic on the installation is expected to experience minimal impact. During the exercise, traffic control measures will be implemented in the vicinity of incident sites which may result in short delays. Housing areas are unlikely to be affected during peak school drop off or pick up times.
In addition to emergency response vehicles and personnel, visual or audio effects may be observed in the incident area and at local hospitals. Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) Soldiers serving as role players (identified by wearing a RED or YELLOW vest) may be seen leaving post in emergency vehicles imitating casualties with mock injuries and wounds cosmetically engineered to convey a realistic appearance. Emergency response vehicles will be transporting these Soldiers to area hospital emergency rooms.
The exercise will begin with the giant voice test message, “Attention, this is a test of the Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) emergency warning system. This is only a test. If this had been an actual emergency, additional instructions would be broadcast. This is only a test.”
During the exercise, other Fort Hood (Now designated Fort Cavazos) mass warning and notification systems to include AtHoc (computer pop-ups and telephonic notification) may also be used to simulate commands such as “Shelter in Place,” “Lock Down” or “Personnel should remain indoors.” All exercise instructions will be preceded and followed by “EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE.” Residents should not be alarmed and need not respond.
In the event of an actual emergency, exercise play will immediately halt and emergency personnel will respond accordingly.
