From Press Release
The Iowa National Guard’s 671st Troop Command, in conjunction with the Iowa Statewide Interoperable Communications Systems Board, invites Iowa media to participate in the April 17 communications interoperability exercise to be held at Camp Dodge, 7105 NW 70th Ave., Johnston, Iowa. Interested media should arrive at the Camp Dodge main gate at 1:15 p.m. The visit will include equipment demonstrations, information regarding emergency communications technology and processes, and interviews with emergency response officials.
This training, conducted with more than 20 local, state, federal and volunteer emergency response organizations (see list of participants below), helps to ensure the interoperability of communications systems among these diverse incident response agencies in the event of a large-scale natural disaster or domestic emergency.
Interoperable communications allow incident response agencies to communicate effectively together even though they may employ different types of radio systems. Participating agencies will have the opportunity to test their abilities using a series of nation-wide interoperability radio frequencies.
This exercise also allows organizations to test the interoperability of mobile data systems, which can provide incident commanders, emergency managers, and other response agencies with a common operating picture. This allows the sharing of relevant information, such as damage assessments, resource availability and tracking, and operations updates.
In addition to the 671st Troop Command, organizations scheduled to participate include the following Iowa National Guard entities:
• 132nd Wing Mobile Emergency Operations Center
• Joint Incident Site Communications Capability
• Joint Operations Center
• 132nd Wing Operations Group
• 1st Battalion, 376th Security and Support (including UH-72 Lakota helicopters and ground station van)
The following federal, state, county, municipal and volunteer organizations will also participate:
• 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), U.S. Army Reserve
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
• Civil Air Patrol
• Federal Emergency Management Agency Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue (Iowa)
• FEMA TF-1 Urban Search and Rescue (Nebraska)
• Veterans Affairs Iowa Region 2 Emergency Management Preparedness Group
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service
• Iowa Homeland Security – Emergency Management Division
• Iowa Department of Public Health
• Iowa Department of Public Safety
• State of Iowa Strategic Tactical Resource trailers
• Dallas County Emergency Management
• Franklin County Emergency Management
• Polk County Emergency Management
• Story County Emergency Management
• Scott County Emergency Management
• Westcom (West Des Moines, Urbandale and Clive)
• Polk County Amateur Radio Emergency Service
• Story County Amateur Radio Emergency Service
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