First Friday Briefing - February 7, 2003

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Georgia Guard, State, Local Agencies
Join in Homeland Defense Drill

The Georgia National Guard, in coordination with more than a dozen other federal and state emergency agencies and local first responders, conducted a major statewide homeland defense exercise on Saturday, July 12, 2003.

While the most visible portion of the drill was at the Port of Savannah's Ocean Terminal, National Guard soldiers also responded nuclear Plants Hatch and Vogtle, as well as a number of other locations around Georgia.

The operation, which represented one of the largest combined homeland defense exercises conducted in the state, took place over several hours on Saturday morning and concluded early Saturday afternoon. The purpose of the exercise was to refine, rehearse and validate homeland security plans for providing military support for civil authorities.

In addition to the Saturday practical exercises, a week long series of inter-agency activities and planning events led up to the call-out of Guardsmen around the state.

Guard officials also took advantage of the exercise to test the organization's ability to respond to the discovery of suspected explosive devises. In Savannah, a simulated bomb was located in a sea container. Members of the Georgia National Guard's 4th Civil Support Team where charged with locating and determining the nature of the device. In coordination with U.S Customs and Chatham County EOD, the device was located and destroyed without major incident.

"This was an example of excellent cooperation between all federal, state and local agencies, all who have a role in our homeland defense," said Maj Gen David Poythress, Georgia's TAG. "Such exercises help us to identify areas of responsibility and coordinate an effective response when called upon to do so."

Across the State, the Guard worked with other agencies ranging from the Department of Public Safety to the emergency management officials. In Savannah a key participant was the U.S. Coast Guard.

"It's a good opportunity to put names and faces together," said Coast Guard Cmdr. Tim Close, captain of the Savannah port. "In a real incident, these are the same guys we'd work with."

Among those observing the exercise were legislative representatives from Georgia's congressional offices, as well as key state Homeland Defense leaders.

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