Vermont CATEX 2010

What is CATEX? Its short for Catastrophic Exercise. The Vermont Homeland Security Unit and Vermont Emergency Management have spent over a year planning this 3 day event. I was one of the 120+ evaluators, as I am specially trained in HSEEP ( Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program ) to evaluate a specific evolution. I started with an evaluation of the evacuation of the Rutland 911 PSAP then traveled to Barre for a structural collapse.
This is the Incident Command Post of the Vermont USAR team (Urban Search and Rescue) my area to evaluate the command team and the use of the ICS(Incient Comand System)






























The structural collapse started around 2pm at the Barre Fire Station and ended the next day around 4pm.



You are seeing -
A planning meeting during the 1st operational period including, safety brief, rescue objectives, medical plans logistic needs and demobilization plans.
Morning breaks over the newly installed shoring. Its what keeping this building up. Shoring the D side of the building, safety is paramount and these guys knew there stuff.
Fellow evaluators in the wee hours of the night.
Very, very, very cool. I love doing this stuff.