Nevada Take Force 1, Nellis Air Force Base to Conduct Disaster Deployment Drill Friday
Nevada Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1, one of 28 teams approved by FEMA to respond to major catastrophes in the United States, will participate in a deployment drill on Friday, July 22, with Nellis Air Force Base.
Friday’s exercise involves the simulated activation of the Task Force in which the team will be deployed by a U.S. Air Force aircraft. The purpose of the exercise is to measure the operational readiness of the task force to mobilize and move personnel and equipment from the Task Force’s headquarters at 3955 N. Pecos to Nellis Air Force base within six hours of the team’s activation.
Task Force 1 is comprised of first responders from Clark County, METRO and other local agencies trained and equipped to respond to major search and rescue operations. Personnel include paramedics, search and rescue specialists, k-9 teams, doctors, structural engineers, HazMat specialists and communications and logistics specialists. The deployment operation involves 80 personnel, four search and rescue dogs, more than 70,000 pounds of equipment, and eight vehicles ranging in size from standard pickups to 48-foot tractor trailers. Upon arriving at the base, Nellis staff will measure their ability to receive equipment and personnel and to ensure all procedures have been taken to prep the vehicles and equipment for loading onto military aircraft.
Media have two opportunities to cover the exercise:
- 8:30 a.m. Activation and deployment activities at Task Force One Program Headquarters, 3955 N. Pecos Road, near Alexander Road. Task Force 1 Program Manager Paul Bailey will be available for interviews.
- 10:45 a.m. Deployment activities at Nellis Air Force Base. Media need to arrive at the main gate of the base, located at Las Vegas Blvd and Craig Road, by 10:45 a.m., to be escorted to the activity site. Contact Lt. Kenneth Lustig at (702) 652-2750 or the base’s Public Affairs Office today if you plan to cover the activity so appropriate credentials can be arranged.
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Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 14th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to more than 2 million citizens and 40 million visitors a year. Included are the nation’s 7th-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The county also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to almost 900,000 residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development.