Joint Base San Antonio –
Members of the 502nd Air Base Wing and the 12th Flying Training Wing partnered with the Bexar County and Atascosa County Emergency Management Offices to conduct a Major Accident Response Exercise Feb. 22 in San Antonio, Texas.
A MARE assesses how installation and local emergency response agencies work together during a mass casualty event.
The exercise simulated an aircraft crash south of Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on privately owned property.
“Our objective was to work with our local emergency responders in response to an aircraft crash and to assist them in mitigating the consequences of the event,” said Edward Doss, 502nd ABW Inspector General’s Office Installation Exercise Program director. “This was an opportunity to respond to an emergency that would challenge 502nd ABW command and control as well as local fire emergency services that normally do not deal with aircraft and the hazards that are associated.”
Storms that passed through San Antonio Feb. 19, showed that a joint response from base and local emergency services can be called upon at any time.
"The recent tornadoes experienced across the county have illustrated how disasters, whether natural or manmade, don't acknowledge boundaries,” said Monica Ramos, Office of the County Manager public information officer. “The joint multi-jurisdictional exercises will not only greatly enhance our response efforts, but also help to refine our processes to be able to respond faster and more efficiently."
By building a strong partnership between JBSA the San Antonio community, emergency responders will be able to act more effectively and efficiently.
“We are all a part of the San Antonio and South Texas community,” said Doss. “Ensuring that our response to any type of event is critical to save life and limb. Taking the time now to exercise a disaster of this type ensures we are prepared for a real world event.”