Fort Belvoir, Virginia –
From life-saving alerts to emergency rations, a Sept. 16 Preparedness and Security Expo featured various vendors, demonstrations and information to help McNamara Headquarters Complex employees better prepare for emergencies.
The expo, sponsored by the HQC Emergency Management Office, was held as part of the complex’s National Preparedness Month events, said Reginald Davis, HQC emergency management officer.
“Today McNamara employees got a chance to talk to our service partners that provide training and equipment dealing with disaster preparation and response,” he said. “[The workforce] was able to ask questions and receive vital information from disaster response providers. Many employees were interested in receiving additional disaster training which will be incorporated in the coming months.”
The Defense Logistics Agency’s Continuity of Operations team handed out information on emergency ration kits and DLA’s AtHoc mass notification system, available to all HQC employees.
“We came here to help people understand the importance of building life-saving ration kits at home,” said Tyrone Jeter, DLA Headquarters COOP Manager. “We encourage people to order a kit or put together a three-day supply of food and water for each family member so they can survive a man-made or natural disaster.”
Charlie Meyers, a representative from the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program, said his organization helps agencies identify what missions and functions are critical in the event they need to move an organization’s key elements and people to an alternative site. After 9/11, he said, the COOP concept gained new meaning when much of the Pentagon was off-limits due to the damage caused by the terrorist attack.
“We help agencies identify redundancies and help them identify what offices they need to COOP if their main building is damaged or destroyed,” Meyers said.
James Johnston, an anti-terrorism officer in DLA Installation Support, demonstrated the dangers of a common drone that anyone can purchase. After showing high-quality video footage he shot of a local marina, he outlined the many potentially deadly uses for one in the hands of a terrorist.
“Most people know to look for and report suspicious packages or people acting in an odd or dangerous manner,” he said. “But now that anyone can buy a drone for about $1,000, we need employees to be aware of the potential for drones being flown near or over one of our sites. They make a deep buzzing noise so even though they are small, you will hear one if it’s hovering nearby. If you do see or hear a drone, report it immediately to DLA Security.”
Social media Smart Cards, prepared by DLA Intelligence, were also handed out. The step-by-step instructions show employees how to make social media accounts secure and the do’s and don’ts of posting on the Internet.
The American Red Cross handed out Band-Aid kits, water bottles and lists of emergency supply ideas. But their most popular exhibit was Stout, one of 23 therapy dogs currently in service to the Fort Belvoir Red Cross branch, said Jeanne Howlett, a Red Cross volunteer.
“We service the U.S. armed forces community in many ways, from volunteering at military hospitals to teaching children how to prepare for a disaster,” she said. “The therapy dogs are trained to work with wounded warriors and Stout’s specialty is helping returning service members with [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder].”