Multiple Agencies to Conduct Training Exercises in Soldotna Alaska

This week emergency response exercises will be conducted in Soldotna, AK on Thursday March 31st and Friday April 01st. These exercises are part of the statewide Alaska Shield 2016 exercise. On these days, you may see uniformed first responders or Alaska Army National Guard, staged vehicles and equipment as well as directional signs in the Soldotna area.

On Thursday March 31st the Borough, School District, Soldotna Police, Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Army National Guard, Central Emergency Services and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members will exercise three areas of preparedness: (1) assessing Borough departments’ Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP); (2) evaluating cyber security reporting protocols; and (3) training employees in an active shooter program. These are preparedness exercises intended to evaluate multi-agency interaction and capabilities.

All of the exercises will be held in Soldotna, Alaska at the Office of Emergency Management 253 Wilson Lane or at the Borough/School District Administrative Building 144 N. Binkley St. You may see uniformed first responders or Alaska Army National Guard at both locations. There will be staged vehicles and equipment. Be on the lookout for directional signs on the streets adjacent to the exercise areas.

CERT members and Guardsmen are instructed to keep people from entering these locations during the exercises. During the active shooter exercise, two staging areas will be provided for the public or media observations on March 31st at 5:00PM (see map below).  Please do not interfere with the exercises.

For more information contact Brenda Ahlberg, Public Information Officer at 907-714-2153 or 907-231-6505 for the latest information.