Oregon National Guard CERFP strengthens interagency response during training

PORTLAND, Oregon -The Oregon National Guard's 102nd CBRN Defense Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) participated in two recent regional training exercises focused on chemical leaks, improving coordination among federal and local agencies responding to mass-casualty emergencies.

The first exercise took place Feb. 26, when the 102nd Civil Support Team (CST) responded after the Clackamas Fire Department reported a forklift accident involving a tank of anhydrous ammonia in Clackamas, Oregon. The CST notified the Oregon Army National Guard chain of command and the 102nd CERFP for additional support.

On March 4, CERFP members assisted with decontamination procedures at Providence Portland Medical Center following a tanker truck accident on Interstate 84 that spilled 7,000 gallons of concentrated sulfuric acid.

"It was important to collaborate with other agencies regarding plume monitoring and allow everyone to work together during a designated air monitoring exercise," said Lynsey Amundson, public information officer for the Clackamas Fire Department.

One challenge was maintaining communication across multiple agencies on the ground and over radio channels. Amundson said the exercise quickly highlighted the issue.

"Getting on the same radio channels took some effort initially, but we had our radio technician there to connect everyone so they could communicate and mitigate the leak."

Another goal was to avoid "pre-staging" the exercise so agencies could evaluate response times, command structure and equipment use during the scenario.

"Demonstrating the importance of air monitors for the EPA and the National Guard team was essential for validating how their findings aligned using real-world data," said Morgan West, community resilience officer for the Clackamas Fire Department. "The monitors were collecting 'zeroes' while taking air samples every few seconds in real time, and having that information available allows the incident commander to make critical decisions."

As firefighters suited up to "plug the leak," Clackamas Fire launched a drone to monitor the site. Oregon Guardsmen arrived shortly after and began setting up rapid-deploy decontamination stations. The training helped each agency better understand its partners' roles during an incident.

"We're a bit jealous of the CERFP's air monitoring equipment," West said. "They have some new gear we'd love to have, but it's good to know what they can bring during an incident."

The following week at Providence Portland Medical Center, the CERFP team led hands-on training on decontamination equipment and procedures for nearly 50 staff members.

Sgt. Aaron Stiner explained each step of putting on a chemical suit while Spc. Daniella Terawaki demonstrated. Staff also asked how to stay safe while wearing the suits and avoid cross-contamination.

One question sparked discussion about how long someone could remain in a chemical suit depending on temperature and humidity.

"The time can vary based on conditions, so we look at the wet bulb temperature because a chemical protective suit can add 15-20 degrees to the external temperature," Stiner explained. "Factoring in humidity reduces the time considerably, which is why you must check on each other's vital signs more often in hotter conditions."

After the 90-minute class, participants moved to an emergency entrance reserved for mass-casualty situations. Three teams rotated through training stations: one crew suited up in protective gear, while the others practiced at a decontamination site near the emergency room and at a portable station set up outside.

Using inflatable mannequins, Stiner and Carrie Guerry, night charge nurse at Providence Portland Medical Center, demonstrated how to remove contaminated clothing while collecting patients' personal items.

Guerry, who completed FEMA courses at the Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama, helped organize the training.

"The FEMA incident management and casualty response procedures are part of this exercise. It's allowing us to work on the same page with the National Guard or other agencies we would respond with," she said. "We haven't done anything like this in a long time, so we're definitely doing the 'crawl' portion of the 'crawl, walk, run' approach."

For Monica Mitchell, a Providence employee and former Army medic who served 12 years in the Oregon and Washington Army National Guard, the training was also a chance to reconnect with familiar procedures.

"I used to be part of Charlie MED [Oregon Army National Guard Medical Group], so setting up tents, taking them down and working quickly under pressure is something I'm familiar with," she said while role-playing as a patient. "It's nice to revisit something you know like the CBRN process, especially with people who do it every day."

Mitchell serves on the hospital's Disaster Committee and works closely with leadership on emergency planning.

"I've got experience working with the Brits and NATO partners overseas. That team mindset is another advantage for this first responder approach," she said.

At the conclusion of the exercise, participants gathered to share feedback and evaluate the training.

"When everyone can relax and not worry about whether something is right or wrong, that's the best way to learn because you must be able to adapt to each situation," Stiner said. "We're also testing each other's systems, and in a real-world event we function as force multipliers to better serve the community."

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