National guard, partners: Weapons of mass destruction exercise on Kaua‘i this Friday

County of Kaua‘i and state agencies and other emergency response partners are conducting joint training and exercises across the state this week with the Hawai’i National Guard’s 93rd Civil Support Team.

On June 7, a full-scale weapons of mass destruction exercise will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor on the southern coast of the Garden Isle.

Access to portions of the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor and overflow parking lot will be limited to exercise staff and participants for the duration of the exercise. Port Allen Small Boat Harbor and the commercial pier will remain open during the exercise.

“We are grateful to the participating agencies for their dedication of time and expertise to these vital emergency exercises,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. “The skills practiced and lessons learned during this training will benefit our first responders and the residents of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.”

Officials are asking for the public’s cooperation by staying clear of any obvious or marked areas and exercise-related vehicles, equipment and personnel.

“The exercises are designed to make sure that first responders in Kaua‘i are well-prepared for WMD events and a wide range of natural and man-made disasters,” said Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio. “The skills they learn will also be useful for dealing with hazardous materials incidents and events that require coordination between multiple agencies and disciplines, as well as interoperable communications.”

For more information about the exercise, call the Kaua’i Emergency Management Agency at 808-241-1800.