Kauaʻi responders simulate high-risk hazmat emergency at Nāwiliwili Harbor during week-long exercise

The Nāwiliwili Harbor became the site of a coordinated emergency simulation on Thursday, with responders from across multiple agencies participating in disaster preparedness exercises led by the County of Kauaʻi.

The all-day “disaster” event began at the harbor at 6 a.m., and involved a variety of drills, including hazardous materials decontamination, response to natural or man-made disasters, survey and triage operations, communications testing, and coordination of emergency operations.

The emergency simulation was part of a full-scale, week-long training exercise held last week at key training locations that also included Kaiākea Fire Station, the U.S. Coast Guard Station and Kauaʻi’s Emergency Operations Center.

Agencies involved in the coordinated emergency exercises included the Hawai‘i National Guard’s 93rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team, the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency, the Kaua‘i Fire Department, the Kaua‘i Police Department and the Coast Guard.

Visiting from Seattle, instructor Dan Johanns from the Emergency Response Training Institute said he was excited to be training with the island’s local agencies.

“Kaua’i is my favorite,” Johanns said.

An important aspect of emergency response is having good contacts and good relationships with other agencies, he said.

“When agencies hit a dead end, or don’t have the equipment, or can’t recognize what a substance is, having these one-on-one relationships is critical and important to us,” Johanns said.

Līhuʻe resident and survey team member Jaime Mariano, who is training with the Hawai‘i National Guard’s 93rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team, said it was good to be able to do joint hazardous training with the Fire Civil Support Team.

“That is rare because we train about once a year, and having all these agencies come together, work together, and try to integrate their own tactics to see how we all tackle and see the same problem is great,” Mariano said.

Last year, the agencies trained at the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor in ʻEle’ele, ensuring that everyone received the necessary training regardless of where an incident might occur.

The yearly trainings throughout the Hawaiian chain ensure that agencies are addressing new and emerging issues related to high-level chemical weapons and implementing proper hazmat practices.

Mariano expressed hope that agencies will continue to strengthen their relationships through ongoing training.

“Know and trust that your public safety people and first responders are always training and always trying to be their best,” added Johanns. “We always need to be prepared for whatever comes because it’s going to come whether we want it to or not.”