2009

Because the surrounding local governments use REACT, NASA officials can view regional emergency operations ICS reports through an authorized direct link to county versions of REACT.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory used REACT for exercise control during a full scale exercise to test non-intrusive small vessel radiological screenings at three Puget Sound security zones.

The exercise was part of a pilot demonstration funded by the Department of Homeland Security Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) to evaluate radiation detection sensors and operational protocols for the small vessel maritime environment. The goal was to coordinate efforts by DHS and regional partners to prevent illicit radiological or nuclear materials from entering Puget Sound waterways by way of small vessels. More than 300 trained maritime law enforcement and first responder personnel from federal, state, local and tribal agencies participated in the operational maritime exercise. Maritime law enforcement and first responders conducted non-intrusive small vessel radiological screenings at three Puget Sound security zones located at Admiralty Inlet, Bellingham Bay and North Skagit Bay.

REACT was used to report and display all information related to these screenings, including identifying ships to be screened, results of radiological screenings, and deployment of resources to address any positive screening results, as well as providing an overall common operating picture (COP) as the exercise progressed. This exercise was controlled by REACT in that it was used not only to respond to small vessels and report testing, but also to position the small vessels being tested and direct the “false positive” vessel in its movements and attempts to circumvent the three security zones.

Pictured is the Coast Guard Cutter Osprey serving as a mother ship to several small boats from federal, state and local agencies participating in a full scale exercise to test non-intrusive small vessel radiological screenings at three Puget Sound security zones on Sept. 23, 2009.

2008

Center for Asymmetric Warfare - Marine Tactical & Rescue Operation (MTARO-08N) - Seattle, WA
The Center for Asymmetric Warfare used REACT for exercise control during the multi-agency MTARO exercise on the Puget Sound in Elliot Bay. The exercise brought together the U.S. Coast Guard, Seattle Police, Port of Seattle Police, Bainbridge Island Police, Seattle Fire Department, NVision, and Boeing for two days of water rescue and counter-terrorism training.

The exercise script centered around a commercial passenger vessel, Argosy Cruise lines' "Spirit of Seattle" which had an explosion on board. Rescue agencies had to pull simulated victims out of the water. As part of the operation a Coast Guard helicopter located a victim from the air and then extracted him from the water. Local Seattle tv news station KiroTV captured this highlight on video. [VIEW VIDEO]

REACT provided excellent exercise control feedback throughout the exercise. During operations REACT controllers were able to identify a ship-to-shore communications failure on channel 23A. Some agencies were able to switch frequencies but some were not, leaving them out of the communications loop. These teams were able to communicate the problem through the REACT System. During the exercise hotwash afterwards the agencies wanted to know if they had formed a true 360 degree search perimeter. They were unsure because of the communications problems. REACT captured not only the locatons of the boats in a nice circle but also photos taken from all the vessels showing other vessels in a smooth arc.

Hurricane Ike - Hancock County Mississippi Emergency Operations Center
The Hancock County Emergency Management Agency and the floodplain managers used REACT to monitor flooding around the county.

Hurricane Gustav - Hancock County Mississippi Emergency Operations Center
The Hancock County Emergency Management Agency used REACT for resource staging and damage assessment during Hurricane Gustav.

2007

Center for Asymmetric Warfare - Pacific Northwest Asymmetric Warfare Initiative (AWI-07N) - Tacoma, WA

The Center for Asymmetric Warfare used HazNet for exercise control for a massive exercise at the Port of Tacoma in July, 2007.

An article in "Geospatial Solutions" titled, "Envisioning a Common Operating Picture" documents NVision and Boeing's involvement in the exercise.

REACT provides both a first responder and an "exercise control center" edition. The exercise control center editon allows exercise hosts to see and track the actions and injections by exercise controllers in the field while also monitoring the response of first responders. The exercise control center additon also provides "VCR" controls to step forward and backward in time or replay the exercise at different timesteps for hotwashes.

During this exercise at the Port of Tacoma the control center planned to use VOIP telephones for controller communication to prevent exercise players from eavesdropping on the surprise elements of the script. The VOIP phones failed but the controllers were able to continue the exercise by tracking everything through REACT. In addition to monitoring the exercise events the HazNet system allowed controllers to communicate and bring under control two actual emergencies without stopping the exercise. A smoke grenade lacerated a participants hand went it exploded accidentally and a chemical truck leaked at one of the terminals. Exercises can be complicated and REACT provides a robust solution to manage them.

The following video by the Center for Asymmetric Warfare provides an excellent overview of the exercise.

Center for Asymmetric Warfare AWI-07N Video: