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Bigger ‘KONFITMA’ exercise includes Tinian
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Posted on Mar 25 2012
This year the CNMI will see a bigger “KONFITMA,” a full-scale all-hazard exercise to test the response capabilities of various agencies.
The third annual KONFITMA exercise will be between July 16 to 20 on Saipan and Tinian.
During the exercise, there will be seven targets on Saipan and one target on Tinian, according to Ray Toves, director of U.S. Army Pacific, Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support System Enhanced Response Force Package Training and Readiness Division.
Toves said there were only five targets last year—all on Saipan, and that they may include Rota next year in the exercise.
USARPAC, in coordination with the Office of Homeland Security and the Emergency Management Office, Office of the Governor, conducted an initial planning conference for this year’s KONFITMA at the CNMI Emergency Operations Center on Capital Hill on Thursday. Several other government agencies from the CNMI, Guam, and federal government joined in the conference.
Toves said involved in the exercise are all response agencies that would respond to an incident of national significance if something happens in the CNMI.
Toves said this year’s scenario will involve chemical release, biological release, radiological release, and explosives.
“Something that would disrupt the daily operations of the CNMI,” he disclosed.
Last year’s scenario was a hijacked boat that caused chemical emissions at Charlie Dock; an explosion that triggered a fire and collapsed a structure in Kagman; a gas leak at a water reservoir on Navy Hill; and a hostage taking and food poisoning at Hopwood Junior High School.
