ST. LOUIS, Mo. (Sept. 25, 2009) — More than 200 National Guard officials and representatives of civilian agencies from eight states attended the New Madrid Seismic Zone Workshop sponsored by the Missouri National Guard. The event’s purpose was to coordinate the National Guard response to a catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. Missouri adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Steven L. Danner, said the reason for the workshop — which drew participants from Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Indiana, and Arkansas — was preparedness. “We want the citizens to have the knowledge that the National Guards of each of these states is prepared to act resolutely to assist them,” Danner said. Since a large-scale earthquake would quickly overwhelm the response capabilities of any one state, the conference aimed to help participants identify and solve gaps in their capabilities, said Col. Mark A. McCarter, head of strategic plans, policy, joint training and exercises for the Missouri National Guard. For example, while one state might need additional troops, another might need additional helicopters or communications equipment. The idea, said McCarter, is to fill those gaps with assets from other states or from the Department of Defense.
Click here to read more on Pulaski County Daily News ...By Bill Phelan/Missouri National Guard Public Affairs Follow me on Twitter:
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