FEMA Takes Role In USNORTHCOM Ardent Sentry Northern Edge 

Release Date: May 1, 2007
Release Number: HQ-07-053

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will test the national incident management system and its response operations during Ardent Sentry - Northern Edge, a major exercise taking place in New England, Alaska and Indiana. The exercise runs from April 30th - May 18th and involves four of FEMA's regional offices.

Ardent Sentry is based on three scenarios:  a hurricane striking the coast of Rhode Island, a land-based terrorist scenario in Alaska and a 10-kiloton nuclear detonation in Indianapolis. FEMA Region I and Region II will test their concept of operations plan for a hurricane scenario that makes landfall in Rhode Island and impacts virtually every northeastern state from New York to Maine.

The following week, the portion of the exercise named, "Northern Edge" moves to Alaska, part of FEMA Region X (Seattle), and involves terrorist threats to key energy infrastructure; including refineries, pump stations and the pipeline. Beginning May 10, FEMA Region V (Chicago) will test catastrophic response capabilities in a scenario involving the detonation of a 10-kiloton improvised nuclear device in north Indianapolis.   More than 2,000 active duty military personnel will be deployed to Camp Atterbury and the Muscatatuck Urban Training Area.

During the exercise FEMA will activate the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) and FEMA regions will stand up the Regional Response Coordination Centers (RRCC).  FEMA will deploy response assets like the Mobile Emergency Response Systems (MERS) and National Emergency Response Teams to support the regions in the exercise.

U.S. Northern Command is the Department of Defense lead for Ardent Sentry-Northern Edge 2007   which is the first full scale exercise under the newly formed National Exercise Program (NEP) launched in November of 2006.  The NEP will track and evaluate all national level homeland security exercises.  Ardent Sentry - Northern Edge is part of a five year national exercise schedule under the NEP.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Friday, 04-May-2007 13:02:59