'Tonya B. McCarty (center left), Director, Child Development Center, during an After Action Review, explains a Shelter in Place exercise procedure to her staff, as Mr. Williamson looks on.'
DAEGU GARRISON — Mark A. Williamson, Emergency Manager, Department of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security, USAG Daegu, is busy these days as he works to ensure members of the Area IV community are prepared to respond to emergencies of many kinds. However, it's not just Soldiers and DoD civilians toward which he directs his training, but even the little children who are so important to the Area IV community, as well.
That's why on Feb. 13, the Child Development Center (CDC) on Camp Walker found itself at the center of a Shelter in Place training exercise that tested the preparedness of cadre and children alike.
According to Williamson, the training went off extremely well. He said, "‘The Shelter in Place’ exercise went off successfully. It's designed to protect people from environmental hazards or lockdowns such as a typhoon, chemical release, toxic vapor, or shooting. Since I’ve been here in USAG Daegu, this was the second such training to take place in Area IV." It was a first for the CDC. The exercise began with Williamson creating a fake alert about an environmental hazard.
After the CDC personnel noticed the emergency alert made by the Area IV Alert and Notification System, Tonya B. McCarty, Director, CDC, along with her staff, sealed up all doors and windows in the CDC in 12 minutes, and 38 seconds while keeping the children from panicing. As a first time effort, Williamson said that the CDC did quite well. While he had expected the task would be completed in 20 minutes, CDC did so much faster. The emergency manager said that a time of 15 or even 20 minutes would have been good for a first time.
“The exercise for us went well. The staff was extremely efficient in getting all the rooms sealed off. What we learned from the exercise was that having the staff practice, helps them determine what will work best or what we need to change as a team. The staff at CDC are a dedicated bunch, and I truly am grateful for all they do," said McCarty.
Williams then added that CDC has worked really closely with his team over the past year. "We are trying to get the CDC brought up to the very highest standard because it is our future, and we are trying to protect the CDC. The right things that Ms. McCarty and her staff are doing, really showed during this 'Shelter in Place' training. I mean they responded within good time. I want to tell their whole staff that they did a fantastic job. They definitely all deserve a pat on the back for that one. I was surprised,” he said.
Still determined to improve upon their success, McCarty said, "Our goal is for staff to be comfortable and confident that they can Shelter in Place while ensuring the safety and well being of the children."
Williamson said that to carry out shelter in place effectively, the key thing is getting everyone inside within three minutes or less. He then added that isolating the area would come after that. "So, for the size of the CDC building, making it totally sealed in 7 minutes or less is a huge goal for them. However, I'm quite certain that they will meet this challenge by the next time," he stated.
In his closing statement Williamson added, "Even on the first try, the CDC was well prepared. They had the items they would need --things like tape, sealing vinyl for securing the building entirely, and of even greater importance, they also had a plan and were well organized step by step. Preparations are important. They are vital to the success of things like this 'Shelter in Place' training scenario.'
'CDC staff makes sure a sleeping child is not awakened.'
