The U.S. Army National Guard planned to come to town in Mammoth Lakes on Wednesday for a multiple agency exercise they’re calling Operation Red Snow. According to Mammoth Police, this operation will help many agencies work together in case of “terrorism or weapons of mass destruction.” The National Guard 9th Civil Support Team will show up. They specialize in response to incidents of weapons of mass destruction. This unit conducts regular exercises. Their presence in Mammoth does not point to any new threats or anticipated problems. According to Mammoth’s Police Chief Dan Watson, it’s routine training.
Following is the complete press release from Mammoth Police.
“The Mammoth Lakes Police and Fire Departments, Mono County Health Department, and Mono County Sheriffs Department will be participating in Operation Red Snow, a joint exercise with the U.S. Army National Guard 9th Support Civil Support Team on Wednesday, February 15. The local agencies participation will only be on Wednesday, but the National Guard will be conducting a multiple day exercise. The purpose of the exercise is for the multiple agencies to work together in response to a scenario involving the possibility of terrorism or weapons of mass destruction.
The exercise on Wednesday will take place in the area of Main Street and Minaret and the public should be aware that there will be the presence of public safety equipment and vehicles.”
Sierra Lady – It isn’t WAS an Eagle Scout – once you have obtained “Eagle Scout” you are always an Eagle Scout – My husband always reminds me of this! I would much rather be prepared in case of an emergency than expect someone else (who isn’t) to help me… Read more »
Oh of course! Thanks M. Hansen for that reminder.
People freak out when Vons runs out of bread, milk and eggs during the busy holiday times. Can you imagine if a disaster struck during our peak times, too? Food for thought so to speak!
Maybe the National Guard can protect our water from DWP while they are here :)——-
Good point JJ. A JDAM on the aquaduct would be a good start.
Thanks Ken W. – at least you get it! Rob, CERT members are brainwashed…really? I’m so tired of reading all this negative crap about what the government does or doesn’t do. Whether we are activated by local agencies or not, we are still going to know how to conduct ourselves… Read more »
Right on Sierra Lady, I’m glad we have people who will help, that is the biggest thing “help in time of need”. Where the rubber meets the road.
We are the government. The government is us. When people say the government is out to do us harm — they are saying their neighbors are out to do them harm. That’s not right. If you are trained — and I’m not except for previous and long forgotten lifeguard skills… Read more »
I recommend a wilderness first responder course to add to your list of emergency training. You should probably get that amateur radio license while you’re at it.
Wait a minute….LADWP has determined that there is a very real danger of water quality being sabotaged. They closed Haiwee reservoir to any public access claiming there was a terrorist danger of accessing the water going to LA and contaminating it. This also happened right after they were ordered to… Read more »
There are remote places the aquaduct is open, accessable and so remote nobody would even notice any activity. The Dove Springs area comes to mind. I’m not sure they’re concerned with water quality or something happening that would prevent them from sending water South. Without the dams to store the… Read more »
In order for someone to deposit the amount of substance necessary to poisen the water supply, one would have to dump truck load after truck load of material into it. How could that go un-noticed? Just another huge waste of time and money by a government who keeps it’s citizens… Read more »
hec, a handful of quagga mussels in the aquaduct could be considered a terrorist act,
but yes the real money is in keeping the citizens living in fear 24/7.
The only weapons of mass destruction in Mono County is the TOML city council
Make fun all you want, but when a REAL disaster strikes the Eastern Sierra, natural or made by man (our water supply could be a target for terrorism), those of us (CERT) who have trained with the local agencies will be better prepared to help others in need. Why don’t… Read more »
Exactly SL — we have the potential for fast moving forest and range fires, major earthquakes, snowstorms and power outages that could leave Mammoth stranded for a week or more. Not to mention a plane crash or a lift failure at the mountain or a crazy guy with bad intentions.… Read more »
CERT members are brainwashed into thinking they need big brother to protect them.
They can’t even activate themselves, big brother has to activate them.
I do think they serve a purpose they’re just not all that.
Rob, It’s evident you don’t know much about CERT. It’s a group of volunteers who are trained to assist local government during emergency situations. They don’t need “big brother” to protect them. Their role is to help protect the public. You’re right, though about them being activated by the Police… Read more »
Chief Watson..Past my bedtime,but checked this story one more time,and wanted to comment and ask a couple questions.If the CERT program is intended to better prepare yourself and help neighbors during a major emergency,that seems to be a good thing.But if they have to be activated by authorities,what would their… Read more »
If I know they need to be official activated, I already know more then most and more then you might think.
Unbelievable .. oh wait yes it is .. sorry for the sarcasm .. sometimes you can’t help it when you read something like what you just posted Rob.
Good question, Wayne. Mammoth Lakes’ CERT program is modeled after CERT programs around the rest of the country. There are two reasons to attend CERT training. First is to receive basic disaster preparedness training that will help you be better prepared, and to help your family and neighbors take care… Read more »
Chief Watson……Thanks for the explanation to my questions..But let me throw a scenario at you that maybe you can answer,as far as the CERT team goes,if they have authorization from Law Enforcement for a disaster…..Say Lone Pine is hit with a 7.9 earthquake,God forbid, while I am working in the… Read more »
No they wouldn’t have the authority to arrest you or keep you out, Wayne. An example of the type of assignment they would get in an event as you described would be to staff the outer perimeter to prevent traffic and people from entering the impacted area. They would be… Read more »
Chief Dan Watson…..No button to reply to the last comment you made answering my latest question,so hope you catch it here….Thanks for the answers,and dialog,even though it wasn’t what I was hoping to hear as far as the purpose of the CERT team,once it would be activated by Law Enforcement…People… Read more »
Wayne, I’m not sure I’ve done a good job of answering your question. CERT members don’t enforce laws. They are trained to perform duties that free up first responders to handle more critical duties that require their additional training and expertise. Besides staffing barricades, CERTmembers can do things like going… Read more »
People should be informed and prepared to take care of themselves the best they can. That’s what CERT training (or Boy/Girl Scout) training does. But, thankfully, we live in a mostly benevolent society where we do back up one another in times of need. Many times, people who profess to… Read more »
yep
You’re right Ken, I remember watching the events of 911 on TV that day, one thing that stood out in my mind, it gave me a sense of restoration in my faith in my fellow man. It was the scene of the dock area for one of the ferrys. There… Read more »
Sierra Lady…..All of us in the Inyo and Mono Counties appreciate CERT,the local Fire Departments,Law Enforcement,first responders,etc.But let’s face it…if there were a major disaster in one of our areas,weather it be terrorism attack,earthquake,Long Valley coming to life again,or something else that would effect all of us in a major… Read more »
“If anyone expects the Government to be the driving force to our survival in such an instance of sudden disaster,all they got to do is remember the Government blunders when Katrina hit New Orleans,or when 9/11 took place in New York….among other events.”
Correction:”…remember the Bush Administration blunders
5,000% correct!!!!!!!….but even with a REAL President now,I’d still be leary.
I agree. Everyone should be prepared to be on their own (Food, Water, Shelter, Cooking Fuel, Heating) for a minimum of two weeks. The government will not be able to come to your rescue.
Deal with the reality of living in a remote area or reality will deal with you.
Regardless of where someone lives and the size of local government, everyone should be prepared to take care of themselves for a minimum of 3-5 days following a large disaster such as major earthquake. Two weeks as recommended by Reality Bites is even better. That’s because local first responders will… Read more »
We have to know .. that it will be a while for supplies etc .. will be in order right after some substantial disaster or event. Not just as some … point fingers at the Government, even at best, the gov. will take a while to kick things in, people… Read more »
(our water supply could be a target for terrorism)
seriously you believe that? Crediblity goes out the window when people make rediculous comments like this.
So how does it feel to propagate I completely unfounded fear?
It’s not unfounded, according to LADWP. They said they closed off Haiwee reservoir because it is at the end of the system here before heading to LA for security reasons. LA does have concerns about its aqueduct being a target.
Benett Kessler
Benette – they might have concerns but their effort is a knee jerk.
You can’t close off a reservoir if someone has there mind set on getting access to it.
LA closed off Haiwee Reservoir as a terrorism protection and has expressed concerns about the vulnerability of the aqueduct system.
Benett Kessler
Benett…Haiwee Reservoir is closed to the public….but not closed to fishing,depending who you are…and who you work for.
BOOOO
Look out Mammoth the terrorist boogy man is coming to get you
NOW run for the hills and hide .
Oh that’s right your already in the hills
“Were here from the government and here to help”
GOVERNMENT GONE WILD
Wayne, Google: Normalcy Bias. That’s You.
Reality Bias……I googled it…and to an extent,you are right…Now YOU should Google “Katrina”…and see how the Government handled that situation…different than a terrorist attack,but none the less a major catastrophe.Off topic?…maybe…but,none the less,an eye-opener for those that think the Government would get us all through anytype of major disaster.
Perfect world eh?
Terrorism….and weapons of mass destruction?……preparing for a possible attack in Mono County….in Mammoth Lakes?….GOOD GRIEF!!.Someone has been watching too much FOX NEWS.