BARRIGADA, Guam — North island residents could hear loud explosions Tuesday morning as a two-day exercise involving military personnel and multiple government agencies kicks off.
The Kontra I Piligru is a two-day training exercise involving first responders from local and federal agencies and the Guam National Guard's 94th Civil Support Team. The military unit specializes in weapons of mass destruction responses.
The exercise will simulate real-world scenarios such as terrorist threats.
"We are in a very dynamic situation in the 21st century," Gov. Eddie Calvo said yesterday during a press conference announcing the exercise. He added: "It's interesting to note that we are the closest American soil to one of the most dangerous rogue states in the world, North Korea."
The threat isn't like a typhoon where there is time to prepare, Calvo said. In today's world, "things can happen immediately."
The exercise will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, beginning in the north and continuing throughout the island.
Ray Toves, director of the U.S. Army Pacific's training and readiness division, said more than 40 government agencies will be involved.
Toves was tasked with constructing and putting the scenarios together. He said he planned the event over the last six months and was excited to start.
To keep the participants on their toes, Toves said he couldn't provide details on this year's scenarios. He did, however, warn residents about the loud noises.
"There's going to be explosions throughout the island. Explosions up in Anderson south that's pretty much heard throughout this island," Toves said. "It's going to be loud."
Officials stressed the public's safety is a priority. The goal of yesterday's press conference, they said, was to inform the island's residents of what to expect.
The press conference was held at the Guard's Readiness Center in Barrigada.
Members of the Alaska National Guard's 103rd CST will attend this year's Kontra I Piligru to conduct evaluations and identify areas where Guam's 94th CST and the participating GovGuam agencies should improve.
Guam Homeland Security Advisor Ambrosio Constantino said agency heads want the evaluation team to identify gaps in responses to scenarios, so they can address those issues in future training programs.
"If everything works well in the exercise, we will find that we had gaps," Constantino said. "And that's the whole purpose of this. We want to find those gaps."
Ronnie Delfin, commander of the Guam National Guard's 94th Civil Support Team, said the best way for agencies to prepare for an emergency is through training.
He welcomed the challenge and said his troops are ready to handle whatever situation is thrown at them.
"Let me assure the people of Guam that the 94th Civil Support Team is ready," Delfin said. "We're prepared for this exercise, and we're going to show what we got next week."
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