On March 1-2, 2006, The Ky Office of Homeland Security, Ky Army National Guard, Ky Division of Emergency Management, Ky State Police and many other agencies joined forces with a Muhlenberg County, Ky. mining company and local officials and the Ky Air Wing of the Civil Air Patrol to conduct an Earthquake Exercise at the Wendell Ford Regional Training Center (WFRTC) near Central City. This exercise was based upon a 6.5 R Magnitude earthquake along the Wabash Valley Fault System in Southern Indiana and included a mine collapse scenario similar to the real event in Sago, WV early in 2006. As a part of the exercise, Ky Division of Emergency Management tested the new Mobile Command Vehicle they purchased with U.S. Dept of Homeland Security funds in 2005. While the unit had been used on short exercises in the past, this was its biggest deployment thus far since its arrival in June 2005. Though Meade County is not close to Muhlenberg County or western Ky counties involved, I was asked if I'd like to assist in putting the unit through its paces over the period from March 1-3. I had assisted with a similar exercise in 2004 and as you will see, there were some stark contrasts!!! Here are some photos and notes on the exercise from the perspective of your Meade County EMA Director.

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