LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Airmen from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley worked alongside the Hampton Fire Department during a weapons of mass destruction response exercise Nov. 7.
The exercise was designed to test the reaction and response times of the two entities if a terrorist incident were to take place on or near the installation. It also tested the recovery process from a simulated explosion that resulted in a mock chlorine leak outside of the King Street Gate.
The Hampton Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Team worked outside of the gate to assess and contain the simulated leaked chlorine. Meanwhile members of Langley's Hazardous Materials Unit and emergency medical personnel set-up a decontamination station inside the gate to bring those Airmen who had been exposed to the agent for treatment.
"This exercise was an opportunity to work with local community officials to practice our responses in case we encounter an environmental incident in the future," said Lt. Col. Christopher Levy, chief of 1st Fighter Wing plans, programs and evaluations.
This marks the first time Langley personnel and local authorities have worked together in this capacity, but not the last.
"Overall, the exercise was a success. However, there is always room for improvement, which is why we conduct these simulated scenarios," said Colonel Levy.