NASA's Ames Research Center conducted an unannounced terrorist caused disaster response exercise on April ^17th. The exercise was developed, managed and evaluated by the Industrial Emergency Council (IEC). The IEC is a Not For Profit Public Benefit Corporation that specializes in providing emergency response and preparedness training. They also plan and provide oversight for major exercises.

As all elements of the Center's emergency response and recovery program was being tested, the details of the exercise had not been fully provided to Ames.

The exercise had four major components:

• The activation of the EOS to provide support to field functional activities and to test readiness via disaster simulation.
• A functional exercise that simulated a "hijacked" airplane crashing into "Building N-267A" was initiated at 09:30am. An unexploded canister of Methyl Ethyl Bad Stuff was hidden in the body of the aircraft. The intent of the exercise was to test the preparedness of the HazMat, rescue, fire, security, and communication functions.
• A second functional exercise included a simulation of a truck full of explosives placed by a "critical" building. The intent was to test the Center's security perimeter control, security law enforcement's ability to respond to a potential "truck bomb" and to test EOD's, Moffett Fire's, and JP's ability to handle a major incident.
• A third functional exercise was initiated at 11:00am. It involved a hazardous materials incident caused by a terrorist act during a retirement party that resulted in mass causalities. The intent was to test HazMat, security, and medical response capabilities.

From start to finish the exercise lasted 8 hours. Nearly 200 NASA Ames personnel participated in the exercise.

Pictures:

• Exercise Activation of the EOS
• Airplane Crash Exercise
• Vehicle Bomb Exercise
• Retirement Party HazMat Exercise