We are pleased to announce that Scott Emergency Communications Center (SECC) has been selected as the host sight for the Homeland Security Communications Unit Exercise for Iowa/Illinois. This is the first Multi-State Exercise ever undertaken by Homeland Security and is designed to simulate a catastrophic event which would exceed the capacity of any one agency and then deploy Communication Trailers from Iowa and Illinois to assist in the mitigation of the event.
This collaborative effort between SECC, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Emergency Communications, the Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program and the States of Iowa and Illinois hopes to not only identify opportunities to enhance interoperability between agencies but also provides a training/certification element for COML's and COMT's (communications dispatchers and technicians).
In a real event these specially trained COML's and COMT's would be deployable assets anywhere in the State and potentially in the Country to staff these highly sophisticated Communication Units (Trailers). This drill will simulate an actual event and we anticipate over 60 personnel will be assigned to, and work out of, one of three trailers over the course of two-days. They will be constantly evaluated during their operational period by seasoned Instructors with the aim of satisfying the requirements found in their respective Position Task Book and ultimately Credentialing 24 "COML's or COMT's.
Once these COML's and COMT's are credentialed by Homeland Security they became a deployable asset for any major event that might occur in our State. SECC has two members who have completed all the requisite training to put them in position to participate in this exercise and should receive their COML credentialing.
The Communications Unit Exercise (COMMEX) will be conducted on May 6 and repeated on May 7, 2015, at the Scott Emergency Communications Center (SECC), 1100 E. 46th Street in Davenport, Iowa between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The exercise is a one day/eight hour (operational period) and will be repeated on the second day with different trainees. The lessons learned from this event will not only be a benefit to the state, but the nation as a whole.
