Officials with Tahoe Forest Health System are currently preparing for their participation in what is known as Golden Guardian 2008, an emergency preparedness drill set up by the California Governor’s Office of Homeland Security. On November 6, the entire Lake Tahoe Region including state agencies from California and Nevada will be participating in a drill that will simulate the affects and after-effects of a ‘seiche,’ a large wave that could occur in Lake Tahoe after a significant seismic event. The simulated earthquake will take place in South Lake Tahoe and agencies around Lake Tahoe including county agencies, the U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks, Cal Fire, Red Cross, local Emergency Medical Services, as well as local hospital personnel, animal advocates, and utility companies will be involved.
The November 6 drill is part of a larger statewide annual event known as The Golden Guardian Statewide Exercise Series that will be taking place from November 13 through the 18. This year’s event focuses on a simulated catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake centering on the southern portion of the San Andreas Fault. Thousands of participants representing dozens of local, state and federal agencies including the U.S. Military will be participating in this year’s exercise.
Tahoe Forest Health System representatives have been involved with eight separate planning conferences leading up to the drill. ‘We know no matter where an emergency in our region takes place or what type of emergency it is, our role will be vital to a successful response,’ said Tami Prior, Tahoe Forest Health System Drill Coordinator. ‘This type of exercise is important to solidify not only each individual agency’s disaster plan, but how we all work together for the best possible outcome,’ Prior said.
For more information, contact Tami Prior at Tahoe Forest Health System, 530-559-5362.
