READY FOR THE WORST TERROR ATTACK SIMULATED FOR TRAINING.Byline: Rachel Uranga Staff Writer CHATSWORTH - Minor communications glitches marred a drill Friday designed to test the plans by public-safety agencies to handle a terrorist attack. The experiment began about 9 a.m., with simulated detonation of radioactive ``dirty'' bombs on MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. buses at UCLA's Jackie Robinson Field and at bus yards in Chatsworth and Sun Valley. The drill, dubbed ``Operation Angel Overload,'' tested communication capabilities of so-called first responders - a priority after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, exposed weakness in radio communications among police and firefighters in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . Sgt. Dave Willard, who oversaw operations for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department This article is about the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, not to be confused with the smaller Los Angeles County Police The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. in Chatsworth, said that for a few moments after the simulated attack occurred the radio waves Radio waves Electromagnetic energy of the frequency range corresponding to that used in radio communications, usually 10,000 cycles per second to 300 billion cycles per second. became crowded and the messages jumbled. But after a few minutes, each of the agencies began to coordinate its end of the operation on different frequencies. ``Our communications went smooth. It's working, but we still need upgrades,'' said Lt. Mike Herek, spokesman for the Sheriff's Department, which organized the event. More than 45 mock victims and hundreds of first responders, including the Sheriff's Department, the Los Angeles County Fire Department Not to be confused with Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including the City of La and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, participated in the simulated terrorist attack. The drill is part of a $5 million Homeland Security grant to train, equip and prepare first responders and transit authorities for the possibility of a terrorist attack. ``It is practice that makes perfect. So, we are here to make mistakes because here (not a real emergency) is the place you can,'' said Hector Cazar, a city fire paramedic par·a·med·ic n. A person who is trained to give emergency medical treatment or assist medical professionals. paramedic who oversaw the triage triage Division of patients for priority of care, usually into three categories: those who will not survive even with treatment; those who will survive without treatment; and those whose survival depends on treatment. area during the Chatsworth simulation. Rachel Uranga, (818) 713-3741 rachel.uranga(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3) Students from the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX theater department, top, make their way to the triage area during a terrorism training drill on the campus Friday. Above, firefighters pull victims of a simulated dirty bomb attack from an MTA bus in Chatsworth as part of a series of citywide bills. At right, a police officer secures the wreckage of an MTA bus used in the UCLA campus attack. Matthew Simmons/Special to the Daily News Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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