Kirtland frequently practices emergency scenarios

Posted at: 11/05/2009 10:04 PM | Updated at: 11/06/2009 8:14 AM
By: Kayla Anderson, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

Kirtland Air Force Base has an emergency plan that it constantly reviews, and officials frequently practice for different scenarios like severe weather, aircraft crashes, or terrorist attacks, for example. Now the base is reviewing its active shooter program.

Kirtland Emergency Operations Director Brent Wilson said Thursday, "We're always concerned about what's happening elsewhere and learning from things that go on in other locations to make sure that we're prepared."

If a shooting, like the one at Fort Hood, were to happen at Kirtland, officials would activate the emergency operations center and active shooter program.

"Our security forces organization, which is essentially our police organization here on the installation, would be the primary responders in an event such as what happened at Fort Hood," Wilson said.

In a worse case scenario, the base would go into lockdown, or delta force— its highest security level.

"The last time I remember an actual force protection condition Delta was during the events of 9/11," said Wilson.

Practicing for disaster comes hand-in-hand with making sure Kirtland airmen are healthy— both mentally and physically.

Chaplain David Mansberger said, "We really set up a lot of resources for them to speak with other people, ways that they can talk with people and communication is the number one."

When disaster does strike, chaplains like Mansberger are busy.

"We're receiving a lot of phone calls right now, a lot of questions, things like that." Mansberger said.

Mansberger says the Ft. Hood shooting spree is taking an emotional toll on people at Kirtland.

He says the military may be big, but it is still a small family.

"Our hearts go out to the families and to the troops, and our prayers are with them," Mansberger said.

Kirtland also hosts retreats for airmen and their families before they deploy to make sure everyone is able to deal with the emotional toll.

There's a retreat this weekend in Ruidoso for about 80 people.

Print Story