District Digest News Stories

Nashville District participates in 2012 ShakeOut Exercise

Nashville District Public Affairs
Published Feb. 7, 2012
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Crisis Management Team meets Feb. 7, 2012 to participate in a table top exercise to exercise an earthquake scenario and review emergency plans. (USACE photo by David Wheeler)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Crisis Management Team meets Feb. 7, 2012 to participate in a table top exercise to exercise an earthquake scenario and review emergency plans. (USACE photo by David Wheeler)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Crisis Management Team meets Feb. 7, 2012 to participate in a table top exercise to exercise an earthquake scenario and review emergency plans. (USACE photo by David Wheeler)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Crisis Management Team meets Feb. 7, 2012 to participate in a table top exercise to exercise an earthquake scenario and review emergency plans. (USACE photo by David Wheeler)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 7, 2012) – The Nashville District participated in The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut – 2012 today as its crisis management team conducted an exercise, initiated the organization’s emergency call roster, and discussed and reviewed earthquake emergency action plans.

 

The district accounted for 100 percent of employees and reported findings to district leadership. “Overall the exercise was a success and we have found some areas that need improvement,” said Jerry Breznican, District Emergency Management chief.

 

The exercise included a scenario that seismic activity was experienced at Barkley Dam in Grand Rivers, Ky. The Dam Safety Team identified essential personnel and the disciplines required to ensure that the structure was safe. 

 

Jimmy Waddle, District Dam Safety officer said, “This was a great opportunity to demonstrate that the district could identify and locate key personnel in an expedient manner.  Is also confirms that district personnel have the necessary skills and training to be called on to address issues as they arise.”

 

Today is the 200th anniversary of the last of the 1811‐12 earthquakes that destroyed the town of New Madrid, Mo., and created Reelfoot Lake in northwest Tennessee, which is in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District. With more than 40 million people living and working in the region today, a major earthquake would cause widespread damage and disruption.

 

The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut involved more than one million people through broad‐based outreach programs, partnerships with the media, and public advocacy by hundreds of partners.

 

The State of Tennessee did not conduct any major drills or exercises that involved participation from the Nashville District. Nonetheless, district leadership decided to use the event to evaluate preparedness and the Corps’ ability to meet the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division commander’s directive of 100 percent accountability of all Corps personnel during a major event.

 

“As with everything, every time you test it, you have to tweak it to make it more efficient,” said Breznican. “The Crisis Management Team had some great comments during the After Action Review and we will take those comments and work them into the next exercise.”

The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.