Operation Mountain Move 2007
‘Operation Mountain Move 2007’ is a National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) full-scale patient reception and movement exercise. The Federal Coordinating Center (FCC) Denver will coordinate and execute the event scheduled for 4-6 May 2007. The primary reception area (PRA) for Operation Mountain Move is the Colorado Springs Airport, General Aviation area. The Colorado Springs Jet Center is providing hangar space with an adjacent airfield at no cost to the government.
The scenario focuses on the city of Denver, CO which was chosen as the site for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Hundreds of city and county emergency managers with emergency response teams are routinely drilling in preparation for this event. On May 1, 2007, three terrorist homicide bombers detonate explosive devices in different locations. Approximately, 150 simulated patients will be air transported from Denver International Airport to Colorado Springs. The FCC Denver Patient Reception Team (detailed from the Evans Army Community Hospital staff) will quickly triage each patient and transport them to ten civilian hospitals in Colorado Springs, Pueblo and southern Denver metropolitan area. All hospitals participating in the exercise have current NDMS Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) with FEMA and Department of Homeland Security.
Other participating agencies include US NORTHCOM, Defense Coordinating Element (FEMA Region VIII), National Medical Response Team (Colorado), state and local offices of emergency management, American Medical Response, Air Life Denver, Wyoming Air National Guard, Colorado Civil Air Patrol, Colorado National Guard, Amateur Radio Emergency Services, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and many others.
‘Operation Mountain Move 2008’ will be held at Denver International Airport. This will also be a full-scale NDMS exercise that includes over 30 Denver area hospitals and six in the Colorado Springs / Pueblo region. Anticipated patient reception and movement will be over 200 casualties. Operation Mountain Move will assist the Denver city and local county officials with interagency emergency response, command and control management, and inter-operable communications. ‘Operation Mountain Move 2009’ will test the same capabilities but will include inter-state patient transfers and multiple FCCs within the FEMA Region.
‘Operation Mountain Move’ is executed on a limited budget and must compete for resources each fiscal year. Almost all of the participating agencies, including civilian hospitals and patient transport organizations, donate their time and equipment for a successful Colorado emergency response capability. Their individual dedication and support to this annual effort is a true inspiration to every community, FEMA, and the Department of Homeland Security.