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OperationNanookcomingtoFortSmithinlateAugustMilitarytoassistcommunitywithmockwildreevacuationexercise6TuesdayMarch312015ENVIRONMENTWILDFIRESFortSmithHealthSocialServicesAuthorityFortSmithHealthSocialServicesAuthoritywelcomesDr.SarahGilesasanewpermanentphysiciantoourstaff.Dr.GilesgraduatedwithherMDfromDalhousieUniversityinHalifaxandhasalsocompletedherdiplomainTropicalMedicineHygiene.HerfocusisFamilyMedicineandshehasworkedasaFamilyPhysicianthroughouttheNWT.Dr.GilesisatalentedadditiontoourteamofphysiciansandpractitionersthatworktogethertoprovidequalitycaretothecommunityofFortSmith.ByDONJAQUEOperationNanooktheannualmilitaryexercisebyJointTaskForceNorthJTFNthatassertsCanadassovereigntyoveritsnorthernmostregionswillbeheldinFortSmithattheendofAugustinconjunctionwithacommunitymockdisasterexercisetoprepareforapossiblewildreemergency.IamextremelygladthisscenariocameupsaidDonWebbtheFortSmithtowncouncilleadontheinitiative.Iliveinfearofawildrehereeverysummerasmostcitizensdo.Wevegottogetthisthingdone.AnorganizingmeetingwasheldinFortSmithinearlyMarchwithJTFNrepresenta-tivesaswellasRCMPfromYellowknifeandincludedheadsofmajorcommunityagencies.Webbsaidthemilitarywashappytoseetheideareceivedwithenthusiasm.Theywereverypleased.Theywanttoseebuy-in.Themockdisasterexercisewilllikelyin-volvetheevacuationofoneareaoftownaswellasanairevacuationofpeoplewithmedicalconditions.Volunteerswillposeaspatientstobetransportedbyambulanceandloadedontoairplanesonstretchers.Mean-whileresidentsofapre-determinedareaoftownwillberegisteredandtransportationwillbeorganizedforthemtotraveltoasiteawayfromtownforseveralhours.RCMPwillbeonhandinforcetoensurethereissecurityaroundtheneighbourhoodwithemptyhomes.Theideaoftheexerciseistochallengedifferentaspectsofthetownsemergencyresponsecapabilitysoissuesandweakpointscanbeascertained.Howwellthewholethingismanagedandledwillbeofkeyimportanceandaprimarylearningexperience.Tabletopscenariosaregreatbuttheydontaddressissues.Peopleneedtobechal-lengedWebbsaid.Ifwegetittoworkinasmallscenariowewillbemorereadytodealwithitifweneedtoinabigone.HesaidtherethatstruckSlaveLakeAlta.in2011wokeeveryoneup.Unforseenissueschallengedthecommunityunexpect-edlylikewhenthetownlostelectricityandcouldnotpumpwater.ThemockdisasterinFortSmithwillbecommunity-runincludingtheevacuationandwillnotinvolvethemilitary.RCMPwillbebroughtinfromothercommunitiestobol-sterthelocaldetachment.AterritorialStateofEmergencywillbedeclaredmeaningtherewillalsobestaffcomingintothecommunityfromthedepartmentofMunicipalandCom-munityAffairs.OperationNanookwillbeseparaterun-ningconcurrently.Roughly84militaryper-sonnelwillbeonsiteincluding60soldierspluscommandingofcersandsupportstaff.Theywillbeactiveinre-smartingareasofthecommunityandwillplayotherroles.Lastyearthemilitaryexercisewascen-teredinIqaluitandinvolvedamocksearchandrescuescenarioinnearbyDavisStraitinvolvingbothmarineandairborneresources.ThelatesummerexerciseinFortSmithwillinvolvecoordinationbetweenmilitaryper-sonnelfromJTFNandthelocalRangertroopworkingwithcommunityandterrito-rialagencies.Webbsaidnodetailsbeyondgeneralin-formationwillbereleasedonwhatistotakeplacepreservingsomeelementofsurprisetomakethemockdisasterexercisemorereal.Hesaidhewasinvolvedwiththedraftingofthetownsemergencyplanin1999andithasnotbeenupdatedsince.Backthentherewasaeetofschoolbusesintowntobeusedforevacuation.Nowthereareonlytwobuses.Keytothewholeexercisewillbethatitiswellman-agedthereisnopanicthereisalotofgoodcommunicationandbuy-infromthecom-munityhesaid.Thisisawonderfulopportunity.Itsforallofus.Buildingscanberepairedandre-placed.Thehumansideisanotherstory.OperationNanookhasbeenrunannu-allysince2007indifferentlocationsacrossCanadasNorth.MockdisasterexercisesaresupposedtoberuninNWTcommunitieseveryveto10years.OnewasscheduledtobecarriedoutinFortSmithsixyearsagobutwascancelled.ThelastoneinSmithasimulatedpassengerjetcrashwasheldover20yearsago.WebbmusedthatwithsolittlesnowonthegroundnowandtheprospectofanothersummerofdroughtinthesouthernNWTthepotentialforanotherseasonofthreateningwildresisreal.HesaidthehopeisnoreswillthreatenSmithbutespeciallybeforethetrainingexerciseisrun.PhotoCanadianForcesPilotsuseaCanadianForcesCC-138TwinOtterandCH-146GriffonhelicoptertoconductionaviationdrillsontheDempsterHighwayjustwestofTsiigehtchicduringOperationNanookin2012.