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CLOUDY Temp: 61 °F Wind: WNW at 5 mph Monday, September 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 6, 2003 Civil Air Patrol readies for a ‘disaster’ Simulated emergency could become part of training exercise held at Medford airport By WENDY ARDOLINO Mail Tribune If you a see a disaster at the Medford airport this weekend, don’t be alarmed — it’s likely the Civil Air Patrol in the middle of a training evaluation by the U.S. Air Force. The evaluation, which began Friday, continues through Sunday. "They might put a natural disaster into the mix like an earthquake, flood or wildfire," said Lt. Col. Thomas Traver, director of public affairs for the Oregon Wings Civil Air Patrol. "We never know what they are going to pop on us." The Civil Air Patrol has squadrons all over Oregon, including Medford and Ashland. About 100 members statewide will test techniques and technology involving search and rescue, homeland defense and disaster relief at the airport’s Civil Air Patrol hangar. Advertisement An auxiliary of the Air Force, the Civil Air Patrol is being evaluated by an Air Force team hailing from Washington, Oregon and California. The event is open to the public, said Lt. Col. George Doersch, incident commander for the drill. The Civil Air Patrol assists in 95 percent of all airborne search and rescues nationwide, said Doersch. Members also transport medical products for many organizations, including the American Red Cross, Lions Eye Bank and the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. In addition to search and rescue, the Civil Air Patrol can be called on for security and crowd control via reconnaissance, Doersch said. For example, a Civil Air Patrol unit was hired by the Olympic Committee in 2002 to monitor participants and visitors during the Salt Lake City games. A pilot, observer and a scanner flew above the event, taking pictures and digitally sending them back to a ground crew and the Olympic Committee. Civil Air Patrols must be prepared for natural disasters as well, Traver said. "An emergency evaluation might include checking local bridges and dams for cracks, and highways for similar situations," he said. Aircraft will be on stand-by all over Oregon, including Portland, Salem and Bend, for the exercise, said Maj. Buzz Florip. In past exercises, local sheriff’s and fire departments have been involved, creating a training environment for everyone, said Traver. The Civil Air Patrol does about six training missions a year, two statewide and four locally, said Traver. "We continue to train on new technology and practice new techniques," said Traver. "It is the best way to make sure that our technology will work in a real setting and we can go to work without wondering, ‘What if?’" Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times