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Preparing Independence: Corps provides emergency management exercise in Kansas

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Tulsa District
Published Aug. 28, 2014
Members of the Tulsa District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assisted local emergency managers and first responders with planing during an Emergency Management Rehearsal of Concept Drill and Functional Exercise, Aug. 28.

Members of the Tulsa District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assisted local emergency managers and first responders with planing during an Emergency Management Rehearsal of Concept Drill and Functional Exercise, Aug. 28.

TULSA - The Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers facilitated a table-top exercise for emergency managers at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Independence, Kan., Aug. 27.

The Emergency Management Rehearsal of Concept Drill and Functional Exercise brought in firefighters, medical and emergency management representatives from the Verdigris River Watershed to prepare them for the types of considerations they would need in the event of a high-water or flood event.

Kerri Stark, emergency management specialist, Tulsa District Corps of Engineers said the tabletop exercise gave the participants a chance to consider the impact such an event would have on the community.

“We want them to think about how they will acquire resources if roads or bridges are washed out. They should be thinking about what areas are most likely to be affected based upon historical high-water data, and what sites are best for coordinating emergency operations,” Stark said.

Representatives from the Tulsa District Hydrology and Hydraulics Branch, the Tulsa District Kansas Area Lake Office and National Weather Service briefed participants about their roles in a high water event.

“The National Weather Service is a cooperative partner with us,” said Scott Henderson, Chief of Water Management, for Hydrology and Hydraulics. “A great deal of data sharing goes on between the Corps and the National Weather Service.”

Independence is located below of three converging rivers. Fall River feeds into the Verdigris River just south of Neodesha, Kan. A few miles northeast of Independence, the Elk River and Verdigris meet up.

A high-water event in Independence would also affect Coffeyville about 20 miles south along the Verdigris.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of building relationships and lines of communication between the emergency managers and the agencies involved,” said Eugene Goff, Kansas Area Lake Manager, for the Tulsa District.

In addition to facilitating table-top exercises, the Tulsa District’s Emergency Management Office provides training and advice for emergency managers and designated civic representatives on flood and disaster response activities.